Unlimited Streaming
Listen to this album in high quality now on our apps
Start my trial period and start listening to this albumEnjoy this album on Qobuz apps with your subscription
SubscribeEnjoy this album on Qobuz apps with your subscription
Digital Download
Purchase and download this album in a wide variety of formats depending on your needs.
If Spike seemed frustratingly incoherent, it's nothing compared to Mighty Like a Rose, a deliberately dense, difficult record that is easily the most impenetrable that Elvis Costello ever cut. With producers Mitchell Froom and Kevin Killen, Costello made a record with no easy entrances, even if the sparkling Beach Boys-esque "The Other Side of Summer" and the lovely "So Like Candy" would have been accessible with different production. And, certainly, production is the most notable thing about this record. Filled with clattering production, spongy bass, cardboard guitars, studio white noise, and layers upon layers of tracks, there's so much going on that it's hard to get to the core of the songs. Not that Costello makes it any easier for the listener, either, since only a few songs (the aforementioned pair, plus "All Grown Up" and "Playboy to a Man") don't seem self-satisfied in their own construction. And his performances are nearly as affected as the songs, as he over-sings (albeit for effect) and contributes to the muddy wall of sound. Yes, this is "interesting," but it takes many plays before you realize all those "interesting" effects lead nowhere -- only to the strangest record Costello ever cut (and that's not a compliment, unfortunately).
© Stephen Thomas Erlewine /TiVo
You are currently listening to samples.
Listen to over 100 million songs with an unlimited streaming plan.
Listen to this playlist and more than 100 million songs with our unlimited streaming plans.
From CA$ 10.83/month
Steve George, Vocals - Benmont Tench, Piano - Larry Knechtel, Organ, Piano - James Burton, Acoustic Guitar - KEVIN KILLEN, Producer, Mixer, Engineer - Jerry Scheff, Bass - Richard Page, Vocals - Pete Thomas, Castanets, Drums, Percussion, Tambourine - MITCHELL FROOM, Producer, Organ, Piano, Vocal Arranger - Max Garcia, AssistantEngineer - ELVIS COSTELLO, Composer, Acoustic Guitar, Vocals, Vocal Arranger, Bass, MainArtist - D.P.A. MAC MANUS, Producer - Steven Soles, Vocals - Richard Sullivan, AssistantEngineer
2009 © 1991 Warner Records Inc. ℗ 1991 Warner Records Inc.
Nick Lowe, Bass - Benmont Tench, Piano - James Burton, Solo Guitar - KEVIN KILLEN, Producer, Mixer, Engineer - MITCHELL FROOM, Producer, Vocal Arranger - Marc Ribot, Percussion - Max Garcia, AssistantEngineer - ELVIS COSTELLO, Vocals, Writer, Vocal Arranger, Rhythm Guitar, MainArtist - D.P.A. MAC MANUS, Producer - Richard Sullivan, AssistantEngineer - Larry Keltner, Writer
2009 © 1991 Warner Records Inc. ℗ 1991 Warner Records Inc.
Roger Lewis, Baritone Saxophone - Benmont Tench, Piano - Larry Knechtel, Organ, Piano - KEVIN KILLEN, Producer, Mixer, Engineer - Jerry Scheff, Bass - Pete Thomas, Drums - MITCHELL FROOM, Producer - Marc Ribot, Rhythm Guitar - Max Garcia, AssistantEngineer - ELVIS COSTELLO, Guitar, Percussion, Vocals, Vocal Arranger, MainArtist - PIERRE, Percussion - D.P.A. MAC MANUS, Composer, Lyricist, Producer - Richard Sullivan, AssistantEngineer
2009 © 1991 Warner Records Inc. ℗ 1991 Warner Records Inc.
Gavyn Wright, Leader - Jim Keltner, Drums - Fiachra Trench, String Arranger, Orchestra Arranged & Conducted by - Larry Knechtel, Keyboards, Piano - James Burton, Acoustic Guitar - KEVIN KILLEN, Producer, Mixer, Engineer - MITCHELL FROOM, Producer, Chamberlain Strings, Organ - Marc Ribot, Cornet, Horn - Max Garcia, AssistantEngineer - ELVIS COSTELLO, Acoustic Guitar, Vocals, Writer, MainArtist - D.P.A. MAC MANUS, Composer, Lyricist, Producer - McManus, Writer - Richard Sullivan, AssistantEngineer - T-Bone Wok, Bass
2009 © 1991 Warner Records Inc. ℗ 1991 Warner Records Inc.
Larry Knechtel, Piano - KEVIN KILLEN, Producer, Mixer, Engineer - Pete Thomas, Drums - MITCHELL FROOM, Producer, Chamberlain Strings - Marc Ribot, Electric Guitar - Max Garcia, AssistantEngineer - ELVIS COSTELLO, Electric Guitar, Organ, MainArtist - D.P.A. MAC MANUS, Composer, Lyricist, Producer, Vocals - McManus, Writer - Richard Sullivan, AssistantEngineer - T-Bone Wok, Bass
2009 © 1991 Warner Records Inc. ℗ 1991 Warner Records Inc.
Fiachra Trench, Orchestral Arranger - Larry Knechtel, Harpsichord, Piano - KEVIN KILLEN, Producer, Mixer, Engineer - Pete Thomas, Drums, Tambourine - MITCHELL FROOM, Producer - Max Garcia, AssistantEngineer - ELVIS COSTELLO, Electric Guitar, Vocals, MainArtist - Nicholas Bucknall, Clarinet - D.P.A. MAC MANUS, Composer, Lyricist, Producer - Richard Sullivan, AssistantEngineer - T-Bone Wok, Bass - Andrew Findon, Flute - Neil Levesley, Bassoon - Richard Mortan, Oboe - Simon Rayner, French Horn
2009 © 1991 Warner Records Inc. ℗ 1991 Warner Records Inc.
Rob Wasserman, Bass - Larry Knechtel, Piano - KEVIN KILLEN, Producer, Mixer, Engineer - MITCHELL FROOM, Producer - Marc Ribot, Guitar - Max Garcia, AssistantEngineer - ELVIS COSTELLO, Acoustic Guitar, Vocals, MainArtist - D.P.A. MAC MANUS, Composer, Lyricist, Producer, Vocals - Steven Soles, Harmony Vocals - Richard Sullivan, AssistantEngineer
2009 © 1991 Warner Records Inc. ℗ 1991 Warner Records Inc.
Benmont Tench, Spinet - Fiachra Trench, Additional Arrangement by - Larry Knechtel, Piano - James Burton, Acoustic Guitar, Electric Guitar - KEVIN KILLEN, Producer, Mixer, Engineer - Jerry Scheff, Bass - Pete Thomas, Drums - MITCHELL FROOM, Producer, Chamberlain Strings, Organ - Marc Ribot, Electric Guitar - Max Garcia, AssistantEngineer - ELVIS COSTELLO, Acoustic Guitar, Vocals, MainArtist - D.P.A. MAC MANUS, Composer, Lyricist, Producer, Vocals - McManus, Writer - Richard Sullivan, AssistantEngineer
2009 © 1991 Warner Records Inc. ℗ 1991 Warner Records Inc.
T-Bone Wolk, Extra Bass - Jim Keltner, Drums - Paul Mccartney, Writer - Larry Knechtel, Piano - KEVIN KILLEN, Producer, Mixer, Engineer - Jerry Scheff, Bass - MITCHELL FROOM, Producer, Chamberlain Strings, Mellotron - Marc Ribot, Electric Guitar - Max Garcia, AssistantEngineer - ELVIS COSTELLO, Acoustic Guitar, Electric Guitar, Vocals, Writer, Rhythm Guitar, MainArtist - D.P.A. MAC MANUS, Producer - Richard Sullivan, AssistantEngineer
2009 © 1991 Warner Records Inc. ℗ 1991 Warner Records Inc.
Lionel Batiste, Snare Drums - Roger Lewis, Baritone Saxophone - Charles Joseph, Trombone - Jenell Marshall, Snare Drums - Gregory Davis, Trumpet - KEVIN KILLEN, Producer, Mixer, Engineer - MITCHELL FROOM, Producer - Max Garcia, AssistantEngineer - ELVIS COSTELLO, MainArtist - Dirty Dozen Brass Band, Performance - Efrem Towns, Trumpet - Kevin Harris, Tenor Saxophone - D.P.A. MAC MANUS, Composer, Producer - Richard Sullivan, AssistantEngineer - Kirk Joseph, Horn
2009 © 1991 Warner Records Inc. ℗ 1991 Warner Records Inc.
Jim Keltner, Drums - Paul Mccartney, Writer - Larry Knechtel, Piano - KEVIN KILLEN, Producer, Mixer, Engineer - Jerry Scheff, Bass - MITCHELL FROOM, Producer, Organ, Additional Piano - Marc Ribot, Electric Guitar - Max Garcia, AssistantEngineer - ELVIS COSTELLO, Acoustic Guitar, Organ, Vocals, Hi-String Guitar, MainArtist - MAC MANUS, Writer - D.P.A. MAC MANUS, Lyricist, Producer - Richard Sullivan, AssistantEngineer - Trench, Additional Piano
2009 © 1991 Warner Records Inc. ℗ 1991 Warner Records Inc.
Roger Lewis, Baritone Saxophone - Charles Joseph, Trombone - Gregory Davis, Trumpet - KEVIN KILLEN, Producer, Mixer, Engineer - Pete Thomas, Drums - MITCHELL FROOM, Producer - Max Garcia, AssistantEngineer - ELVIS COSTELLO, Writer, MainArtist - Dirty Dozen Brass Band, Performance - Efrem Towns, Trumpet - Kevin Harris, Tenor Saxophone - D.P.A. MAC MANUS, Composer, Producer - McManus, Writer - Richard Sullivan, AssistantEngineer - Jerry Shreff, Bass - Kirk Joseph, Horn
2009 © 1991 Warner Records Inc. ℗ 1991 Warner Records Inc.
Rob Wasserman, Bass - O'Riordan, Writer - Jim Keltner, Drums - Larry Knechtel, Organ - KEVIN KILLEN, Producer, Mixer, Engineer - MITCHELL FROOM, Producer, Chamberlain Strings - Marc Ribot, Electric Guitar - Max Garcia, AssistantEngineer - ELVIS COSTELLO, Chamberlain Strings, Piano, Vocals, Writer, MainArtist - D.P.A. MAC MANUS, Producer - Richard Sullivan, AssistantEngineer - Cait O'Riordan, Writer
2009 © 1991 Warner Records Inc. ℗ 1991 Warner Records Inc.
Benmont Tench, Contributor - Larry Knechtel, Piano - KEVIN KILLEN, Producer, Mixer, Engineer - Jerry Scheff, Tuba, Bass - MITCHELL FROOM, Producer, Chamberlain Strings - Marc Ribot, Banjo, Cornet - Max Garcia, AssistantEngineer - ELVIS COSTELLO, Contributor, Piano, Vocals, MainArtist - D.P.A. MAC MANUS, Composer, Lyricist, Producer - Richard Sullivan, AssistantEngineer - D.P.A. McManus, Writer - Michell Froom, Contributor
2009 © 1991 Warner Records Inc. ℗ 1991 Warner Records Inc.
Album review
If Spike seemed frustratingly incoherent, it's nothing compared to Mighty Like a Rose, a deliberately dense, difficult record that is easily the most impenetrable that Elvis Costello ever cut. With producers Mitchell Froom and Kevin Killen, Costello made a record with no easy entrances, even if the sparkling Beach Boys-esque "The Other Side of Summer" and the lovely "So Like Candy" would have been accessible with different production. And, certainly, production is the most notable thing about this record. Filled with clattering production, spongy bass, cardboard guitars, studio white noise, and layers upon layers of tracks, there's so much going on that it's hard to get to the core of the songs. Not that Costello makes it any easier for the listener, either, since only a few songs (the aforementioned pair, plus "All Grown Up" and "Playboy to a Man") don't seem self-satisfied in their own construction. And his performances are nearly as affected as the songs, as he over-sings (albeit for effect) and contributes to the muddy wall of sound. Yes, this is "interesting," but it takes many plays before you realize all those "interesting" effects lead nowhere -- only to the strangest record Costello ever cut (and that's not a compliment, unfortunately).
© Stephen Thomas Erlewine /TiVo
About the album
- 1 disc(s) - 14 track(s)
- Total length: 00:54:14
- Main artists: Elvis Costello
- Composer: Various Composers
- Label: Rhino - Warner Records
- Genre: Pop/Rock Rock
2009 © 1991 Warner Records Inc. 2009 ℗ 1991 Warner Records Inc. Marketed by Rhino Entertainment Company, a Warner Music Group Company.
Why buy on Qobuz...
-
Stream or download your music
Buy an album or an individual track. Or listen to our entire catalogue with our high-quality unlimited streaming subscriptions.
-
Zero DRM
The downloaded files belong to you, without any usage limit. You can download them as many times as you like.
-
Choose the format best suited for you
Download your purchases in a wide variety of formats (FLAC, ALAC, WAV, AIFF...) depending on your needs.
-
Listen to your purchases on our apps
Download the Qobuz apps for smartphones, tablets and computers, and listen to your purchases wherever you go.