Elvis Costello – My Aim Is True

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Genre:	Rock
Style:	Pop Rock
Year:	1977

Tracklist

		Welcome To The Working Week	1:20
		Miracle Man	2:40
		No Dancing	2:30
		Blame It On Cain	2:00
		Alison	2:00
		Sneaky Feelings	2:30
		(The Angels Wanna Wear My) Red Shoes	2:30
		Less Than Zero	1:30
		Mystery Dance	2:00
		Pay It Back	2:00
		I'm Not Angry	2:30
		Waiting For The End Of The World	3:40

Credits (5)

Porky (5)
Lacquer Cut By
EG*
Mastered By [Plating]
Keith Morris (8)
Photography By [Photos]
Nick Lowe
Producer
Elvis Costello
Written-By

Notes

Early UK LP covers have a black & white photo on the front with red lettering, and several different coloured backs including:
- Yellow back version (My Aim Is True (promo)
- Pink back version (My Aim Is True)
- Blue back version (My Aim Is True)
- Orange back version (My Aim Is True)
- Green back version (My Aim Is True)
- Purple back version (My Aim Is True)
- Crimson back version (My Aim Is True)
- Beige back version (My Aim Is True)

The early covers also have different manufacturer credits on the back cover and label. There are thought to be at least 11 different cover variations.

Later issues have added a green tint on the front picture and a green back (My Aim Is True)

First US issues (1977) have a yellow back-cover background. All represses and reissues from 1978 on have white back-cover backgrounds.

Release dates:
• UK: July 22, 1977
• US: November 1, 1977

Versions

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209 versions

Image	,	–			In Your Collection, Wantlist, or Inventory	Version Details	Data Quality
	My Aim Is True LP, Album, Pink Back	Stiff Records – SEEZ 3	UK	1977	UK — 1977	Needs Changes
	My Aim Is True LP, Album, Grey labels	Stiff Records – SEEZ 3	Netherlands	1977	Netherlands — 1977
	My Aim Is True LP, Album, Red Lettering	Stiff Records – SEEZ 3		1977	— 1977	Recently Edited
	My Aim Is True LP, Album	Columbia – 35037	Canada	1977	Canada — 1977
	My Aim Is True LP, Album	Columbia – JC 35037	Canada	1977	Canada — 1977	New Submission
	My Aim Is True LP, Album	Stiff Records – SEEZ 3-NP	Portugal	1977	Portugal — 1977	New Submission
	My Aim Is True LP, Album, Stereo, Black/White Labels	Stiff Records – SEEZ 3	Netherlands	1977	Netherlands — 1977	Recently Edited
	My Aim Is True LP, Album; 7", Single	Stiff Records – 940 560		1977	— 1977	Recently Edited
	My Aim Is True LP, Album, Stereo, Yellow Back, Pitman Pressing	Columbia – 35037	US	1977	US — 1977	Recently Edited
	My Aim Is True LP, Album	Stiff Records – SEEZ.3	Australia	1977	Australia — 1977	Recently Edited
	My Aim Is True LP, Album, Blue	Stiff Records – COU/B/SEEZ 3	Belgium	1977	Belgium — 1977	Recently Edited
	My Aim Is True LP, Album, Green Background Sleeve	Stiff Records – SEEZ 3	UK	1977	UK — 1977	New Submission
	My Aim Is True LP, Album, Grey Labels	Stiff Records – SEEZ 3	Scandinavia	1977	Scandinavia — 1977	Recently Edited
	My Aim Is True Cassette, Album	Stiff Records – SEEZ 3-NP	Portugal	1977	Portugal — 1977	New Submission
	My Aim Is True LP, Album, Misprint	Stiff Records – 940 570		1977	— 1977	New Submission
	My Aim Is True Cassette, Album, Chrome	Columbia – PCT 35037	Canada	1977	Canada — 1977	New Submission
	My Aim Is True LP, Album, Yellow Back, Laminated	Stiff Records – SEEZ 3	UK	1977	UK — 1977	Recently Edited
	My Aim Is True LP, Album, Test Pressing	Stiff Records – SEEZ 3	UK	1977	UK — 1977	Recently Edited
	My Aim Is True LP, Album, Promo, Stereo	Columbia – JC 35037	US	1977	US — 1977	New Submission
	My Aim Is True LP, Album, B&W Labels	Stiff Records – SEEZ 3	Scandinavia	1977	Scandinavia — 1977	Recently Edited
	My Aim Is True LP, Album, Green Back Cover	Stiff Records – SEEZ 3	UK	1977	UK — 1977	New Submission
	My Aim Is True LP, Album, Orange Back	Stiff Records – SEEZ 3	UK	1977	UK — 1977
	My Aim Is True LP, Album, Blue Back	Stiff Records – SEEZ 3	UK	1977	UK — 1977
	My Aim Is True LP, Album, Сrimson Back	Stiff Records – SEEZ 3	UK	1977	UK — 1977	Recently Edited
	My Aim Is True Cassette, Album, Tan Shell, Dolby System	Columbia – PCT 35037	Canada	1977	Canada — 1977	New Submission
	My Aim Is True LP, Album, Beige Back	Stiff Records – SEEZ 3	UK	1977	UK — 1977	New Submission
	My Aim Is True LP, Album, Black & White Cover	Stiff Records – SEEZ 3	Scandinavia	1977	Scandinavia — 1977	Recently Edited
	My Aim Is True LP, Album, Stereo, Terre Haute Pressing, Yellow Back	Columbia – 35037	US	1977	US — 1977
	My Aim Is True Cassette, Album, Black Cassette	Stiff Records – ZSEEZ 3	UK	1977	UK — 1977	New Submission
	My Aim Is True LP, Album, Yellow Back, Non-laminated	Stiff Records – SEEZ 3	UK	1977	UK — 1977	New Submission
	My Aim Is True LP, Album, Green Back Cover	Stiff Records – SEEZ 3	UK	1977	UK — 1977	Recently Edited
	My Aim Is True LP, Album, Purple Back	Stiff Records – SEEZ 3	UK	1977	UK — 1977	New Submission
	My Aim Is True 8-Track Cartridge, Album, Black Shell	Columbia – JCA 35037	US	1977	US — 1977	New Submission
	My Aim Is True LP, Album	Stiff Records – SEEZ 3	Hong Kong	1977	Hong Kong — 1977	New Submission
	My Aim Is True LP, Album, Limited Edition	Stiff Records – SEEZ 3	UK	1977	UK — 1977	New Submission
	My Aim Is True 8-Track Cartridge, Album, Stereo, Orange Shell, Dolby	Columbia – PCA 35037	US	1977	US — 1977	New Submission
	My Aim Is True 8-Track Cartridge, Album, Stereo, Dolby	Columbia – PCA 35037	Canada	1977	Canada — 1977	Recently Edited
	My Aim Is True LP, Album, Red Labels	Stiff Records – SEEZ 3	Netherlands	1977	Netherlands — 1977
	My Aim Is True LP, Album	Stiff Records – SEEZ 3	Finland	1977	Finland — 1977	New Submission
	My Aim Is True Cassette, Album, Grey	Stiff Records – ZSEEZ 3	UK	1977	UK — 1977	New Submission

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Reviews

jacksnee Mar 20, 2025
referencing My Aim Is True (LP, Album, Reissue, Yellow / Green background color of back cover) R1 74285

Kevin Gray cut! Sounds great, thumps on the low end and tames the highs just a bit, vibrant midrange gives space to the music. You should play this loudly!
bartonb Feb 10, 2025
referencing My Aim Is True (LP, Album, Reissue, Yellow / Green background color of back cover) R1 74285

Fantastic mastering / pressing. Have only compared it to an older US OG, but this cut manages to both sound clearer and wider while preserving the tattered, caustic edges of the music. Guitar and vocals are very forward (in a good way.)
joniohill Jan 29, 2025
referencing My Aim Is True (LP, Album, Pink Back) SEEZ 3

Strange that I don’t see a mention of the German version (Stiff label, red back cover, blue lettering) omitting Watching the Detectives! Crazy!
Pepsidud Jan 15, 2025
Edited 4 months ago

referencing My Aim Is True (LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo, Carrollton Pressing) JC 35037

I was extremely unlucky to spend $10 on this at a flea market. Avoid this pressing at all costs!!! Costello's vocals sounds like they're being amplified out of a paper cup. Drums that are practically intangible. Hearable surface noise through EVERY SONG. Just hope I can find that get my money back.
MarquisSmith Oct 13, 2024
referencing My Aim Is True (LP, Album, Limited Edition, Numbered, Reissue, Remastered, Special Edition, Half Speed Mastered) MFSL 1-329

Very surprised at the reviews here. I've had multiple Stiff and Columbia LPs of this problematic recording. I usually find MoFi remasters too "audiophile" at the expense of punch and coherence. But this one needs all the eq'd presence as they can give because otherwise it's dead in the mids. The MoFi is the best LP so far. Would love to hear what Bernie Grundman could do.
mellow_yellow Aug 12, 2024
referencing My Aim Is True (13×File, WAV, Album, Remastered, Stereo, Hi-Res 24-bit / 192-Khz) none

This 24-bit 192-kHz remaster, issued 47 (!) years after its debut, sounds amazing. The clarity, dynamics, and mix are perfect. The soundstage is very wide and deep, making speakers nearly disappear. The vocals are located well in front of the music, like a hologram. Excellent!
kevin67 Aug 9, 2024
referencing My Aim Is True (LP, Album, Reissue, 180g) 602547331144

This is a pretty good pressing. I would bet there are better pressings, but you won’t be disappointed with this one. You have to turn it up a bit to feel the bass and drums.

Awesome songs. My favorite record of Elvis C. This record deserves a Rhino Hi Fi type reissue.
U-Funk Aug 2, 2024
referencing My Aim Is True (LP, Album, Yellow Back, Laminated) SEEZ 3

I would volunteer that this particular issue may have been the “original” general-release first pressing.
This due to the fact that UK record companies habit of laminated sleeves on first/earliest editions, before issuing higher numbers of LPs in un-laminated sleeves once the LP proved popular and sold in higher quantities.
Obviously to keep the unit costs down.
(Rarely, if ever, were laminated sleeves offered AFTER the initial pressings.)
MrDayInTheUk Jul 15, 2024
referencing My Aim Is True (LP, Album) SEEZ 3 NP

This turned up today via ebay. Seller listed it as a UK press but its the Portuguese version. Not complaining as it sounds great. Punchy, jerky, and definitely an improvement over my Rhino double CD (although that one is very listenable plus has great bonuses)
Not as strong an album as the Attractions era sequels but still plenty to enjoy : the three singles, Working Week, Miracle Man, Mystery Dance, Im Not Angry and Waiting For The End Of The World, with its stream of consciousness lyrics.
Great start. What a career !

4.5/5
skaroly Jun 23, 2024
referencing My Aim Is True (LP, Album, Stereo, Yellow Back, Pitman Pressing) JC 35037

I have a copy of this with the variant 1 runout groove stamp, but the A-side label is cut off and only shows the first three tracks. Looks like a misprint. Anyone else seen one of these? No Dancing is partially cut off and the rest of the a-side is not labeled. The back of the jacket is yellow.