All My Vinyl Albums/ Music Listening Journal: Day 10/366: Friday January 10, 2020.

• ELVIS COSTELLO: SPIKE: 1989: 4 1/2 STARS OUT OF 5 STARS: IPOD: In 1987 and 1988 Elvis Costello did something which was odd at this point in his career- he didn’t release an album. From 1977-86 he had released 11 studio albums [plus an album of collected b-sides and rarities}- his only year without an album had been 1985 but he made up for that in 1986 with two albums. I have always liked Spike more than the critics have- the album has then and now gotten lukewarm reviews- average. This album featured EC’s biggest hit in the US- “Veronica” #19- a collaboration with Beatle Paul. The album isn’t as rocking as his previous albums but contains some excellent songs.

• AZTEC CAMERA: HIGH LAND, HARD RAIN: 1983: 5+ STARS OUT OF 5 STARS: IPOD: Somewhere along the line in 1983 I read a favorable review of this album- a debut album- Aztec Camera a group headed by Roddy Frame who was in his late teens at the time. Being adventuresome I went out and got the cassette and it was one of the most played albums in my collection for a year or so. I still enjoy the album a lot -it’s one of those albums that always seems to put me in a good mood. Finely crafted pop songs- while I have liked some of Frame’s solo work and Aztec Camera albums since nothing he’s done has matched up in the past 37 years to this masterpiece. Favorite- “Oblivious” the lead off track which got some play on US radio and MTV, “Walk Out TO Winter”, “This Boy Wonders” and “We Could Send Letters” would be my Mt. Rushmore of this album.