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Cover of Armed Forces by Elvis Costello & the Attractions
Cover: Armed Forces

Song · Elvis Costello & the Attractions

“Oliver's Army” by Elvis Costello & the Attractions

From the album Armed Forces (1979)

“Oliver's Army” by Elvis Costello & the Attractions appears on 27 radio countdowns from 8 stations between 1990 and 2020. It was first released in 1979 on the album Armed Forces. Its best result is #35 on the Virgin Radio Top 500 Songs of All-Time (December 2001). In the combined RockLists rankings it is #600 alternative song of all time.

27countdowns
8stations
#35best position
0#1 finishes
0top 10 finishes
1990–2020years charted

Watch

Elvis Costello & The Attractions - Oliver's Army

Video from YouTube (ElvisCostelloVEVO). Pressing play loads YouTube's player. Watch on YouTube

"Oliver's Army" came out in January 1979 on Armed Forces, and it is Elvis Costello & the Attractions at their most deceptively sunny. Costello, credited as Declan Patrick MacManus, wrote the words and the music, sang it and played guitar, and Nick Lowe produced it with Roger Bechirian engineering.

The trick is in the band. Steve Nieve piles on organ, piano and synthesizer until the whole thing glitters like a pop single from a jukebox in heaven, while Bruce Thomas's bass bounces and Pete Thomas drums with a light, driving snap. Costello's vocal has a bite that cuts against all that sparkle, and the result is the kind of record you hum all afternoon.

Written with AI assistance from RockLists chart data, MusicBrainz.

RockLists rankings

Alternative & Modern Rock

Indie & Adult Alternative

Classic Rock

All Rock Formats

All-time and decade countdowns

Year#StationCountdownof
1990 119 Live 105 Live 105 Top 300 Songs of All-Time (Memorial Day 1990) 299
1997 465 102.3 WBAB WBAB Top 1,023 Rock and Roll Songs of All Time (1997) 1023
1999 454 107.7 The End The End Top 1077 Songs of All-Time (December 1999) 1077
1999 608 CD101 CD101 Top 2000 Songs of All-Time (December 1999) 2000
2000 608 CD101 CD101 Top 2001 Songs of All-Time (December 2000) 2001
2001 608 CD101 CD101 Top 2002 Songs of All-Time (December 2001) 2002
2001 35 Virgin Radio Virgin Radio Top 500 Songs of All-Time (December 2001) 500
2001 239 WFPK WFPK 2001 Greatest Songs of All Time 2000
2002 608 CD101 CD101 Top 2003 Songs of All-Time (December 2002) 2003
2002 1559 Fred (XM 44) Fred XM Top 2002 Songs of All-Time (July 2002) 2002
2003 608 CD101 CD101 Top 2004 Songs of All-Time (December 2003) 2004
2003 561 Fred (XM 44) Fred XM Top 2044 Songs of All-Time (July 2003) 2044
2004 608 CD101 CD101 Top 2005 Songs of All-Time (December 2004) 2005
2004 61 Virgin Radio Virgin Radio Top 500 Songs of All-Time (December 2004) 500
2004 591 WXPN WXPN 885 All-Time Greatest Songs (2004) 885
2005 608 CD101 CD101 Top 2006 Songs of All-Time (December 2005) 1994
2005 132 Virgin Radio Virgin Radio Top 500 Songs of All-Time (December 2005) 500
2005 75 Virgin Radio Virgin Radio Top 100 Brit Songs of All-Time (May 2005) 100
2006 216 Virgin Radio Virgin Radio Top 500 Songs of All-Time (December 2006) 500
2007 721 CD101 CD101 Top 2008 Songs of All-Time (December 2007) 2008
2008 685 CD101 CD101 Top 2009 Songs of All-Time (December 2008) 2009
2009 704 CD101 CD101 Top 2010 Songs of All-Time (December 2009) 2010
2010 722 CD101 CD101 Top 2011 Songs of All-Time (December 2010) 2011
2011 742 CD101 CD101 Top 2012 Songs of All-Time (December 2011) 2011
2013 762 CD101 CD101 Top 2013 Songs of All-Time (December 2013) 2012
2014 789 CD101 CD101 Top 2014 Songs of All-Time (2014) 2013
2020 1802 WXPN WXPN 2020 Greatest Songs of All Time 2020

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