Favorite Elvis Costello album in terms of bass?

For me it's Armed Forces. I up and quit my band 'cause nobody else got it. Changed my life, seriously.

 

Spike!!
Check out the cool Tuba (instead of bass) on Chewing Gum!!

 

Another vote for Armed Forces. Bruce Thomas' basslines were architectural on that one.

 

For me, the bass and songwriting go hand in hand in a lot of ways. For me, Trust takes the prize for single best Costello album followed immediately by Painted From Memory.

 

Armed Forces. Bruce is da man.

 

Get Happy is my personal favorite but you just can't go wrong with Armed Forces or This Year's Model, either- Bruce rules!

 

this year model

 

Armed Forces is hands down my favorite EC & The Attractions album.

 

I think any of the first 3 albums have super basslines, but Armed Forces and This Year's Model are especially awesome.

 

What to choose? they all kick butt! I would go with Imperial Bedroom for sheer variety and imagination with a close second going to punch the clock.
Bruce is insane!!!!

 

I only have This Year's Model and one of his Greatest Hits 2 CD deals, so I'm going to have to say anything that has Bruce on it from EC is a favorite of mine at this point. I'm going to fully check out the others though.

 

Armed Forces can almost stand on its own as a Greatest Hits CD. It's great for the music, and one of my favorite CDs for listening to someone play bass.

 

The Best Of Elvis Costello, The First 10 Years! A cop out for sure, but I'm OK with it.

As this is essentially a Bruce thread, below is (now) my P Bass that Bruce used to own. It's the one he replaced the "Attractions" bass with when it was stolen. I've replaced the retro fitted gold guard Bruce used with a more period correct (and eye pleasing IMO) tort. When my band does Pump It Up I think I can feel it smiling (or it could be shaking its head )

 

Wow, look at that bruiser!

 

'Get Happy' is my guilty pleasure #2. McCartney meets Jamerson with a nod and a wink.

 

Never cared for the voice or the music, but perhaps I should take another listen, if nothing else for the bass player. I do like "Veronica" and his duet with Paul McCartney, called "You Want Her Too."

I'll browse the thread and see if I can find some good stuff.
Thanks.

 

Armed Forces
Get Happy
This Years Model
Brutal Youth
Imperial Bedroom

So much to listen to with Bruce Thomas. He was absolutely the perfect foil to Elvis' writing. The tension between the two of them pushed each to crazy competitive creative highs!

 

Blood and Chocolate. Hands down best album.
Not really because of bass though. It's just cool, though it does happen to include some pretty good lines. I personally rate cool much higher than complexity.

 

Does anyone know if on "Pills and Soap" off the Punch the Clock album if Bruce used a pick? Every time I hear that song it sounds like he is.