Stranger in the House (song)

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Stranger in the House (song) - Wikipedia

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"Stranger in the House"
Song by George Jones, Elvis Costello
from the album My Very Special Guests
Released	1979
Recorded	18 July 1978
Genre	Country
Length	3:37
Label	Epic
Songwriter(s)	Elvis Costello
Producer(s)	Billy Sherrill

"Stranger in the House" is a song written by English musician Elvis Costello. Costello recorded the song as a duet with country music star George Jones in the summer of 1978 for Jones' 1979 album My Very Special Guests.^[1] Costello recorded an earlier solo version which surfaced as a free 7" single with the first 1000 copies of his second album This Year's Model which was released in the United Kingdom in March 1978. A third version was recorded with the Attractions for a John Peel session on 23 October 1978.^[2] According to Holly Jones-Warren's liner notes to the 2005 Legacy Records reissue of My Very Special Guests, Costello wrote the song specifically with Jones in mind, with the new wave star stating, "George Jones was my guiding light whenever I wrote in the country idiom".

According to biographer David Gouldstone, "Stranger in the House" marked Costello's first exploration into country music,^[3] which music professor James E. Perone states "paved the way" for his later forays on albums such as Almost Blue (1981).^[4] Perone states that the song demonstrates that "Costello understood the country genre musically and lyrically," explaining that "Costello's character equates his home with a transient hotel, as he explains his sense of disconnection and alienation from his family; this rings true as a metaphor that could easily be expected in an American country song.^[4] Rolling Stone critic Dave Marsh described the song as a "lovely but bizarre country oddity."^[5]

Costello said of his duet with Jones that "it was just a happy coincidence that they happened to be doing a duets record and I got invited to sing with him. Truthfully, I wish I had a George Jones solo recording of that song because my contribution to the record is probably the low point of it."^[6]

References

^ Thomson, Graham (2013). Complicated Shadows: The Life And Music Of Elvis Costello. 9781782111634. ISBN 9781782111634.
^ Moore, Bobby (30 January 2020). "Country Rewind: George Jones Teams with New Waver Elvis Costello For 'Stranger in the House'". Wide Open Country. Retrieved 7 March 2022.
^ Gouldstone, David (1989). Elvis Costello: God's Comic. New York City: St. Martin's Press. p. 39. ISBN 0-312-04309-0.
^ ^a ^b Perone, James E. (2015). The Words and Music of Elvis Costello. ABC-CLIO. pp. 22–24. ISBN 9781440832161.
^ Marsh, Dave (24 October 1980). "Elvis Costello's Newest Sounds Like Leftovers". The Charlotte Observer. p. 2D. Retrieved 7 March 2022 – via newspapers.com.
^ Okamoto, David (27 May 1995). "Costello Assesses Those Who've Got Him Covered". The Post-Star. p. D4. Retrieved 7 March 2022 – via newspapers.com.

v t e George Jones
Albums Singles Discography with Tammy Wynette Awards
Solo studio albums	Grand Ole Opry's New Star Country Church Time White Lightning and Other Favorites George Jones Salutes Hank Williams George Jones Sings Country and Western Hits George Jones Sings from the Heart George Jones Sings Bob Wills Homecoming in Heaven My Favorites of Hank Williams I Wish Tonight Would Never End George Jones Sings Like the Dickens! I Get Lonely in a Hurry The Race Is On Mr. Country & Western Music New Country Hits Old Brush Arbors Trouble in Mind Country Heart Love Bug I'm a People We Found Heaven Right Here on Earth at "4033" Walk Through This World with Me George Jones Sings the Songs of Dallas Frazier The George Jones Story My Country If My Heart Had Windows I'll Share My World with You Where Grass Won't Grow Will You Visit Me on Sunday George Jones with Love George Jones Sings the Great Songs of Leon Payne George Jones (We Can Make It) A Picture of Me (Without You) Nothing Ever Hurt Me (Half as Bad as Losing You) In a Gospel Way The Grand Tour Memories of Us The Battle Alone Again I Wanta Sing Bartender's Blues My Very Special Guests I Am What I Am Still the Same Ole Me Shine On Jones Country You've Still Got a Place in My Heart Ladies' Choice Who's Gonna Fill Their Shoes Wine Colored Roses Too Wild Too Long One Woman Man You Oughta Be Here with Me And Along Came Jones Walls Can Fall High-Tech Redneck The Bradley Barn Sessions I Lived to Tell It All It Don't Get Any Better Than This Cold Hard Truth The Rock: Stone Cold Country 2001 The Gospel Collection Hits I Missed...And One I Didn't Burn Your Playhouse Down – The Unreleased Duets
Collaborative studio albums	What's in Our Heart (with Melba Montgomery) Close Together (As You and Me) (with Melba Montgomery) Bluegrass Hootenanny (with Melba Montgomery) George Jones & Gene Pitney – For the First Time! Two Great Stars George Jones & Gene Pitney – Recorded in Nashville, Tennessee! (with Gene Pitney) It's Country Time Again! (with Gene Pitney) Double Trouble (with Johnny Paycheck) A Taste of Yesterday's Wine (with Merle Haggard) Kickin' Out the Footlights...Again (with Merle Haggard) George Jones & The Smoky Mountain Boys
Compilation albums	Hillbilly Hit Parade George Jones Singing 14 Top Country Song Favorites George Jones Sings His Greatest Hits The Fabulous Country Music Sound of George Jones Long Live King George The Crown Prince of Country Music A King & Two Queens (with Judy Lynn and Melba Montgomery) Blue & Lonesome Heartaches & Tears Famous Country Duets Hits by George The Best of George Jones All-Time Greatest Hits, Vol. 1 Encore Anniversary – 10 Years of Hits By Request Super Hits Friends in High Places Super Hits, Volume 2 16 Biggest Hits 50 Years of Hits God's Country: George Jones and Friends
Live albums	First Time Live Live at Dancetown U.S.A. Live with the Possum
Related artists	Merle Haggard Melba Montgomery Johnny Paycheck Gene Pitney Margie Singleton Tammy Wynette
Related articles	George & Tammy

v t e Elvis Costello
Discography The Imposters: Steve Nieve Pete Thomas Davey Faragher The Attractions: Steve Nieve Pete Thomas Bruce Thomas
Studio albums	My Aim Is True This Year's Model Armed Forces Get Happy!! Trust Almost Blue Imperial Bedroom Punch the Clock Goodbye Cruel World King of America Blood & Chocolate Spike Mighty Like a Rose The Juliet Letters Brutal Youth Kojak Variety All This Useless Beauty Painted from Memory When I Was Cruel North Il Sogno The Delivery Man The River in Reverse Momofuku Secret, Profane & Sugarcane National Ransom Wise Up Ghost Look Now Hey Clockface The Boy Named If
Live albums	Live at the El Mocambo Deep Dead Blue Costello & Nieve My Flame Burns Blue Live at Hollywood High
Compilations	Taking Liberties Ten Bloody Marys & Ten How's Your Fathers The Best of Elvis Costello and the Attractions The Man Out of Our Idiot Girls Girls Girls 2½ Years The Very Best of Elvis Costello and The Attractions 1977–86 Extreme Honey Costello Album (bootleg) The Very Best of Elvis Costello Cruel Smile The Best of Elvis Costello: The First 10 Years The Songs of Bacharach & Costello
Singles	"Less Than Zero" "Alison" "(The Angels Wanna Wear My) Red Shoes" "Watching the Detectives" "(I Don't Want to Go to) Chelsea" "Pump It Up" "This Year's Girl" "Radio Radio" "(What's So Funny 'Bout) Peace, Love, and Understanding" "Oliver's Army" "Accidents Will Happen" "I Can't Stand Up for Falling Down" "High Fidelity" "New Amsterdam" "Clubland" "From a Whisper to a Scream" "Watch Your Step" "A Good Year for the Roses" "Sweet Dreams" "You Little Fool" "Man Out of Time" "Everyday I Write the Book" "The Only Flame in Town" "Green Shirt" "Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood" "I Want You" "Blue Chair" "Veronica" "The Other Side of Summer" "Sulky Girl" "13 Steps Lead Down" "London's Brilliant Parade" "The Other End of the Telescope" "You Bowed Down" "She" "45" "Brilliant Mistake" "Complicated Shadows"
Other songs	"Welcome to the Working Week" "Lipstick Vogue" "Senior Service" "Stranger in the House" "Girls Talk" "Riot Act" "New Lace Sleeves" "Beyond Belief" "Almost Blue" "Shipbuilding" "Indoor Fireworks" "Jack of All Parades" "Suit of Lights" "I Hope You're Happy Now" "Next Time Round"
Collaborations	Terror & Magnificence The Sweetest Punch For the Stars Lost on the River: The New Basement Tapes The Resurrection of Rust
Scores	G.B.H. Jake's Progress A Face in the Crowd
Other works / related articles	Unfaithful Music & Disappearing Ink Live Stiffs Live Now Ain't the Time for Your Tears Bespoke Songs, Lost Dogs, Detours & Rendezvous

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