I'll claim EC fan status, although its my wife that really carries the torch. She's besotted! In fact I met her because our "matchmaker" knew she was a fan, and I had just been to see him (Armed forces tour, what, 1979).

As rvance and I nodded together, Armed Forces really takes it for me. Again its the considerable increase in sophistication that overcompensates for the slight reduction in passion compared to This Year's Model, which I also really really like. My Aim is True -- also amazing, but without the Attractions, doesn't quite measure up: I really appreciate the ensemble with the Attractions.

I'll mention just a couple standouts from later on:
Painted from Memory (with Burt Bacharach). Of all his significant departures from his core style (maybe not counting King of America, which is very roughly still in his usual mode), he seems most natural in this one.

Brutal Youth. The Attractions are back, mid-90s. Halfway through the sessions, EC brought Bruce Thomas back -- brilliant bassist, but not an easy fit with EC personality-wise. Sulky Girl is a brilliant song. The only slight detraction on the album is that Thomas wasn't there to play bass on all of the album.

Mighty Like a Rose. Marc Ribot on guitar. Co-writing with Paul McCartney, I think a bit on this one.

As a non-LP type, I'm still waiting eagerly for his latest on CD.

Oh-- ps, maybe check out Live At El Mocambo. This Year's Model era bootleg, eventually released properly. This is how I like to hear the My Aim Is True songs, played by the Attractions.

And PPS. Hey Jazzfan, from your heads up on Hancock Does Joni: came to love the album. Have tickets to see him in June. thanks to you.

Everything he wrote and Linda Ronstadt recorded or sang.

The crcle of life is intact...