A music reference book of mine "1001 albums you must hear before you die" lists no less than 6 LP's by Elvis Costello, as many as by the Rolling Stones and Neil Young (and more than, say, Led Zeppelin, Pink Floyd or REM). Others also rate Costello's albums incredibly high, yet he's nowhere near as popular or influential as others in these lists. "Imperial Bedroom" is one of his most highly rated albums despite the absence of hit songs. My own edition is the 1994 Rykodisc reissue (Costello's albums get constant reissues, including the 2-CD Rhino and the Rykodisc reissues that expand the original albums with a generous side-dish of bonus tracks). Re-listening it now, I must admit that, although not a favorite of mine, the songwriting and production are of the first order. Costello is one of pop's best storytellers, probably one to rival Dylan and Tom Waits. For the most part of the album, the music takes its cue from the Great American Songbook, encompassing classic pop, jazz and country. "Beyond Belief" is a great opener, sonically between The Kinks' proto-Britpop and Police's New Wave. "Tears Before Bedtime" combines a reggae-ish rhythm with a touch of the Beatles. The Beatles influence is actually audible throughout the record (nowhere more so than the Sgt.Peppers-like arrangement of "...And in Every Home", featuring a 40-piece orchestra). No wonder, since he enlisted as producer former Beatles sound engineer Geoff Emerick. "Shabby Doll" is one of the few songs on the album that connect with me emotionally - a story of broken hearts sung in a voice at once sad and angry with jazzy, staccato piano backing. Likewise, "The Long Honeymoon" tells the thoughts of a wife staying up late, faced with the probability of her man being out cheating her with her best friend. It's a great accordion-and-piano-led piece set to a Latin bolero rhythm."Man Out of Time" is the album's lead single, spliced from two different versions, a wild punkish one and much more polished pop one. "Almost Blue" with its melancholy piano and late-night feel would be a perfect vehicle for a Billie Holiday. As it is, we have to contend ourselves with jazz diva (and future Costello's wife) Diana Krall's version."The Loved Ones", "Human Hands", "Little Savage" and "Pidgin English" are mid-tempo smart pop with big Sgt. Peppers-like orchestration."Kid About It" and "Boy with a Problem" are bluesy ballads. "You Little Fool" is the album's other single, classic pop songwriting in the Beatles/Kinks vein. "Town Cryer" is a touching song with majestic strings that closed the original album. Bonus tracks include covers of Smokey Robinson's R&B classic "From Head to Toe", Shuman/Pomus ballad "The World of Broken Hearts" and two songs from 60's Liverpudlians The Merseybeats and Escorts (the rock'n'roll "Really Mystified" and R&B "Night Time", respectively). The CD contains also Costello-penned B Sides and unreleased songs such as the upbeat "I Turn Around", country-ish "The Stamping Ground", ballad "Seconds of Pleasure", an early version of "Shabby Doll" and "Imperial Bedroom" - a waltzy tune that lent the album its name but was ultimately left out the finished product. All in all, listening to the album led me to recognise its artistic value but gave me little satisfaction. Which reminds me that the album's marketing campaign contained only one word "Masterpiece?" - with a question mark. Its mock-Picasso cover seems to accentuate the question: Do I have to like it, just because I can recognise its artfulness? Am I less savvy if I prefer, say, Deep Purple?
**** for Beyond Belief, Shabby Doll, The Long Honeymoon, Man Out of Time, Almost Blue, You Little Fool, Town Cryer
*** for Tears Before Bedtime,...And in Every Home, Human Hands, Kid About It, Little Savage, Boy with a Problem, Pidgin English, From Head to Toe, Night Time, Really Mystified, I Turn Around, Shabby Doll (Early version), Imperial Bedroom
** for The Loved One, The World of Broken Hearts, Seconds of Pleasure, The Stamping Ground
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