When I Was Cruel
| When I Was Cruel | ||||
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| Studio album by Elvis Costello | ||||
| Released | 23 April 2002 | |||
| Recorded | 2001–2002 | |||
| Genre | Alternative Rock | |||
| Length | 62:53 | |||
| Label |
Island (USA) Mercury (UK) |
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| Producer | Elvis Costello, Ciaran Cahill, Leo Pearson and Kieran Lynch | |||
| Professional reviews | ||||
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| Elvis Costello chronology | ||||
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When I Was Cruel is Elvis Costello's 20th album, recorded in 2001 and 2002 and released in the US by Island Records on 23 April 2002. Although officially a solo Costello album, this was the first album to feature his new band, The Imposters, whose only difference from his previous band, The Attractions, was the replacement of bassist Bruce Thomas, with whom Costello has feuded, with Davey Faragher (formerly of Cracker). The album includes the hits "45" and "15 Petals".
Track listing
All songs written by Elvis Costello.
- "45" – 3:33
- "Spooky Girlfriend" – 4:22
- "Tear Off Your Own Head (It's a Doll Revolution)" – 3:31
- "When I Was Cruel No. 2" – 7:06 (featuring a sample from Mina's "Un bacio è troppo poco", also heard on The Herbaliser's 1997 release "Take London" on the track "Song For Mary")
- "Soul for Hire" – 3:55
- "15 Petals" – 4:01
- "Tart" – 4:03
- "Dust 2..." – 3:21
- "Dissolve" – 2:22
- "Alibi" – 6:42
- "...Dust" – 3:03
- "Daddy Can I Turn This?" – 3:41
- "Little Blue Window" – 3:10
- "Episode of Blonde" – 5:01
- "Radio Silence" – 4:58
Personnel
- Elvis Costello – vocals, guitars, horn arrangements on 6 11 14, melodica, cymbal, bass, piano, harmonica
- Steve Nieve – organ, pianet, piano, vibraphone, melodica, filters
- Davey Faragher – bass, handclaps
- Pete Thomas – drums, handclaps, percussion, shaker, tambourine
Additional personnel
- Steven Kennedy – backing vocals on 1 12 13
- Leo Pearson – electric tabla on 3, rhythm processor on 5 8, tambourine, mixing
- Bill Ware – vibraphone on 4
- Ku-umba Frank Lacy – trumpet on 6, flugelhorn on 11 14
- Curtis Fowlkes – trombone on 6 11 14
- Jay Rodriguez – tenor saxophone on 6 11 14
- Roy Nathanson – alto saxophone on 6 11 14
Trivia
- The song "45" is about being 45 years old, like Costello at the time it was written. (The song also features Costello's penchant for multiple meanings, referencing the year 1945, .45 caliber pistols, and 45 rpm records.)
- The idea and title of "Tear Off Your Own Head (It's A Doll Revolution)" came from a set of Engrish-laden dolls in Japan. It appears in the 2003 film The Shape of Things. The Bangles covered it as the title track on their 2003 album, Doll Revolution.
- When the album was released, promotional materials billed it as Costello's "FIRST LOUD ALBUM SINCE 199?".
Charts
Album
| Year | Chart | Position |
|---|---|---|
| 2002 | The Billboard 200 | 20 |
| 2002 | Billboard Top Internet Albums | 50 |
