Miranda Blacky / 19 November 2024 / Categories: Music, Alternative

Elvis Costello

Armed Forces was the album I first made out to

On the 5th January, 1979 (my Dad’s birthday) singer song writer Elvis Costello released his third studio album, Armed Forces. I was 13.

It’s funny how music runs alongside our coming of age and how certain tracks take you unflinchingly back to laying behind a sofa in my best friend’s den (her parents Brenda and Eric Yeadon not out but not around either)

The track list

1. Accidents Will Happen 03:00

2. Senior Service 02:18

3. Oliver’s Army 02:57

4. Big Boys 02:55

5. Green Shirt 02:42

6. Party Girl 03:20

7. Goon Squad 03:15

8. Busy Bodies 03:33

9. Sunday’s Best 03:23

10. Moods For Moderns 02:49

11. Chemistry Class 02:55

12. Two Little Hitlers 03:10

13. (What’s So Funny ‘Bout) Peace, Love And Understanding 03:30

The most familiar track list for me of any album. When I think back to “Oliver’s Army” and how I’d sung with gusto having no real idea what the song lyrics are about even today, I cannot say I ever really knew, or cared for that matter.

The elephant on the cover, I never connected to the “Armed Forces” album title.

Whenever I play this album now, which isn’t that often, or happen to hear one of the tracks out and about or on the radio it never fails to take me back to my very first necking session.

The boy, the moment, the magic, the memory is neatly and tidily packaged in this piece of creative.

Yeah…… what is so funny about Peace, Love and Understanding.