Spike is the twelfth studio album by Elvis Costello, which appeared after a two-year layoff. For this album he worked together with greats such as Paul McCartney, Roger McGuinn (The Byrds) and The Dirty Dozen Brass Band. This collaboration resulted in an album chock-full of variety; soul, Broadway, rockabilly, pop. The album cover says “The Beloved Entertainer” and critics could not agree more.