Punch the Clock

Punch the Clock
Punch the Clock
Studio album by Elvis Costello and the Attractions
Released	5 August 1983
Recorded	January–April 1983
Genre	New wave, power pop
Length	45:19
Label	F-Beat (UK); Columbia (US); Rykodisc (28 February 1995 Reissue); Rhino (9 September 2003 Reissue); Hip-O (1 May 2007 Reissue)
Producer	Clive Langer & Alan Winstanley, assisted by Gavin Greenaway &
Elvis Costello and the Attractions chronology

Professional ratings
Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic	^[1]
Blender	^[2]
Chicago Tribune	^[3]
Entertainment Weekly	A^[4]
Mojo	^[5]
Rolling Stone	^[6]
The Rolling Stone Album Guide	^[7]
Sounds	^[8]
Uncut	^[9]
The Village Voice	B+^[10]

Punch the Clock is the seventh album by Elvis Costello and the Attractions, released in 1983.^[11]^[12] It was Costello's eighth album, his seventh with the Attractions since 1978. The album featured Costello's first US Top 40 hit, "Everyday I Write the Book." It was produced by Clive Langer and Alan Winstanley, who also produced Costello's following album, Goodbye Cruel World.

It was ranked as the number 1 "Album of the Year" for 1983 by NME;^[13] thirty years later, the magazine ranked it at number 345 in its list of "The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time".^[14]

Critical reception[]

In The Village Voice's annual Pazz & Jop critics poll for the year's best albums, Punch the Clock finished at #11.^[15] Trouser Press called the album "another tour de force."^[16]

Track listing[]

All songs written by Elvis Costello unless otherwise indicated.

Side one

"Let Them All Talk" – 3:06
"Everyday I Write the Book" – 3:54
"The Greatest Thing" – 3:04
"The Element Within Her" – 2:52
"Love Went Mad" – 3:13
"Shipbuilding" (Clive Langer, Costello) – 4:53

Side two

"T.K.O. (Boxing Day)" – 3:28
"Charm School" – 3:55
"The Invisible Man" – 3:04
"Mouth Almighty" – 3:04
"King of Thieves" – 3:45
"Pills and Soap" – 3:43
"The World and His Wife" – 3:32

Bonus tracks (1995 Rykodisc)

"Heathen Town" – 3:10
"The Flirting Kind" – 3:00
"Walking on Thin Ice" (Yoko Ono) – 3:52
"The Town Where Time Stood Still" – 3:32
"Shatterproof" (Demo) – 2:19
"The World and his Wife" (Live) – 3:13
"Everyday I Write the Book" (Live) – 2:21

Bonus disc (2003 Rhino)

"Everyday I Write the Book" (Alternate version) – 2:22
"Baby Pictures" – 1:30
"Heathen Town" – 3:10
"The Flirting Kind" – 3:00
"Walking on Thin Ice" (Ono) – 3:52
"Big Sister's Clothes/Stand Down, Margaret" (BBC Session) (Costello, , Andy Cox, Everett Morton, David Steele, Dave Wakeling) – 5:17
"Danger Zone" (BBC Session) (Percy Mayfield) – 2:18
"Seconds of Pleasure" – 3:44
"The Town Where Time Stood Still" – 3:33
"The World and his Wife" (Solo version) – 2:44
"Shatterproof" – 2:15
"Heathen Town" (Demo version) – 2:17
"The Flirting Kind" (Demo version) – 2:52
"Let Them All Talk" (Demo version) – 2:14
"King of Thieves" (Demo version) – 3:20
"The Invisible Man" (Demo version) – 2:124
"The Element Within Her" (Demo version) – 2:13
"Love Went Mad" (Demo version) – 3:01
"The Greatest Thing" (Demo version) – 2:25
"Mouth Almighty" (Demo version) – 3:03
"Charm School" (Demo version) – 2:17
"Possession" (Live) – 2:29
"Secondary Modern" (Live) – 3:02
"The Bells" (Live) (Johnny Bristol, Marvin Gaye, Anna Gordy, Elgie Stover) – 4:14
"Watch Your Step" (Live) – 3:22
"Backstabbers/King Horse" (Live) (Leon Huff, Gene McFadden, John Whitehead, Costello) – 4:47

Note: The Rykodisc version has the original tracks and bonus tracks on one CD. The Rhino version has two CDs with the original tracks on the first CD.

Personnel[]

Elvis Costello – vocals; Epiphone, Gretsch and Fender guitars; Synclavier and Casiotone; all sounds and voices on "Pills and Soap"

The Attractions

Steve Nieve – Bösendorfer piano, Emulator, Fairlight CMI, , Hammond organ, Synclavier
Bruce Thomas – Electric Wal bass guitar
Pete Thomas – Gretsch Drums, Sabian cymbals

The TKO Horns

Jim Paterson – trombone
Jeff Blythe – alto saxophone, baritone saxophone, clarinet
Paul Speare – tenor saxophone, flute
Dave Plews – trumpet

Additional personnel

Stewart Robson – trumpet & flugelhorn on "The World and His Wife"
Afrodiziak (Caron Wheeler and Claudia Fontaine) – backing vocals
Chet Baker – trumpet solo on "Shipbuilding"
David Bedford – string arrangements
Morris Pert – percussion

Technical

Phil Smee - sleeve
Nick Knight - photography

Charts[]

Album

Year	Chart	Position
1983	Billboard Pop Albums	24

Single

Year	Single	Chart	Position
1983	"Everyday I Write the Book"	Mainstream Rock	33
1983	"Everyday I Write the Book"	Pop Singles	36
1983	"Pills and Soap"	UK singles^[17]	16

References[]

^ Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "Punch the Clock – Elvis Costello / Elvis Costello & the Attractions". AllMusic. Archived from the original on 20 December 2014. Retrieved 9 May 2014.
^ Wolk, Douglas (March 2005). "Elvis Costello: Punch the Clock". Blender. Archived from the original on 4 February 2005. Retrieved 16 June 2016.
^ Kot, Greg (2 June 1991). "The Sounds Of Elvis, From San Francisco And Beyond". Chicago Tribune. Archived from the original on 22 December 2015. Retrieved 7 December 2015.
^ White, Armond (10 May 1991). "Elvis Costello's albums". Entertainment Weekly. Archived from the original on 21 October 2015. Retrieved 20 September 2015.
^ Doyle, Tom (November 2018). "Band Substance". Mojo (300): 59.
^ Connelly, Christopher (1 September 1983). "Punch The Clock". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on 14 December 2020. Retrieved 16 June 2016.
^ Sheffield, Rob (2004). "Elvis Costello". In Brackett, Nathan; Hoard, Christian (eds.). The New Rolling Stone Album Guide (4th ed.). London: Fireside Books. pp. 193–95. ISBN 0-7432-0169-8. Archived from the original on 13 December 2020. Retrieved 30 November 2011.
^ Pouncey, Edwin (30 July 1983). "Time is on my side". Sounds.
^ Wilde, Jon (October 2003). "High fidelity". Uncut (77): 132–33.
^ Christgau, Robert (11 November 1983). "Christgau's Consumer Guide". The Village Voice. Archived from the original on 24 September 2015. Retrieved 16 June 2016.
^ Browning, Boo (14 August 1983). "Elvis Costello's 'Punch the Clock'". Archived from the original on 21 June 2020. Retrieved 18 June 2020 – via www.washingtonpost.com.
^ Holden, Stephen (9 August 1983). "Rock: Elvis Costello and His Band". Archived from the original on 20 June 2020. Retrieved 18 June 2020 – via NYTimes.com.
^ "Albums and Tracks of the Year". NME. 2016. Archived from the original on 14 November 2011. Retrieved 13 March 2018.
^ "Rocklist.net....NME: The 500 Greatest Albums Of All Time : October 2013". Rocklistmusic.co.uk. Archived from the original on 4 January 2017. Retrieved 6 February 2020.
^ "The 1983 Pazz & Jop Critics Poll". The Village Voice. 28 February 1984. Archived from the original on 1 June 2019. Retrieved 12 November 2020.
^ "Elvis Costello". Archived from the original on 19 June 2020. Retrieved 18 June 2020.
^ "pills and soap | full Official Chart History | Official Charts Company". Officialcharts.com. Archived from the original on 14 December 2020. Retrieved 6 February 2020.

External links[]

"Punch the Clock" – essay by Connor Ratliff

[1] Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "Punch the Clock – Elvis Costello / Elvis Costello & the Attractions". AllMusic. Archived from the original on 20 December 2014. Retrieved 9 May 2014.

[2] Wolk, Douglas (March 2005). "Elvis Costello: Punch the Clock". Blender. Archived from the original on 4 February 2005. Retrieved 16 June 2016.

[3] Kot, Greg (2 June 1991). "The Sounds Of Elvis, From San Francisco And Beyond". Chicago Tribune. Archived from the original on 22 December 2015. Retrieved 7 December 2015.

[4] White, Armond (10 May 1991). "Elvis Costello's albums". Entertainment Weekly. Archived from the original on 21 October 2015. Retrieved 20 September 2015.

[5] Doyle, Tom (November 2018). "Band Substance". Mojo (300): 59.

[6] Connelly, Christopher (1 September 1983). "Punch The Clock". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on 14 December 2020. Retrieved 16 June 2016.

[7] Sheffield, Rob (2004). "Elvis Costello". In Brackett, Nathan; Hoard, Christian (eds.). The New Rolling Stone Album Guide (4th ed.). London: Fireside Books. pp. 193–95. ISBN 0-7432-0169-8. Archived from the original on 13 December 2020. Retrieved 30 November 2011.

[8] Pouncey, Edwin (30 July 1983). "Time is on my side". Sounds.

[9] Wilde, Jon (October 2003). "High fidelity". Uncut (77): 132–33.

[10] Christgau, Robert (11 November 1983). "Christgau's Consumer Guide". The Village Voice. Archived from the original on 24 September 2015. Retrieved 16 June 2016.

[11] Browning, Boo (14 August 1983). "Elvis Costello's 'Punch the Clock'". Archived from the original on 21 June 2020. Retrieved 18 June 2020 – via www.washingtonpost.com.

[12] Holden, Stephen (9 August 1983). "Rock: Elvis Costello and His Band". Archived from the original on 20 June 2020. Retrieved 18 June 2020 – via NYTimes.com.

[13] "Albums and Tracks of the Year". NME. 2016. Archived from the original on 14 November 2011. Retrieved 13 March 2018.

[14] "Rocklist.net....NME: The 500 Greatest Albums Of All Time : October 2013". Rocklistmusic.co.uk. Archived from the original on 4 January 2017. Retrieved 6 February 2020.

[15] "The 1983 Pazz & Jop Critics Poll". The Village Voice. 28 February 1984. Archived from the original on 1 June 2019. Retrieved 12 November 2020.

[16] "Elvis Costello". Archived from the original on 19 June 2020. Retrieved 18 June 2020.

[17] "pills and soap | full Official Chart History | Official Charts Company". Officialcharts.com. Archived from the original on 14 December 2020. Retrieved 6 February 2020.

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hide v t Elvis Costello
Discography The Imposters: Steve Nieve Pete Thomas Davey Faragher The Attractions: Steve Nieve Pete Thomas Bruce Thomas
Studio albums	My Aim Is True This Year's Model Armed Forces Get Happy!! Trust Almost Blue Imperial Bedroom Punch the Clock Goodbye Cruel World King of America Blood & Chocolate Spike Mighty Like a Rose The Juliet Letters Brutal Youth Kojak Variety All This Useless Beauty Painted from Memory When I Was Cruel North Il Sogno The Delivery Man The River in Reverse Momofuku Secret, Profane & Sugarcane National Ransom Wise Up Ghost Look Now Hey Clockface
Live albums	Live at the El Mocambo Deep Dead Blue Costello & Nieve My Flame Burns Blue Live at Hollywood High
Compilations	Taking Liberties Ten Bloody Marys & Ten How's Your Fathers The Best of Elvis Costello and the Attractions The Man Out of Our Idiot Girls Girls Girls 2½ Years The Very Best of Elvis Costello and The Attractions 1977–86 Extreme Honey Costello Album (bootleg) The Very Best of Elvis Costello Cruel Smile Rock and Roll Music The Best of Elvis Costello: The First 10 Years
Singles	"Less Than Zero" "Alison" "(The Angels Wanna Wear My) Red Shoes" "Watching the Detectives" "(I Don't Want to Go to) Chelsea" "Pump It Up" "Radio Radio" "(What's So Funny 'Bout) Peace, Love, and Understanding" "Oliver's Army" "Accidents Will Happen" "I Can't Stand Up for Falling Down" "High Fidelity" "New Amsterdam" "Clubland" "From a Whisper to a Scream" "Watch Your Step" "A Good Year for the Roses" "Sweet Dreams" "You Little Fool" "Man Out of Time" "Everyday I Write the Book" "Green Shirt" "Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood" "I Want You" "Veronica" "The Other Side of Summer" "13 Steps Lead Down" "The Other End of the Telescope" "45"
Other songs	"This Year's Girl" "Lipstick Vogue" "Senior Service" "Stranger in the House" "Girls Talk" "New Lace Sleeves" "Almost Blue" "Shipbuilding" "Brilliant Mistake" "I Hope You're Happy Now"
Collaborations	Terror & Magnificence The Sweetest Punch For the Stars Lost on the River: The New Basement Tapes
Scores	G.B.H. Jake's Progress
Other works	Unfaithful Music & Disappearing Ink