Discography 1985-1989
1993 • 1994 • 1995 • 1996 • 1997 • 1998 • 1999 • 2000 • 2001 • 2002 • 2003 • 2004 • 2005 • 2006 • 2007 • 2008
2009 • 2010 • 2011 • 2012 • 2013 • 2014 • 2015 • 2016 • 2017 • 2018 • 2019 • 2020 • 2021 • 2022 • 2023 • 2024
Adapted from the discography originally compiled by Paul Hosken
Key to format: |
Key to artist: |
Notes:
- All tracks are composed by EC, except where otherwise stated.
Title+tracks-artist/[release date (yyyy-mm-dd); format; Label cat.# (Country)]/notes
1985
The Best Of Elvis Costello & The Attractions
Side 2:
1985-__-__; LP; Columbia CK40101 (US. Promo copies were also issued with "For Promotion Only" stamped in gold on the cover) |
US: Went gold (500,000 copies) in 1989. |
The Man (The Best Of Elvis Costello)
Side 2:
(59:10) |
The original Telstar issues were titled The Best Of Elvis Costello - The Man. The cover was an ugly painting of EC, and was replaced with the 'phone box' picture from _Taking Liberties_ by Demon on later releases. |
Green Shirt single 1985-04-__; 7"; F-Beat ZB40085 (UK, black vinyl + ps, or limited edition on green vinyl in clear plastic sleeve) |
Reached #68 in UK charts. |
Green Shirt single Record 2:
1985-04-__; 2x7"; F-Beat ZB40085/7 (ps, shrinkwrapped double pack) |
Green Shirt single
1985-04-__; 12"; F-Beat ZT 40086 (UK, ps for black vinyl, clear plastic for limited edition on green vinyl) |
The "Green Shirt remix" is produced by Nick Lowe and remixed by Colin Fairley, and consists of emphasis of backbeat, lots of echo, and the phrase 'gonna get it' repeated and echoed. |
Warming Up To The Ice Age
1985-05-__; LP/CAS; Geffen GEF 26309 |
Living A Little, Laughing A Little single
1985-05-__; 7"; Geffen/CBS A 6121 (ps) |
Living A Little, Laughing A Little single
1985-05-__; 12"; Geffen/CBS TX 6121 (ps) |
Living A Little, Laughing A Little single
1985-05-__; 12"; Geffen/CBS PRO-A2272 (US promo) |
The People's Limousine single
1985-07-20; 7"; IMP 006 (UK, ps) |
Produced by The Coward Brothers. |
Less Than Zero single
1985-11-__; 12"; Stiff BUYIT 239 (UK, ps) |
The edited version of "WtD" leaves out the last verse. |
Save The Children
1985-__-__; 7"; DWP 970A/B (US promo) |
This single contains public radio service spots for the 'Save The Children' charity. Also doing spots are Dionne Warwick, Peter Falk, Alabama, Air Supply, David Bowie, Ben Kingsley, and many more. |
1985-__-__; CD; RCA ND 74602 |
1986
J01
Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood single
[1986-01-__; 7"; F-Beat ZB 40555 (UK, ps)] |
"BGABNH" is a King Of America outtake. |
J02
Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood single
[1986-__-__; 7"; Columbia 38-05809 (US white label promo)] |
J03
Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood single
[1986-01-__; 12"; F-Beat ZT 40556 (ps)] |
"DLMBM" & "BGABNH" produced by J. Henry (T-Bone) Burnett & EC. |
J04
Ricky Skaggs: Live In London
[1986-01-__; CD; Epic EPC 26618] |
This track is an encore from a show at The Dominion Theatre, London, 18- or 19-May-85. |
J05
King Of America
Side 2:
[1986-02-21; LP; F-Beat ZL 70946] |
On the sleeve it says: 'featuring the Attractions & Confederates'. |
J06
Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood single
[1986-__-__; 12"; Columbia/CBS CAS 2310 (US promo, ps)] |
Produced by David Vanderhayden. |
J07
[1986-__-__; 7"; Columbia 38-06059] |
"GYAF" was recorded at Eden Studios, Acton, and produced by Nick Lowe. |
J08
Lovable [1986-__-__; 12"; Columbia 2371 (US red label promo, stickered black sleeve)] |
J09
Club Paradise soundtrack
[1986-__-__; LP; CBS 70298] |
"SDW" was recorded at Eden Studios, Acton. |
J10
Seven Day Weekend single
[1986-__-__; 7"; Columbia 38-06135 (US, ps)] |
"SDW" was produced by Nick Lowe with Colin Fairley, and recorded at Eden Studios, Acton. |
J11
Seven Day Weekend single
[1986-__-__; 12"; Columbia CAS 2380 XSS 173714 (US promo)] |
J12
Off The Record Specials With Mary Turner
Side 2:
Side 3:
Side 4:
[1986-04-__; 2xLP; Westwood One OTR 86-14 (US radio promo)] |
J13
Tokyo Storm Warning single
[1986-08-__; 7"; Demon IMP 007 (UK, ps)] |
Reached #73 in UK charts. |
J14
Tokyo Storm Warning single
[1986-__-__; 7"; Columbia 38-06326 (US promo)] |
J15
Tokyo Storm Warning single
[1986-08-__; 12"; IMP 007T (ps, some copies came with poster containing lyrics)] |
"BSITS" is a Trust outtake. |
J16
Tokyo Storm Warning single
[1986-08-__; 12"; Columbia CAS-2500 (US red label promo /w DJ custom sticker)] |
J--
Highlights From Blood & Chocolate
[1986-08-__; 7"; IMP CHOC 1 (UK promo, 1-sided red vinyl, plain sleeve)] |
500 made. |
J17
NME Fourplay
[1986-09-__; 7"; GIV 4 (UK, plain white sl.)] |
Free single give away in UK with New Musical Express magazine. |
J18
Blood & Chocolate
Side 2:
(47:49) |
Produced by Nick Lowe with Colin Fairley. |
J19
I Want You single
[1986-11-07; 7"; Demon IMP 008 (ps)] |
Produced by Nick Lowe with Colin Fairley. |
J20
The Anti-Heroin Project: It's A Live-In World
[1986-11-__; 2xLP; EMI AHP LP1 (UK)] |
The harmonies and synth-bass were added by the producer without EC's permission. |
J21
The Anti-Heroin Project
[1986-__-__; 7"; EMI PSR 491 (UK promo)] |
J22
NME Pogo A Go Go
[1986-__-__; MC; NME 021] |
This was a cassette offered to readers of New Musical Express. |
J--
The Comedians
[1986-__-__; 7"; (most likely a US promo)] |
J--
Formula Thirty 2
[1986-__-__; LP; Mercury/Polygram 816 344-2 |
1987
K01
Blue Chair single
[1987-01-__; 7"; Demon D1047 (ps)] |
"BC" was based on a track from the King Of America sessions and mixed at Eden, Acton, '87. |
K02
Blue Chair single
[1987-01-__; 12"; Demon D1047T (ps)] |
"SWH" is from the King Of America sessions. |
---
Interview Picture Disc
(67:29) |
Contains no music, just an interview in poor quality. |
---
In Concert (#406) (~60:00) |
This is a BBC transcription disc of a EC+A concert at the Royalty Theatre, London, 23-Nov-86. Only 300 were pressed. |
K03
A Town Called Big Nothing single
[1987-05-04; 12"; Demon D1052 T (ps)] |
From "Straight To Hell" soundtrack. |
K04
A Town Called Big Nothing single
[1987-05-04; 7"; Demon D1052 (ps)] |
From "Straight To Hell" soundtrack. |
K05
Straight To Hell soundtrack
(36:55) |
"BN" was produced by Declan MacManus, recorded by Colin Fairley and mixed by Steve MacMillan. |
K06
Out Of Our Idiot
Side 2:
(70:47) |
Tracks 1 & 8 produced by Nick Lowe with Colin Fairley. |
K07
Live For Ireland 4-Track Promo
[1987-__-__;12"; MCA WMCG 6027 (UK)] |
1988
L01
Live For Ireland
[1988-01-__; 2xLP; MCA MCGD 6027] |
The 'Self Aid' concert was held at RDS Showground, Dublin, 1986-05-17. |
L02
Live For Ireland
(67:51) |
The 'Self Aid' concert was held at RDS Showground, Dublin, 1986-05-17. |
L03
The Courier soundtrack
[1988-02-__; LP; Virgin 2-90954] |
The version of Last Boat Leaving that appears during the end titles in the film is a different version to what is on the LP/CD. |
1989
M01
The Album Network: Tune Up 29
1989-01-30; CD; (US promo) |
M02
Spike
Side 2:
(64:36) |
Produced by Elvis Costello, Kevin Killen & T Bone Burnett. |
M03
Spike Album Sampler
1989-02-__; LP; Warner (no cat.#, matrix #: R/S Alsdorf 925848-1-A) (promo, white record label, white sleeve with small round black on white sticker saying "ELVIS COSTELLO ALBUM SAMPLER For instore play only") |
Both side 1 and side 2 are identical. |
M04
Timothy White's Rock Stars (feat: Elvis Costello: The Spike Sessions)
(89:37) |
This is release contains an interview with Elvis plus the above listed songs. EC plays acoustic guitar and piano to illustrate parts of the conversation, and plays bits of Bon Jovi's "Bad Medicine", "Pads, Paws And Claws", "Mystery Dance", "Ghetto Child" (from The Detroit Spinners), "Everyday I Write The Book" and "Tramp The Dirt Down". |
M05
Veronica single
1989-02-20; 7"; Warner W7558 (UK, ps) |
M06
Veronica single
1989-02-20; 12"; W7558 T 921156-0 |
"YNG" & "TRNLI" produced by Fairley/Imposter. |
M07
Veronica single 1989-02-__; 12"; Warner PRO-A-3424 (promo, some /w free poster, 2 diff. sleeves: one /w musician credits & the other without) |
M08
Veronica single
1989-__-__; CD5; Warner PRO-CD-3424 (US promo) |
M09
The Elvis Costello Hour
1989-__-__; 2xLP; Warner Brothers Words & Music series #165, PRO-A-3488 (US promo) |
Features 'an hour of conversation and music from his Warner Bros. debut album Spike". 4x15 mins. of interview with Bill Flanagan. |
M10
Off The Record Specials With Mary Turner
Side 2 (13:37):
Side 3 (15:28):
Side 4 (14:14):
(58:50) |
This release also contains conversation and commercials. |
M11
Follow Our Trax Volume II
1989-__-__; CD; Warner Brothers PRO-CD-3650 (US promo) |
M12
"Let Him Dangle" Plus Other Tracks You Might Like
(13:12) |
M--
1989-03-__; CD; (US radio promo) |
For broadcasting the week of 5-Mar. |
M13
Baby Plays Around single
1989-05-08; 7"; WEA W2949 (ps) |
Reached #65 in UK charts. |
M14
Baby Plays Around single
1989-05-08; CD3; Warner 2949CD 921229-2 |
"PONR" produced by Fairley/Imposter. |
M15
Deep Dark Truthful Mirror single
1989-__-__; CD3; Warner 921238-2 (Germany) |
"PONR" produced by Fairley/Imposter. "MFV" produced by EC. |
M16
Deep Dark Truthful Mirror single
1989-__-__; 7"; Warner W2949 922922-7 (Germany, ps) |
M17
Deep Dark Truthful Mirror
1989-__-__; 7"; Warner 1.090 (Spanish promo, ps) |
M18
...This Town... single
1989-__-__; 7"; Warner 922 832-7 (Germany, ps) |
"TUT" produced by Fairley Imposter Productions. |
M19
...This Town... single 1989-__-__; CD; Warner PRO-CD-3511 (US promo) |
M20
From Hell To Obscurity
1989-__-__; CD; Blackmail (Demon) BLACK CD 1 (mail-order only) |
M21
Flowers In The Dirt
(66:31) |
M22
Girls + £ ÷ Girls = $ & Girls
Disc 2:
(153:49) |
This version of Mystery Dance ends differently to the original that appeared on the My Aim Is True LP. The fade-out ending has been changed to a sudden stop. |
M23
Girls + £ ÷ Girls = $ & Girls
Record 1 - side 2:
Record 2 - side 1:
Record 2 - side 2:
1989-10-__; 2xLP; Demon IMP D-FIEND 160 |
M24
Girls + £ ÷ Girls = $ & Girls
Cassette 1 - side 2:
Cassette 2 - side 1:
Cassette 2 - side 2:
1989-10-__; 2xCAS; Demon IMP FIEND CASS 160/161 (UK) |
In the UK the cassettes are sold separately as volumes 1 & 2. |
M25
Accidents Will Happen / Alison single
1989-__-__; CD3; Columbia Hall Of Fame 13K-68632 CSIG 000238 (USA) |
M26
Hits Now '89 Volume Two
1989-__-__; ; (Australia) |
M27
Follow Our Tracks - Music From 9 Road Bound Bands
1989-__-__; LP; Warner, PRO-A-3503 (US promo) |
|
M--
CMJ 10: The Best Of CMJ 1979-1989
1989-__-__; 5xCD; CMJ 10-CD 1001A (US promo) |
Issued by CMJ celebrating 10 years of college music service. |
1993 • 1994 • 1995 • 1996 • 1997 • 1998 • 1999 • 2000 • 2001 • 2002 • 2003 • 2004 • 2005 • 2006 • 2007 • 2008
2009 • 2010 • 2011 • 2012 • 2013 • 2014 • 2015 • 2016 • 2017 • 2018 • 2019 • 2020 • 2021 • 2022 • 2023 • 2024