Armed Forces  by Elvis Costello

Elvis Costello, along with the band The Attractions, were at Eden Studio in London between August and September of 1978, preparing Armed Forces, Costello's third album, which would be released on January 5, 1979. Armed Forces is the second album where Costello collaborates with The Attractions. The album was released with a different cover in the United Kingdom and Europe than the one the American edition had. The idea for the herd of elephants was from British graphic artist Barney Bubbles.

All twelve compositions of the album belong to Elvis Costello and are in the spirit of the new wave, which was beginning to form in Britain during that period. From Armed Forces, the songs Oliver's Army and Accidents Will Happen stood out as singles, songs now considered some of the artist's most characteristic. The album's producer was Nick Lowe.

Armed Forces reached No. 2 in the United Kingdom and No. 10 in the United States. Its sales exceeded 300,000 in Great Britain and 500,000 in the U.S. In short, Armed Forces was the album with which Costello caught everyone's attention.