On this day in music history: February 15, 1980 - “Get Happy!!”, the third album by Elvis Costello & The Attractions (his fourth overall) is released. Produced by Nick Lowe, it is recorded at Wisseloord Studios in Hilversum, Netherlands in October 1979. The twenty track album is recorded as a tribute to R&B and soul music, in the wake of a drunken argument that Costello has with singer Bonnie Bramlett and musician Stephen Stills, in which Costello makes derogatory remarks about James Brown and Ray Charles. He makes a public apology after Bramlett speaks to the press about the incident. The albums iconic cover art by F-Beat Records graphic design artist Barney Bubbles (aka Colin Fulcher) is designed to look like a 60’s era LP, including ringwear on the front and back of the jacket. Reissued numerous times since making its CD debut in 1985, the album has been remastered and reissued as a double CD edition by Rhino Records in 2003, with the second disc containing previously unreleased tracks and demo recordings. Currently under license to Universal/Hip-O Records, “Get Happy!!” is remastered and reissued in 2007, minus any additional bonus tracks. Audiophile label Mobile Fidelity Sound Lab reissued the title as a double vinyl 180 gram LP in 2011, mastered at 45 RPM. Universal/UMe follows suit with a double vinyl LP (though mastered at 33 1/3 RPM) in 2015, for improved fidelity due to the albums’ forty eight minute plus running time. “Get Happy!!” peaks at number two on the UK album chart, and number eleven on the Billboard Top 200.
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