Trust (Elvis Costello album)

Trust
Studio album by Elvis Costello and the Attractions
Released	23 January 1981
Recorded	October-November 1980
Genre	New Wave Pop/Rock Power pop
Length	41:09
Label	F-Beat (UK) Columbia (US) Demon/Rykodisc (April 29, 1994 Reissue) Rhino (September 9, 2003 Reissue) Hip-O (May 1, 2007 Reissue)
Producer	Nick Lowe, Roger Bechirian
Elvis Costello and the Attractions chronology
Ten Bloody Marys & Ten How's Your Fathers (1980) Trust (1981) Almost Blue (1981)

Professional ratings
Review scores
Source	Rating
Allmusic	[1]
Robert Christgau	(A)[2]
Rolling Stone	[3]
Stylus Magazine	(not rated)[4]
This table needs to be expanded using prose. See the guideline for more information.

Trust is an album by Elvis Costello and the Attractions. It is Costello's fifth album, and fourth with the Attractions. It was also his fifth consecutive album produced by Nick Lowe, who handled production on all songs except "Big Sister's Clothes" (which the liner notes make clear by stating that Lowe was "not responsible" for it).

Background

Costello's original intent with Trust was to cross the melody of Armed Forces with the rhythm of Get Happy!! The songs on the album dealt with a general sense of disenchantment he felt during the time, with the recent election of the Conservative government as well as tensions within his first marriage, which gave them an overall cynical tone.^[5] As a result, the general lyrical content of the songs describe a world that is essentially the opposite of what the album title implies.

The initial recording sessions were held at DJM, but they were displeased with the results. It did not help that the bandmates were almost constantly under the influence of mood-altering drugs.^[5] As Costello wrote in the liner notes of the Rhino reissue:

“

This was easily the most drug-influenced record of my career... It was completed close to a self-induced nervous collapse on a diet of rough 'scrumpy' cider, gin and tonic, various powders... and, in the final hours, Seconal and Johnnie Walker Black Label.[5]

”

Recording resumed at Eden Studios, where previous albums had been done. Although the band was no more sober, the resulting tracks were more to Costello's liking. Despite having previously expressed a desire to distance himself from the pop music mainstream, Costello revealed that a number of songs on the album were influenced by other contemporary artists. Specifically, "Clubland" incorporated the guitar style of The Police, "You'll Never Be A Man" borrowed from The Pretenders, "White Knuckles" was modelled on XTC records, and "Fish 'n' Chip Paper" was a homage to Squeeze. Lastly, "Big Sister's Clothes" had a bass line based on work by The Clash.^[5]

Commercially, none of the singles on Trust entered the British top 40, the first time this had happened since My Aim Is True, his debut album. "Clubland" was a minor chart hit at # 60.

LP track listing

All songs written by Elvis Costello except as indicated.

Side one

1. "Clubland" – 3:42
2. "Lovers Walk" – 2:17
3. "You'll Never Be a Man" – 2:56
4. "Pretty Words" – 3:11
5. "Strict Time" – 2:40
6. "Luxembourg" – 2:26
7. "Watch Your Step" – 2:57

Side two

1. "New Lace Sleeves" – 3:45
2. "From a Whisper to a Scream" – 2:54
3. "Different Finger" – 1:58
4. "White Knuckles" – 3:47
5. "Shot with His Own Gun" – 3:30
6. "Fish 'n' Chip Paper" – 2:55
7. "Big Sister's Clothes" – 2:11

CD reissue bonus tracks (1994 Rykodisc)

1. "Black Sails in the Sunset" – 2:56
2. "Big Sister" – 2:11
3. "Sad About Girls" (Steve Nieve, Fay Hart) – 2:48
4. "Twenty-Five to Twelve" – 3:52
5. "Love for Sale" (Cole Porter) – 3:02
6. "Weeper's Dream" – 1:05
7. "Gloomy Sunday" (Sam M. Lewis, Rezső Seress) – 3:13
8. "Boy with a Problem" (solo demo version) (Costello, Chris Difford) – 2:31
9. "Seconds of Pleasure" (Version 1 of 'Invisible Man') – 3:18

Bonus disc (2003 Rhino)

1. "Black Sails in the Sunset" – 2:56
2. "Big Sister" – 2:11
3. "Twenty-Five to Twelve" – 3:52
4. "Sad About Girls" (Brain/Hart) – 2:48
5. "From a Whisper to a Scream" (Alternate version) – 3:27
6. "Watch Your Step" (Alternate version) – 2:47
7. "Clubland" (Alternate take) – 4:03
8. "You'll Never be a Man" (Alternate take) – 3:10
9. "Slow Down" (Larry Williams) – 2:24
10. "Big Sister" (Alternate version) – 5:07
11. "Black Sails in the Sunset" (Alternate version) – 3:08
12. "Hoover Factory" (Alternate version) – 1:47
13. "Love for Sale" (Porter) – 3:02
14. "Boy with a Problem" (Single version) (Costello, Difford) – 2:31
15. "Weeper's Dream" – 1:05
16. "Gloomy Sunday" (Lewis, Seress) – 3:13
17. "The Long Honeymoon" (Instrumental piano demo) – 1:41

Note: The Rykodisc version has the original tracks and bonus tracks on one CD. The Rhino version has two CDs with the original tracks on the first CD.

Personnel

• Elvis Costello – vocals, guitars, all instruments on "Big Sister's Clothes"
• Steve Nieve – piano, organ
• Bruce Thomas – bass
• Pete Thomas – drums

Additional personnel

• Glenn Tilbrook – vocal on "From a Whisper to a Scream"
• Martin Belmont – guitar on "From a Whisper to a Scream"
• Billy Bremner

Charts

Album

Year	Chart	Position
1981	Billboard Pop Albums	28

Year	Song	Chart	Position
1981	"From a Whisper to a Scream"	Billboard Mainstream Rock	46

References

1. ^ Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. Trust (Elvis Costello album) at Allmusic. Retrieved 6 Nov 2005.
2. ^ Christgau, Robert. "Elvis Costello and the Attractions > Consumer Guide Reviews". Robert Christgau. http://www.robertchristgau.com/get_artist.php?id=1851&name=Elvis+Costello+and+the+Attractions. Retrieved 30 Mar 2006. 
3. ^ Tucker, Ken (April 2, 1981). "Elvis Costello Trust > Album Review". Rolling Stone (340). Archived from the original on 21 Apr 2008. http://web.archive.org/web/20080421213732/http://www.rollingstone.com/artists/elviscostello/albums/album/296977/review/5943259. Retrieved 4 Apr 2006. 
4. ^ Beckett, Colin (2003-09-01). "On Second Thought: Elvis Costello - Trust". Stylus Magazine. http://www.stylusmagazine.com/feature.php?ID=385. Retrieved 4 Apr 2006. 
5. ^ ^{a b c d} (2003) Album notes for Trust by Elvis Costello and the Attractions [Inset]. USA: Rhino Entertainment (R2 73909).