Alison (song)

For the song by Jordy, see Alison (C'est ma copine à 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 critically acclaimed songs.

"Alison"
Single by Elvis Costello
from the album My Aim Is True
B-side	"Welcome to the Working Week"
Released	21 May 1977
Recorded	1977
Genre	New wave[1] pub rock[1] power pop[1] pop[2][3]
Length	3:21
Label	Stiff (UK) Columbia (US)
Songwriter(s)	Elvis Costello
Producer(s)	Nick Lowe
Elvis 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.

Background

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]

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".^[7]

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.^[8] "Alison" is written in the key of E major.^[9]

Reception

"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, but 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

"Alison"
Single by Linda Ronstadt
from the album Living In The USA
B-side	"Mohammed's Radio"
Released	April 1979
Recorded	1978
Genre	Country rock, new wave
Length	3:20
Label	Asylum Records
Songwriter(s)	Elvis Costello
Producer(s)	Peter Asher
Linda Ronstadt singles chronology
"Just One Look" (1979) "Alison" (1979) "How Do I Make You" (1980)

Background

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

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

1. Herbert, Geoff (18 June 2018). "Elvis Costello tour dates include Turning Stone, Buffalo concerts". Syracuse. Retrieved 14 October 2019.
2. "My Aim is True by Elvis Costello". 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.
3. "Elvis Costello: My Aim Is True". Pitchfork. Retrieved 6 January 2022.
4. "Alison". 500 Greatest Songs of All Time. Rolling Stone. 9 December 2004. Archived from the original on 20 April 2007.
5. Girls Girls Girls (Inset). Elvis Costello. USA: Columbia Records. 1988. C2K-46897.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
6. My Aim Is True (Inset). Elvis Costello. USA: Rhino Entertainment. 2001. R2 74285.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
7. Elvis Costello (13 October 2015). Unfaithful Music & Disappearing Ink. Viking. p. 179. ISBN 978-0241003466.
8. Elvis Costello, Unfaithful Music, p.187
9. Elvis, Costello (29 March 2004). "Alison". Musicnotes.com. Retrieved 27 May 2021.
10. 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.
11. "Hits of the Week" (PDF). Record World. 29 October 1977. p. 1. Retrieved 16 February 2023.
12. "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.
13. "Elvis Costello's 40 best songs". The Telegraph. 11 May 2016. Retrieved 27 December 2016.
14. "Adult Contemporary: Linda Ronstadt". Billboard. 2019. Retrieved 9 May 2019.
15. Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 469. ISBN 1-904994-10-5.
16. Griggs, Simon (26 November 1998). "Elvis Costello Interview". Archived from the original on 29 June 2008. Retrieved 25 July 2008.
17. Pilgrim, David; Ormrod, Richard (2014). Elvis Costello and Thatcherism: A Psycho-Social Exploration. Farnham, U.K.: Ashgate Publishing. p. 50. ISBN 9781317145004.