Elvis Costello - King of America

Stripping away much of the excess that cluttered Punch the Clock and Goodbye Cruel World, Elvis Costello returned to his folk-rock and pub rock roots with King of America, creating one of his most affecting and personal records. Costello literally took on the album as a return to roots, billing himself by his given name Declan MacManus and replacing the Attractions with a bunch of L.A. session men (although his old band appears on one cut), who give the album a rootsy but sleek veneer that sounds remarkably charged after the polished affectations of his Langer/Winstanley productions. And not only does the music sound alive, but so do his songs, arguably his best overall set since Trust. Working inside the limits of country, folk, and blues, Costello writes literate, introspective tales of loss, heartbreak, and America that are surprisingly moving -- he rarely got better than "Brilliant Mistake," "Glitter Gulch," "American Without Tears," "Big Light," and "Indoor Fireworks." What separates King of America from the underrated Almost Blue is that Costello's country now sounds lived-in and worn, bringing a new emotional depth to the music, and that helps make it one of his masterpieces. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine, All Music Guide

Name Credits Adam Starr Product Manager Bill Levinson A&R Bruce Thomas Guitar (Electric), Bass (Electric) Coco Shinomiya Design Coward Brothers Producer Dan Hersch Mastering David Ahlert Assistant Engineer David Brent Miner Associate Producer David Dominguez Ahlert Assistant Engineer David Hidalgo Vocals, Vocal Harmony David Miner Associate Producer Declan MacManus Sleeve Coordinator, Producer Declan Patrick Aloysius MacManus Producer Earl Palmer Brushes, Drums, Percussion Elvis Costello Liner Notes, Guitar (Rhythm), Guitar (Acoustic), Mandolin, Vocals, Performer J. Henry "T Bone" Burnett Guitar (Electric), Producer James Burton Guitar, Guitar (Electric), Guitar (Acoustic), Dobro Jerry Scheff Bass (Electric), String Bass, Bass Jim Keltner Stick, Drums, Percussion, Brushes Jo-El Sonnier Accordion, French Accordian L.H.C. Guitar, Mandolin, Guitar (Acoustic), Guitar (Electric) Larry Hirsch Engineer, Producer Larry Kalman Hirsch Producer Little Hands of Concrete Guitar, Guitar (Acoustic), Guitar (Electric), Mandolin Michael Blair Marimba, Percussion, Vibraphone Michael Sören Krage Typography, Design Michele Horie Producer Mickey Curry Percussion, Stick, Drums Mitchell Froom Piano, Organ (Hammond), Organ, Keyboards, Harpsichord Pete Thomas Stick, Drums Ray Brown Bass, String Bass Ron Tutt Drums, Percussion Steve Nieve Organ (Hammond), Organ, Piano T Bone Burnett Bass (Electric), Guitar (Rhythm), Producer, Guitar (Electric) T-Bone Wolk Guitar (Electric), Accordion, Piano (Electric), Piano-Accordian, Bass (Electric), Vocals Terry Donovan Photography Tom Canning Piano William Berry Jackson Assistant Engineer