"Alison" is a song written by and first recorded by Elvis Costello in 1977 for his debut album My Aim Is True on Stiff Records. Costello claimed the song was written as an ode to a woman he saw working at a supermarket, though he has remained vague on the meaning. Though Costello's single never charted, it has become one of his most famous songs.
The song "Alison" was included on Elvis Costello's debut studio album My Aim Is True as the fifth track, and was released in 1977. As "Alison" was recorded before the Attractions formed, his backing band on the track was Clover. Costello has divulged little on the meaning of the song other than to say that it is about "disappointing somebody"[4] and to deny suggestions that the lines "somebody better put out the big light" and "my aim is true" refer to murder. He has also declined to reveal who the song is about, writing in the liner notes for Girls Girls Girls, "Much could be undone by saying more."[5][6] The line "my aim is true" gives the album its title. Costello has also said that the musical idea for the chorus, breaking up the line "I know this world is killing you", in a staccato fashion, derives from the manner that the line "Life ain't so easy when you're a ...", precedes the title refrain, on "Ghetto Child", by The Detroit Spinners.[7] "Alison" is written in the key of E major.[8]
However, in his 2015 autobiography Unfaithful Music & Disappearing Ink, Costello wrote: "I've always told people that I wrote the song 'Alison' after seeing a beautiful checkout girl at the local supermarket. She had a face for which a ship might have once been named. Scoundrels might once have fought mist-swathed duels to defend her honour. Now she was punching in the prices on cans of beans at a cash register and looking as if all the hopes and dreams of her youth were draining away. All that were left would soon be squandered to a ruffian who told her convenient lies and trapped her still further".[9]
Receptionedit
"Alison" was released as a single in the United Kingdom with a B-side of "Welcome to the Working Week", and as two singles in the United States; one with a mono version of the same song on the B-side, the other with "Miracle Man". The US (and Canadian) single versions of "Alison" are unique in that it is remixed to add a string section.[10]Record World called it "a stirring ballad" and said that "the strings add a dimension the song lacked in its original version and should help send it to the top."[11]
The single did not chart; as the album on which it was included did reach the top 40 on the album charts, the song did get airplay in the U.S. on album-oriented rock radio. In 2004, Rolling Stone ranked it No. 318 on their list of the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time and Entertainment Weekly voted it as one of Costello's top 10 greatest tunes.[12]The Telegraph named it Costello's second greatest song only after "Oliver's Army", calling it "a wonderful song about unrequited love."[13]
Linda Ronstadt recorded a cover version of "Alison" for her studio album Living in the USA, in 1978, which sold over 2 million copies. Released as the disc's fourth single in the spring of 1979 on Asylum Records, it was produced by her longtime producer Peter Asher. Ronstadt's B-side to "Alison" was "Mohammed's Radio", also produced by Asher.
Receptionedit
Ronstadt's version of "Alison" was a moderate hit, reaching number 30 in the U.S. on the Billboardadult contemporary chart.[14] Her single also reached number 66 in the UK Singles chart.[15] Years later, Costello joked that he might have been publicly derisive of Ronstadt's version, "but I didn't mind spending the money that she earned me".[16] Costello donated royalties from Ronstadt's version to the African National Congress after she played at Sun City in South Africa.[17]
Referencesedit
^ abcHerbert, Geoff (18 June 2018). "Elvis Costello tour dates include Turning Stone, Buffalo concerts". Syracuse. Retrieved 14 October 2019.
^"My Aim is True by Elvis Costello | Classic Rock Review". Classic Rock Review. 10 August 2017. Retrieved 6 January 2022. while the more mellow "Alison" combines slightly jazzy guitars and soulful vocals. This great melancholy pop song was written about a checkout girl at a local supermarket and features the line which gives this album its title.
^"Elvis Costello: My Aim Is True". Pitchfork. Retrieved 6 January 2022.
^. 500 Greatest Songs of All Time. Rolling Stone. 9 December 2004. Archived from the original on 20 April 2007.
^Elvis, Costello (29 March 2004). "Alison". Musicnotes.com. Retrieved 27 May 2021.
^Elvis Costello (13 October 2015). Unfaithful Music & Disappearing Ink. Viking. p. 179. ISBN978-0241003466.
^Doggett, Peter (September 1983). "Elvis Costello: A complete guide to his British and American releases, promos, and rarities". Record Collector. 49. Retrieved 22 May 2020.
^"Hits of the Week" (PDF). Record World. 29 October 1977. p. 1. Retrieved 16 February 2023.
^. Pump It Up: Elvis Costello's 10 Greatest Tunes. Entertainment Weekly. 9 October 2004. Archived from the original on 14 September 2007. Retrieved 25 June 2008.
^"Elvis Costello's 40 best songs". The Telegraph. 11 May 2016. Retrieved 27 December 2016.
^"Adult Contemporary: Linda Ronstadt". Billboard. 2019. Retrieved 9 May 2019.
^Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 469. ISBN1-904994-10-5.
^Griggs, Simon (26 November 1998). "Elvis Costello Interview". from the original on 29 June 2008. Retrieved 25 July 2008.
^Pilgrim, David; Ormrod, Richard (2014). Elvis Costello and Thatcherism: A Psycho-Social Exploration. Farnham, U.K.: Ashgate Publishing. p. 50. ISBN9781317145004.
March 10, 2024
alison, song, song, jordy, alison, copine, similarly, titled, songs, alison, disambiguation, music, alison, song, written, first, recorded, elvis, costello, 1977, debut, album, true, stiff, records, costello, claimed, song, written, woman, working, supermarket. For the song by Jordy see Alison C est ma copine a moi For similarly titled songs see Alison disambiguation Music Alison is a song written by and first recorded by Elvis Costello in 1977 for his debut album My Aim Is True on Stiff Records Costello claimed the song was written as an ode to a woman he saw working at a supermarket though he has remained vague on the meaning Though Costello s single never charted it has become one of his most famous songs Alison Single by Elvis Costellofrom the album My Aim Is TrueB side Welcome to the Working Week Released21 May 1977Recorded1977GenreNew wave 1 pub rock 1 power pop 1 pop 2 3 Length3 21LabelStiff UK Columbia US Songwriter s Elvis CostelloProducer s Nick LoweElvis Costello singles chronology Less Than Zero 1977 Alison 1977 The Angels Wanna Wear My Red Shoes 1977 Linda Ronstadt who covered the song and released her version in 1979 had a moderate hit with it Contents 1 Background 2 Reception 3 Linda Ronstadt version 3 1 Background 3 2 Reception 4 ReferencesBackground editThe song Alison was included on Elvis Costello s debut studio album My Aim Is True as the fifth track and was released in 1977 As Alison was recorded before the Attractions formed his backing band on the track was Clover Costello has divulged little on the meaning of the song other than to say that it is about disappointing somebody 4 and to deny suggestions that the lines somebody better put out the big light and my aim is true refer to murder He has also declined to reveal who the song is about writing in the liner notes for Girls Girls Girls Much could be undone by saying more 5 6 The line my aim is true gives the album its title Costello has also said that the musical idea for the chorus breaking up the line I know this world is killing you in a staccato fashion derives from the manner that the line Life ain t so easy when you re a precedes the title refrain on Ghetto Child by The Detroit Spinners 7 Alison is written in the key of E major 8 However in his 2015 autobiography Unfaithful Music amp Disappearing Ink Costello wrote I ve always told people that I wrote the song Alison after seeing a beautiful checkout girl at the local supermarket She had a face for which a ship might have once been named Scoundrels might once have fought mist swathed duels to defend her honour Now she was punching in the prices on cans of beans at a cash register and looking as if all the hopes and dreams of her youth were draining away All that were left would soon be squandered to a ruffian who told her convenient lies and trapped her still further 9 Reception edit Alison was released as a single in the United Kingdom with a B side of Welcome to the Working Week and as two singles in the United States one with a mono version of the same song on the B side the other with Miracle Man The US and Canadian single versions of Alison are unique in that it is remixed to add a string section 10 Record World called it a stirring ballad and said that the strings add a dimension the song lacked in its original version and should help send it to the top 11 The single did not chart as the album on which it was included did reach the top 40 on the album charts the song did get airplay in the U S on album oriented rock radio In 2004 Rolling Stone ranked it No 318 on their list of the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time and Entertainment Weekly voted it as one of Costello s top 10 greatest tunes 12 The Telegraph named it Costello s second greatest song only after Oliver s Army calling it a wonderful song about unrequited love 13 Linda Ronstadt version edit Alison Single by Linda Ronstadtfrom the album Living In The USAB side Mohammed s Radio ReleasedApril 1979Recorded1978GenreCountry rock new waveLength3 20LabelAsylum RecordsSongwriter s Elvis CostelloProducer s Peter AsherLinda Ronstadt singles chronology Just One Look 1979 Alison 1979 How Do I Make You 1980 Background edit Linda Ronstadt recorded a cover version of Alison for her studio album Living in the USA in 1978 which sold over 2 million copies Released as the disc s fourth single in the spring of 1979 on Asylum Records it was produced by her longtime producer Peter Asher Ronstadt s B side to Alison was Mohammed s Radio also produced by Asher Reception edit Ronstadt s version of Alison was a moderate hit reaching number 30 in the U S on the Billboard adult contemporary chart 14 Her single also reached number 66 in the UK Singles chart 15 Years later Costello joked that he might have been publicly derisive of Ronstadt s version but I didn t mind spending the money that she earned me 16 Costello donated royalties from Ronstadt s version to the African National Congress after she played at Sun City in South Africa 17 References edit a b c Herbert Geoff 18 June 2018 Elvis Costello tour dates include Turning Stone Buffalo concerts Syracuse Retrieved 14 October 2019 My Aim is True by Elvis Costello Classic Rock Review Classic Rock Review 10 August 2017 Retrieved 6 January 2022 while the more mellow Alison combines slightly jazzy guitars and soulful vocals This great melancholy pop song was written about a checkout girl at a local supermarket and features the line which gives this album its title Elvis Costello My Aim Is True Pitchfork Retrieved 6 January 2022 Alison 500 Greatest Songs of All Time Rolling Stone 9 December 2004 Archived from the original on 20 April 2007 Girls Girls Girls Inset Elvis Costello USA Columbia Records 1988 C2K 46897 a href Template Cite AV media notes html title Template Cite AV media notes cite AV media notes a CS1 maint others in cite AV media notes link My Aim Is True Inset Elvis Costello USA Rhino Entertainment 2001 R2 74285 a href Template Cite AV media notes html title Template Cite AV media notes cite AV media notes a CS1 maint others in cite AV media notes link Elvis Costello Unfaithful Music p 187 Elvis Costello 29 March 2004 Alison Musicnotes com Retrieved 27 May 2021 Elvis Costello 13 October 2015 Unfaithful Music amp Disappearing Ink Viking p 179 ISBN 978 0241003466 Doggett Peter September 1983 Elvis Costello A complete guide to his British and American releases promos and rarities Record Collector 49 Retrieved 22 May 2020 Hits of the Week PDF Record World 29 October 1977 p 1 Retrieved 16 February 2023 Alison Pump It Up Elvis Costello s 10 Greatest Tunes Entertainment Weekly 9 October 2004 Archived from the original on 14 September 2007 Retrieved 25 June 2008 Elvis Costello s 40 best songs The Telegraph 11 May 2016 Retrieved 27 December 2016 Adult Contemporary Linda Ronstadt Billboard 2019 Retrieved 9 May 2019 Roberts David 2006 British Hit Singles amp Albums 19th ed London Guinness World Records Limited p 469 ISBN 1 904994 10 5 Griggs Simon 26 November 1998 Elvis Costello Interview Archived from the original on 29 June 2008 Retrieved 25 July 2008 Pilgrim David Ormrod Richard 2014 Elvis Costello and Thatcherism A Psycho Social Exploration Farnham U K Ashgate Publishing p 50 ISBN 9781317145004 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Alison song amp oldid 1177392802, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
