LOS ANGELES — Columbia Records has signed British recording artist Elvis Costello and will release his My Aim Is True one of the fastest rising albums in England, in the United States October 31, according to Costello's American representative.
The representative. Allen Frey, of A.R.S.E. Management Inc. said Costello will embark on a concert tour of the United States Nov 15 and play in approximately 20 major markets on the tour, which
he said will last slightly more than one month.
A spokesman for CBS confirmed that Costello has been signed. but said, have no other details of the contract.
The English version of the album, which has been available in record stores stocking import albums, has been receiving air play at many FM stations and was the number 36 most active LP on last week's Cash Box FM Album Chart.
Frey said "There is a tremendous amount of excitement. The import alone has gotten so much acceptance and airplay in various Cities; San Francisco, Los Angeles, Chicago and New York, and the album isn't even available here anymore"
Costello a former computer programmer England, first came to attention less than a year ago when he turned recording artist and recorded My Aim Is True for Stiff Records, which is manufactured and distributed by Island Records in Great Britain.
The album has become one of the most popular in England and. as a result, Costello is one of the hottest concert attractions there as well. He recently played a six-week engagement at London's Nashville and, according to the club's owner, hundreds of people were turned away each night
Recently. efforts have been made by American record companies to acquire the rights distribute Stiff Records' product in the U.S. but nothing has yet been finalized.
Columbia, however, has now picked up Costello as a single artist, without gaining Stiff's other two acts, new-wave group The Damned, and Nick Lowe. who has written and produced for Graham Parker and Dave Edmunds.
Frey added that the contract with CBS is not a single album deal for My Aim Is True but said Costello will be considered a Columbia recording artist and will record his future albums for CBS.
Costello's music has been compared to that of several prominent stars. ranging from Graham Parker and Van Morrison to Bruce Springsteen and Elvis Presley, from whom he borrowed his first name.
Frey handles Graham Parker And The Rumour, Clover and is the American representative for Pink Floyd and said when Costello's album is released here it will be slightly different from the original English version.
"I think there are two changes in the album: there is a live version of 'Blame It On Cain' and there may possibly be strings on 'Alison.'" He said a song may be added which is not on the English album.
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