The debut album by Elvis Costello is an underestimated classic. Most of us know a song or two from it, but it was chock full of great songs and although Costello has had a great music career, I find it hard to say he’s done anything better than this first album.
And maybe the most underestimated song on this underestimated classic album is Less Than Zero.
Costello came in during the Punk wave and was treated as part of it. Maybe he was, maybe he wasn’t. His Saturday Night Live performance was about as cool as things were on SNL at the time, and I bought this album the day after at Galaxy Records in Livermore. Ahh, good times at the record store.
If you lived in the 1970s you’ll know this tune, and if not, give it a listen.