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All tracks on the following discography are produced by Nick Lowe, unless noted. Personnel is included for all tracks where known. The abbreviation "+A" means accompanied by the Attractions.
Less Than Zero (#1) / Radio Sweetheart (UK Stiff BUY 11): (+ John McFee, guitar; Nick Lowe, bass; Mickey Shine, drums; + organ). Elvis' first record. A-side appeared on My Aim Is True. "Radio Sweetheart" was a non-LP track, later issued on the LP's Hits Greatest Stiffs (UK) and Taking Liberties (US). The 45 was later issued in Stiff singles 11 through 20 box set; however; here the A-side is the version from A Bunch Of Stiff Records LP. In the Costello UK Stiff 4-pack 45 set, the first version of the track appears again. The B-side was later issued as a US Columbia single taken from Taking Liberties. 3/77, issued with a picture sleeve.
A Bunch Of Stiff Records (cover), Bunch Of Stiffs (label) (UK Stiff SEEZ 2): (+The Shamrocks (Clover?): John McFee, guitar; Nick Lowe, bass; Mickey Shine, drums; + organ). Less Than Zero (#2); plus tracks by other artists: This is a UK only various artists LP with one Costello track, "Less Than Zero." This version has an added organ part and is available only on this LP and on the 45 in the UK Stiff singles 11 through 20 box set. 4/77.
Alison (#1) / Welcome To The Working Week (UK Stiff BUY 14): (+ Clover). Both tracks are from the then soon-to-be-issued My Aim Is True. "Alison" was subsequently overdubbed with additional accompaniment for US 45 release. The Stiff single was later included in the Stiff singles 11 through 20 box set and in the Elvis UK Stiff 4-pack 45 set. 5/77, issued with a picture sleeve.
My Aim Is True (UK Stiff SEEZ 3 / US Columbia JC 35037): Welcome To The Working Week; Miracle Man; No Dancing; Blame It On Cain; Alison (#1); Sneaky Feelings; / (The Angels Wanna Wear My) Red Shoes; Less Than Zero (#1); Mystery Dance; Pay It Back; I'm Not Angry; Waiting For The End Of The World: (+ Clover, except "Less Than Zero": + John McFee, guitar; Nick Lowe, bass; Mickey Shine, drums; + organ). The UK and US versions have one major difference: the US version, issued months later, has one extra track, "Watching The Detectives," added to the end of side one. The UK LP initially was sold with a leaflet which invited the buyer to have a copy sent free to a friend, but as the album took off in sales the offer was discontinued. 7/77.
(The Angels Wanna Wear My) Red Shoes / Mystery Dance (UK Stiff BUY 15): (+ Clover). A single coupling two tracks from My Aim Is True. The 45 was later issued in Stiff singles 11 through 20 box set and in the Costello UK Stiff 45 set. Rumors are rampant regarding a special sleeve depicting a negative telephone directory print-out. No one on the Aware staff has determined whether or not this actually exists. 8/77.
Hits Greatest Stiffs (UK Stiff FIST 1): Radio Sweetheart; plus tracks by other artists: (+ John McFee, guitar; Nick Lowe, bass; Mickey Shine, drums). Another UK only various artists LP with one Elvis cut, this time "Radio Sweetheart." Elvis was the first successful Stiff artist so the company hooked record collectors into sampling their other artists while keeping the Costello collection complete. This LP came in handy for those who missed out on the initial Elvis 45 release. 9/77.
Alison (#2)/Miracle Man (live #1) (US Columbia 3-10641): (A: + Clover with additional accompaniment; B: +A). This is a very important release. The version of "Alison" featured is remixed with added strings and back-up vocals. This version appears only here and on the re-release issued four months afterward. It seems to be now permanently available on Columbia's Hall of Fame series. The live version of "Miracle Man" featured here is available only on this 45. Do not confuse it with the live version that later appeared on Live Stiffs Live. 10/77.
Watching The Detectives (#2) / Watching The Detectives (#1) (UK Stiff BUY 20 DJ: (+ The Rumour). Special UK promo 45 with an edited version of this song on the A-side, presumably for radio airplay. While it frequently happens in the States, the release of a short/long promo in England is an oddity. 10/77.
Watching The Detectives (#1) / Blame It On Cain (live): Mystery Dance (live #1) (UK Stiff BUY 20/US Columbia 3-10696); (A: +The Rumour: B: +A). The A-side soon appeared on the US My Aim Is True LP but is still a non-LP track in the UK. The two tracks on the flip were recorded live and are not available on any album. The 45 was later issued in the Stiff singles 11 through 20 box set and in the Elvis US Stiff 4-pack 45 set. 10/77, issued with a picture sleeve in the UK.
Alison (#2) /Watching The Detectives (#1) (US Columbia 3-10705): (A: + Clover with additional accompaniment: B: +The Rumour). Columbia re-releases the A-sides of their two Costello singles back-to-back. All Columbia issuings of "Alison" say that it is taken from the LP My Aim Is True. This is false since this version is non-LP. "Watching The Detectives," however, is, in fact, from the US My Aim Is True. 2/78.
Live Stiffs Live (UK Stiff GET1/US Stiff 0001: reissued in the UK as Music For Pleasure MFP 50445): I Just Don't Know What To Do With Myself (live): Miracle Man (live #2); Sex & Drugs & Rock & Roll & Chaos (live); plus tracks by other artists: (1&2: +A; 3: +A with assorted tour members). Another various artists Stiff LP, recorded live on the first of several special Stiff package tours in the UK. It contains two live Costello tracks. Elvis joins in on the chorus of Ian Dury's "Sex & Drugs & Rock & Roll & Chaos," which was the encore of these shows and had all the musicians and some other tour members singing together. This track is credited to All. These cuts are unavailable on any other release. 3/78.
(I Don't Want To Go To) Chelsea/You Belong To Me (UK Radar ADA 3): +A. Two tracks off This Year's Model, released around the same time as the LP. 3/78, issued with a picture sleeve.
This Year's Model (UK Radar RAD 3/US Columbia JC 35331, reissued in the UK on F Beat XXLP 4): No Action; This Year's Girl; The Beat; Pump It Up; Little Triggers; You Belong To Me; / Hand In Hand; (I Don't Want To Go To) Chelsea; Lip Service; Living In Paradise; Lipstick Vogue; Night Rally: (+A) . The US version of the LP (issued later) drops the "Chelsea" track and replaces "Night Rally" with "Radio, Radio." The first 10,000 copies of the UK edition contained a freebie 45 (see next entry). These first edition LP's concealed a legend in the run-off groove that said: "special pressing no. 003 ring Moira on 434 3232 for your special prize." The prize was a photo and a button of you-know-who. The US version features an interesting label design on the first pressing. The US Columbia label is usually red with gold lettered "COLUMBIA" all around the perimeter in a circle, but on this LP "COSTELLO" replaces "COLUMBIA." 3/78
Stranger In The House / Neat Neat Neat (UK Radar SAM 83): A: + Clover: B +A) This 45 was included in the first 10,000 copies of the UK edition of This Year's Model. "Stranger In The House" eventually reappeared on the US TAKING LIBERTIES LP, and was re-recorded by George Jones and Elvis in duet on George Jones' LP and 45. "Neat Neat Neat," a Damned song, was recorded live and has never reappeared. The single came with a standard glossy Radar sleeve that featured a sticker proclaiming "free album with this single." 3/78.
Pump It Up/Big Tears (US Columbia 3-10762): (A: +A; B +A with Mick Jones, lead guitar). First US single from This Year's Model. Regarding the flip, see the above entry. 5/78
Elvis Costello (12" Picture Disc) (US Columbia Elvis Costello A/B): Welcome To The Working Week; Miracle Man; (The Angels Wanna Wear My) Red Shoes; Less Than Zero (#1); Alison (#1); Watching The Detectives (#1); /Hand In Hand; No Action; This Year's Girl; Lip Service; Living In Paradise; Radio, Radio: (Side A: + Clover, except track 4: + John McFee, guitar; Nick Lowe, bass: Mickey Shine, drums; + organ; and track 6: + The Rumour/Side B: +A). This is a promotional picture disc LP put out by Columbia in the US to promote the first two LP's. Side one is drawn from My Aim Is True, the flip from This Year's Model. This has since gone on to become one of the most sought after of all the Costello rarities. 5/78.
Live At The El Mocambo (Canadian CBS CDN-10, repressed on Canadian CBS International CDN-10): Mystery Dance (live #2); Waiting For The End Of The World; Welcome To The Working Week; Less Than Zero; The Beat; Lip Service; (I Don't Want To Go To) Chelsea; Little Triggers; / Radio, Radio; Lipstick Vogue; Watching The Detectives (live #1); Miracle Man (live #3); You Belong To Me; Pump It Up: (+A). This LP, recorded March 6, 1978 (and broadcast live on radio too) in Toronto, Canada, was issued by CBS in Canada as a promotional only LP. It is a truly classic LP which features Elvis at his rawest and most rocking. It was issued twice by Canadian CBS in unknown but extremely small quantities (rumoured to be 500 copies) on a white promo label with black print. One pressing said CBS RECORDS and the other CBS INTERNATIONAL RECORDS. The latter most likely designed for export to other countries for promotional reasons, shifted "Little Triggers" from the end of side one to the beginning of side two, thereby evening the number of tracks per side to seven. When it first appeared it was demanding a collector's price in excess of $100; however, the CBS Records version was soon pressed several more times by different counterfeiters (the first unbanded, subsequent ones banded) and became one of the most popular and best selling bootlegs in record history. If you've got a copy of Live At The El Mocambo, it's probably one of the unauthorized pressings. The sound quality on most of these bootlegs is top notch and probably helped promote Elvis' career more than anything CBS has done in the US or Canada. 7/78
Radio, Radio / Tiny Steps (UK Radar ADA 24): (+A). The A-side is non-LP in the UK, but appears on the American This Year's Model. The B-side, also a UK non-LP track, eventually resurfaced on the US Taking Liberties LP. The 45 was issued with two different sets of labels, one white with black lettering and the other the standard Radar label. 10/78, issued with a picture sleeve.
Radio, Radio / Tiny Steps (UK Radar ADA 24 12" edition): (+A). This was pressed as a promo only in the UK and was not widely distributed apparently because of Elvis' dissatisfaction with it. An extremely rare collector's item as only about 1200 copies were pressed. It came in a Radar sleeve similar in design to their 7" sleeve. 10/78
American Squirm/What's So Funny 'Bout (Peace, Love and Understanding) (UK Radar ADA 26): (A: Nick Lowe +A with Elvis Costello, background vocal: Elvis Costello +A with Nick Lowe, background vocal). The A-side, credited to Nick Lowe, features Elvis on back-up vocal. This track eventually was included on the US copies of Nick Lowe's Labour Of Lust LP. The B-side, credited to Nick Lowe & his Sound, features Elvis on lead vocal with Nick singing back-up. This song is only on a 45 in England, but was added to the American edition of Armed Forces. "What's So Funny 'Bout" (whose title was later amended) later found its way to a US promo 45 finally giving Costello proper credit. 10/78, issued with a picture sleeve that features Elvis' face hidden in the clouds on the reverse side.
Now See Them Live! Spring 1978 Tour (US Columbia/Capitol AS 443): You've Gotta Be Cruel To Be Kind (by Nick Lowe with Rockpile): Radio, Radio (by Elvis Costello And The Attractions); Soul Twist (by Mink DeVille): This 12" EP was a joint promotional venture between Columbia (Lowe & Costello) and Capitol (Mink DeVille) to support a tour which featured all three artists. It was originally pressed in translucent gold vinyl, but was widely counterfeited in a milky gold vinyl. It came in a special sleeve that featured titles and ticket stubs on the cover (no pictures of the artists). 12/78
(I Don't Want To Go To) Chelsea / Tiny Steps; Night Rally (Canadian Columbia C4-8292): (+A). Issued in Canada only, this 45 was available in a limited edition, first in orange vinyl, then in black. When the 45 first appeared all three songs had been unavailable in the US. "Tiny Steps" was the UK B-side of "Radio, Radio," while the remaining two tracks, found on the UK This Year's Model, were excluded from the US Taking Liberties LP, although "Chelsea" made its actual first US appearance on the Americathon soundtrack LP. 12/78, issued with a picture sleeve. (Note: the record number seems to be a European CBS matrix).
Talking In The Dark/Wednesday Week (UK Radar RG 1): (+A). UK promo only 45 which Elvis handed out to fans at concerts in the UK, US and Europe on several occasions. Both songs were to turn up on the B-side of the UK "Accidents Will Happen" 45, and then in the US on the Taking Liberties LP. "Wednesday Week" was also assigned to the B-side of the US "New Amsterdam" 45. It had previously been imported to the US as the flip of "Green Shirt" on a Canadian 45. 12/78
Live At Hollywood High (US Columbia AS-529): Accidents Will Happen (live): Alison (live);/Watching The Detectives (live #2): (+A). This 12" EP was first available as a US-only promo for radio airplay. Because of its popularity, the EP was given a commercial release, in a 7" version, as a bonus with the UK and US Armed Forces LP's. The 12" was packaged in a plain white cardboard sleeve with a die-cut center exposing the label. None of these tracks have ever appeared on an LP. 1/79.
Armed Forces (UK Radar RAD 14/US Columbia JC 35709, reissued in the UK on F Beat XXLP 5): Accidents Will Happen; Senior Service; Oliver's Army; Big Boys; Green Shirt; Party Girl; /Goon Squad; Busy Bodies; Sunday's Best; Moods For Moderns; Chemistry Class; Two Little Hitlers: (+A). There are several interesting differences here. Musically, "Sunday's Best" from the UK version was dropped and replaced by "(What's So Funny 'Bout) Peace, Love And Understanding" on the US edition. Columbia added it to the end of side two. Both versions contained inside the 7" version of the Hollywood High EP (see the next entry). The UK edition had four postcards enclosed as well (one for each band member), and also featured a die-cut cover that folds open in all four directions. The EP was around for several months (it's still not that hard to obtain) but was eventually deleted. The packaging on the UK version also changed to a more conventional one (normal cover and no more postcards or EP) after a few months. 1/79
Live At Hollywood High (UK Radar SAM 90/US Columbia AE7 – 1171): Accidents Will Happen (live); Alison (live);/Watching The Detectives (live # 2): (+A). This is the 7" Hollywood High EP that was included …
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