Costello reissues to feature bonus rarities disc
Jam!, 2001-05-07

 

Costello reissues to feature bonus rarities disc

By JAM! Music

Elvis Costello's oft-reissued early albums are about to get their most extensive makeover yet.

Billboard reports that Rhino Records will release Costello's Columbia and Warner Bros. catalogue -- with a full disc of rarities appended to each original album.

The reissue program kicks off Aug. 7 with Costello's 1977 Columbia debut "My Aim Is True," his 1989 Warner debut "Spike", and his 1996 Warner swan song, "All This Useless Beauty."

The original albums were all given an initial release by their respective labels on vinyl and CD, then reissued as two-fers by Rykodisc, with some additional rarities and demos added to each disc. They have also been made available as downloadable online files.

Billboard said Rhino plans to put out the albums in thematic groups rather than chronologically, with a new set coming every three months until 2003.

Costello told Billboard "My Aim Is True" will contain the additional material included on the Ryko version, plus what he described as a "killer version" of "No Action," which was later re-recorded as the kickoff song on Costello's sophomore effort, "This Year's Model."

"All This Useless Beauty" will swell with radically different acoustic demos and four-track demos of the songs that ended up on the final album.

Billboard said the second wave of reissues will come Oct. 16, comprising three albums showcasing Costello's backing trio, The Attractions: 1978's "This Year's Model," 1986's "Blood And Chocolate", and 1994's "Brutal Youth."

January, 2002 will bring Costello's three most elaborate pop albums: 1979's "Armed Forces," 1982's "Imperial Bedroom", and 1991's "Mighty Like A Rose."

April 2002 will see the release of 1980's "Get Happy!," 1981's "Trust", and 1983's "Punch The Clock."

July 2002 sees Costello's exploration of American roots music resurfacing: 1981's "Almost Blue," 1986's "King Of America", and 1995's "Kojak Variety," the report said.

 

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