This album found Costello at the peak of his songwriting powers. Nick Lowe's production give's the record a harsh sound when compared with Costello's first three efforts. The Attractions have never sounded better, as is apparent on exuberant 'Five gears in reverse'. Although there is plenty of up-tempo invective on display, the highlights for me are the record's more tender moments. I particularly like the uncharacteristically straightforward ballad, 'Motel Matches', where a woman gives away sex like motels give away matches. As in many of his songs, the narrator treads a fine line between revulsion and compassion for the song's female subject. This album is a study in conciseness. Costello demonstrates more songwriting talent on these twenty tracks than other artists manage over a whole career. The volume of songs here make this record one that rewards attentive, repeated listening. Treat it like a seven course meal to be enjoyed over several hours.

"Love for Tender" starts what may be the most perfect sequence of songs in all of rock and roll history. The whole album is great, but what (I'm assuming) must have been the first side of the original album, those first 10 songs, are as close to perfection as anything I have ever heard. It floors me everytime. The other "side" is fantastic too, but just the way this album kicks off and keeps coming at you...man, it kicks. This album is also the one that convinced me that Steve Nieve is one of the great keyboard players of pop music as well, since he is the drive behind all that great music, imho. (Not intended as a slam IN ANYWAY on EC, either.)

Mr. Stanley is correct in one--and only one--respect: Get Happy!!! is NOT R&B.

It is a fantastic approximation, and a perfect imitation. Sleeping through this album, with all due respect to other reviewers, is simply not possible.

Elvis has said he was writing some of the lyrics for this album as the Attractions were laying down their tracks in adjoining studios. Either he's fibbing or he's even more of a genious than I already suspect. Lyrically (sp?) witty, musically groovin', a bass/drum/horn section that pounds without plodding--I simply cannot say enough about Get Happy!!!. I consider it one of the 20 or so best albums of the Rock era.

The fact that Elvis, who had been considered kind of a runty, quirky annoyance by a lot of critics since his sophomore LP was released, could put together this album--and the accompaning tour, which was closer to the TAMI Show than the typical punk rockers he was so often compared to--is, to me, one of the miracles of the age.

I'd love to pick out individual tracks and explain why I love this LP so much but, frankly, I don't know where to start. "I Stand Accused," with it's "I-S-T-A-N-D-A-C-C-U-S-E-D!" finale? The heartache of "Hi Fidelity," an ominous prelude to Elvis' later flirtation with C&W? "Riot Act," the ultimate finger pointer?

I dunno. I lose all pretense of articulation when it comes to this great, great album. Buy it early, buy it often.

I was an Elvis fan from the release of My Aim Is True. By the time this album was released, I'd become convinced that he and The Attractions could do no wrong. First time I heard it was when a NYC radio station played it in it's entirety, and I listened on headphones while I taped it. That's how you should listen to it if you've never heard it before. To hear so many great songs one after the other, it makes you dizzy. I got the same feeling the first time I heard "London Calling". All these years later, some of the Clash music doesn't thrill me like it did then, but this album does.

Hands down the best EC/Attractions album ever. I first heard it in 1983, and continue to be inspired and surprised by both lyrics and music. If you are a songwriter or aspiring recording artist, you should study this masterpiece. And extra credit to those who can fathom the meter changes in "B Movie".