Elvis Costello & the Attractions - I Want You

In over 40 years of recording, amassing 32 albums, Elvis Costello has matured from an angry young man  to the respected lounge singer, with stops along the way at country, pop, Americana, classical and jazz. Adventurous and alarmingly prolific, he is the artist I have seen most in concert (nine times), exploring his large back catalogue in inventive and entertaining shows  - the Spinning Songbook was a personal highlight.

I entered the Costello world  in 1986, an abundant and annus mirabilis even for Elvis with two top notch albums - the varied styles of "King of America"  recorded with the Confederates and reuniting the Attractions for the fierce "Blood & Chocolate", produced by old friend Nick Lowe.  Amongst an array of exceptional tracks, "I Want You" is my pick, a dark and brooding ballad, probably his most intense work.

Opening with "Oh my baby baby" on an acoustic guitar, sounds like the creepiest nursery rhyme ever. Costello is hopelessly in love ("I want you so it scares me to death"), but soon veering off into obsession, as each alternate line pleads "I want you". The single electric guitar now, alternating between two notes, sparse and claustrophobic.

Then a sudden shift, like a swish of a knife. The backing louder and more violent, the tone more threatening as her cheating is revealed. Possessive and jealous, imagining the details devastate him ("It's the thought of him undressing you or you undressing"). Costello eschews his normal clever wordplay, just concentrating on the pain.

On he goes over six minutes, aching, anguished, sinister ("I'm going to say it again 'til I instil it"). The final "I want you"s are a hushed whisper and broken. He must have been drained after completing the recording. 

"I Want You" always felt like an ambitious single release, no radio DJ would be playing this for his morning commuters, even at half the length. But it as a concert regular, it could wreak its power, silencing and hypnotising any audience.  

As a studious admirer of great music, Costello would have appreciated that both the Beatles, Marvin Gaye and Bob Dylan used the same title, and his "I Want You" merits such august company, a stark and impassioned highlight.

Hear Now - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CykE5DFJVr0  You can also check out great live versions with the Roots and Fiona Apple.

Hear Next -  Let just start with "King of America" and "Blood & Chocolate" and take it from there.



** The book of "Song from a Quarantine" is now available  on all Amazon sites in paperback and ebook formats.