In 1978,
Elvis Costello and
the Attractions recorded a cover of "(What's So Funny 'Bout) Peace, Love, and Understanding" for the B-side of Nick Lowe's 1978 single "American Squirm", a version credited to "Nick Lowe and His Sound". This version, produced by Lowe, was appended to the US release of Costello's 1979 album
Armed Forces and has since usurped the original in popularity to become one of Costello's signature songs.
Background Costello and the Attractions recorded their version of "(What's So Funny 'Bout) Peace, Love, and Understanding" during their sessions for Costello's third album,
Armed Forces. At the time Lowe was Costello's producer, and produced this track as well. Lowe recalled of the process: Costello in his autobiography contended that Brinsley Schwarz's original "had originally seemed almost tongue-in-cheek, a take on that brief period after
flower power when
Tin Pan Alley staff songwriters seemed to say 'Hey, let's get in on some of this crazy 'peace' and 'love' stuff that the kids are digging today'." He then characterized his cover with the Attractions as "not quite so genial".
Release Costello's version was first released on Lowe's "American Squirm" single in 1978. Though credited to "Nick Lowe and His Sound", the single artwork alluded to Costello's involvement. Costello explained, "I do recall that Nick was pictured on the sleeve wearing a pair of my dark hornrims, clutching my
Jazzmaster, with the name 'Costello' inlaid on the neck. I think it was what you might call a clue." When the song became a hit, it was quickly appended as the last track to the US edition of Costello's album
Armed Forces. At the insistence of
Columbia Records, it replaced "Sunday's Best", which the label considered "too English". was filmed in
Vancouver in November 1978, while Costello and his band were in the city to perform at
Pacific Coliseum. The video was filmed illegally after hours in
Stanley Park. It opens on a shot of the band on a beach with
Burrard Inlet and
North Vancouver in the background, and features a number of shots filmed at the park's totem pole pavilion. It has appeared on several Costello greatest hits compilations over the years, as well as on the soundtrack to the film
200 Cigarettes. Live versions appeared on
Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, Volume 7: 2002–2003, and 2012's
The Return of the Spectacular Spinning Songbook, both by Elvis Costello and the Imposters.
Critical reception Since its release, Costello's cover of "(What's So Funny 'Bout) Peace, Love, and Understanding" has attracted critical acclaim.
Janet Maslin of
Rolling Stone praised how the song "is delivered with a sincerity bordering on desperation."
AllMusic wrote, "Costello and his band tore into the song with a passionate ferocity that was rare even for one of the most solid and hard-driving
pop acts of their day. If the original was a farewell hymn, in Costello's hands '(What's So Funny 'Bout) Peace, Love, and Understanding; became a wake-up call, and no one who heard it could escape the urgency of its message. The song became something of an anthem after Costello popularized it."
PopMatters stated, "While it was possibly intended as ironic when it originally dripped from Lowe's pen, the Attractions baptize it by fire and issue forth the ultimate
punk anthem. ... It's simple, direct, forceful as all hell, and remains the most memorable song within ''Armed Forces' ''esteemed track list."
Modern Drummer said of drummer
Pete Thomas' performance, "A beautiful thing happens on this song, common to many early Attractions songs. It's that feeling that the track could derail, when in reality Thomas has everything locked down. He does a lot of playing here without overplaying. Like most Attractions songs from that era, this was cut live, full-band and lead vocal. That's probably why so many years later, it still sounds so energized and inspired." "(What's So Funny 'Bout) Peace, Love, and Understanding" has appeared on several lists of the greatest Elvis Costello songs, including ones compiled by
The London Telegraph and
uDiscoverMusic. In 2004,
Rolling Stone magazine ranked this version of the song as the 284th-best song of all time. Additionally, Costello's version has appeared on several lists of the best covers of all time; in one such list,
Paste Magazine concluded, "Its greatest triumph, however, rests with its timelessness and continued relevance, as newer bands continue to cover this song, often citing Costello's version as the source of inspiration."
Personnel •
Elvis Costello – guitar, vocals •
Steve Nieve – organ, synthesizer •
Bruce Thomas – bass •
Pete Thomas – drums ==Other recordings and performances==