244:
Author James Perone writes that, in the song's lyrics, Costello "seems to be addressing a young woman—possibly a socialite—who is outside of his working-class world." The song's infamous opening lyric "Now that your picture's in the paper being rhythmically admired" was later described as "snide" by
241:", commenting, "'London's Brilliant Parade' is a little bit more ambivalent in its feelings towards London, than, say, 'Welcome to the Working Week,' which is very unforgiving. Maybe, as you get older, you see the two sides of it."
230:. Costello reflected on the members of Clover, "Perhaps they were not quite so sure what was going on in songs like 'Welcome to the Working Week,' ... but they were recorded before we could worry much about it."
1052:
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328:'Welcome to the Working Week, which opens the album, may carry a scathing contempt for middle-class verities, but it rocks like crazy and even manages to kid Costello's own imminent celebrity."
429:
The Album: A Guide to Pop Music's Most
Provocative, Influential, and Important Creations [4 volumes]: A Guide to Pop Music's Most Provocative, Influential, and Important Creations
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222:
that was written during a span of "two or three weeks" in the summer of 1977. Like the rest of the songs on the album, it was recorded by
Costello with the American
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206:. A sardonic comment on the working life aimed at a more privileged woman, the song features a brief runtime and unpolished production. Released as the B-side to "
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stated, "The brief kick in the balls of the opening track, 'Welcome to the
Working Week,' is perhaps the album's perfect mission statement."
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described it as one of the album's "edgy rockers" and noted it as being "much more accessible" to
American listeners than the UK-centric "
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The original demo for "Welcome to the
Working Week" has been appeared on subsequent Costello releases, including the deluxe edition of
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306:"Welcome to the Working Week" has seen critical acclaim since its release and has been praised as a great opening song for the
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251:. Musically, the song is notably brief at 1:22 and features "decidedly low-tech production" from
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described the demo's inclusion as "collector bait". A live version appears on the album
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353:-style doo-doos and wah-wahs to accompany Costello's barbs about the ol' 9 to 5."
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According to
Costello, "Welcome to the Working Week" was one of several songs for
273:", the second single from the album, that same year. The single failed to chart.
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In a 1994 interview, Costello noted the song as a more bitter take on life in
117:
560:
Sutherland, Sam (December 1977). "Elvis
Costello: New wave rock classicist".
252:
135:
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Howell, Peter (2 June 1994). "Costello explains his latest
Attractions".
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ranked it as the third best song on the album, calling it "smart-aleck
263:
In addition to appearing as the opening track on
Costello's 1977 album
510:"Elvis Costello - Rock and Roll Music Album Reviews, Songs & More"
370:
Marcus, Greil (2 September 1982). "Elvis
Costello Explains Himself".
234:
210:", the song has since attracted critical acclaim from music writers.
458:"Elvis Costello's "My Aim Is True" Turns 40: Ranking All the Tracks"
622:
626:
269:, "Welcome to the Working Week" was released as the B-side to "
577:"Welcome to the Working Week by Elvis Costello - Track Info"
1053:
The Very Best of Elvis Costello and The Attractions 1977–86
451:
449:
1171:(What's So Funny 'Bout) Peace, Love, and Understanding
331:
Retrospective writers have also singled out the song.
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1608:Bespoke Songs, Lost Dogs, Detours & Rendezvous
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1089:The Best of Elvis Costello: The First 10 Years
1018:The Best of Elvis Costello and the Attractions
1011:Ten Bloody Marys & Ten How's Your Fathers
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484:"Costello aims to revisit last years' models"
196:" is a song written by and first recorded by
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1530:Lost on the River: The New Basement Tapes
349:with crunchy guitars, clapping drums and
335:praised it as a "compact pop gem" while
1587:Unfaithful Music & Disappearing Ink
362:
38:
27:
1645:Song recordings produced by Nick Lowe
1096:The Songs of Bacharach & Costello
16:1977 song performed by Elvis Costello
7:
1128:(The Angels Wanna Wear My) Red Shoes
1051:
426:Perone, James E. (17 October 2012).
178:(The Angels Wanna Wear My) Red Shoes
14:
1601:Now Ain't the Time for Your Tears
1193:I Can't Stand Up for Falling Down
534:Marcus, Greil (1 December 1977).
310:album. Upon its release in 1977,
602:"Elvis Costello: My Aim Is True"
1640:Songs written by Elvis Costello
1142:(I Don't Want to Go to) Chelsea
1075:The Very Best of Elvis Costello
905:Secret, Profane & Sugarcane
280:and the 2007 compilation album
1579:Other works / related articles
1340:The Other End of the Telescope
1:
1284:Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood
482:Graff, Gary (18 April 2007).
24:"Welcome to the Working Week"
200:in 1977 for his debut album
1393:Welcome to the Working Week
194:Welcome to the Working Week
169:Welcome to the Working Week
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1221:From a Whisper to a Scream
508:Erlewine, Stephen Thomas.
284:. For the latter release,
1509:Terror & Magnificence
1333:London's Brilliant Parade
1263:Everyday I Write the Book
1235:A Good Year for the Roses
660:
239:London's Brilliant Parade
149:
1537:The Resurrection of Rust
1312:The Other Side of Summer
385:Costello, Elvis (2001).
1484:I Hope You're Happy Now
1135:Watching the Detectives
849:All This Useless Beauty
290:Stephen Thomas Erlewine
1270:The Only Flame in Town
986:Live at Hollywood High
958:Live at the El Mocambo
488:The Hollywood Reporter
295:Live at the El Mocambo
1414:Stranger in the House
1186:Accidents Will Happen
807:Blood & Chocolate
1635:Elvis Costello songs
972:Costello & Nieve
891:The River in Reverse
237:than his 1994 song "
1569:A Face in the Crowd
1470:Jack of All Parades
1375:Complicated Shadows
979:My Flame Burns Blue
856:Painted from Memory
793:Goodbye Cruel World
395:Rhino Entertainment
282:Rock and Roll Music
1516:The Sweetest Punch
1326:13 Steps Lead Down
828:The Juliet Letters
821:Mighty Like a Rose
456:Goodman, William.
302:Critical reception
145:singles chronology
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1368:Brilliant Mistake
1039:Girls Girls Girls
744:This Year's Model
439:978-0-313-37907-9
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1594:Live Stiffs Live
1463:Indoor Fireworks
1435:New Lace Sleeves
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1032:Out of Our Idiot
1004:Taking Liberties
940:The Boy Named If
884:The Delivery Man
863:When I Was Cruel
779:Imperial Bedroom
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1249:You Little Fool
1228:Watch Your Step
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1477:Suit of Lights
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1400:Lipstick Vogue
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672:The Imposters:
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389:(CD booklet).
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198:Elvis Costello
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156:Less Than Zero
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562:High Fidelity
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540:Rolling Stone
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118:Songwriter(s)
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1456:Shipbuilding
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1242:Sweet Dreams
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751:Armed Forces
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609:. Retrieved
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584:. Retrieved
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543:. Retrieved
539:
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517:. Retrieved
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491:. Retrieved
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465:. Retrieved
461:
432:. ABC-CLIO.
428:
410:Toronto Star
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312:Greil Marcus
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224:country rock
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168:
41:
18:
1449:Almost Blue
1385:Other songs
1277:Green Shirt
1163:Radio Radio
1082:Cruel Smile
950:Live albums
772:Almost Blue
758:Get Happy!!
712:Pete Thomas
705:Steve Nieve
683:Pete Thomas
676:Steve Nieve
665:Discography
397:. R2 74285.
130:Producer(s)
69:21 May 1977
1630:1977 songs
1624:Categories
1421:Girls Talk
1319:Sulky Girl
1298:Blue Chair
1291:I Want You
1149:Pump It Up
611:7 December
586:7 December
545:7 December
519:7 December
493:7 December
467:7 December
357:References
351:Girl Group
214:Background
1070:(bootleg)
606:Pitchfork
462:Billboard
343:Billboard
338:Pitchfork
253:Nick Lowe
248:Billboard
136:Nick Lowe
1428:Riot Act
1305:Veronica
1214:Clubland
1046:2½ Years
926:Look Now
898:Momofuku
877:Il Sogno
581:AllMusic
514:AllMusic
347:pub-rock
333:AllMusic
286:AllMusic
109:Columbia
74:Recorded
66:Released
1106:Singles
1025:The Man
324:wrote,
288:writer
259:Release
182:(1977)
173:(1977)
160:(1977)
1555:G.B.H.
1547:Scores
1121:Alison
564:: 138.
436:
393:. US:
271:Alison
235:London
228:Clover
208:Alison
165:Alison
82:Length
59:Alison
52:A-side
30:Single
870:North
814:Spike
765:Trust
226:band
167:" / "
104:Stiff
99:Label
613:2022
588:2022
547:2022
521:2022
495:2022
469:2022
434:ISBN
111:(US)
106:(UK)
77:1977
1354:She
318:".
32:by
1626::
1361:45
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418:^
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