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a resource for Elvis Costello fans
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National Ransom

National RansomNational Ransom album cover.jpg

Elvis Costello's latest album National Ransom was released on October 25 2010 internationally and November 2 2010 in the U.S, but the digital download offered on www.nationalransom.com became available on October 24 2010. It was recorded with producer T Bone Burnett in Nashville and Los Angeles over an 11 day period earlier in 2010.A short film about the making of the record is available to view online at ElvisCostello.com.

Musicians include all members of The Imposters and The Sugarcanes, plus Vince Gill, Marc Ribot, Buddy Miller, and Leon Russell. Elvis told Scotland's The Herald, "The ensemble ranges from two players to nine pieces and while some songs are very intimate and quiet, others are not."

A promotional single from the album: I Lost You was released internationally on October 18 2010.

Visit ElvisCostello.com for more details. Amazon | Amazon.uk

A digital 4 track EP, National Ransack, with tracks from the National Ransom Sessions was available as a pre-order Bonus. The offer was found on www.nationalransom.com. The album can be purchased as mp3, flac or Apple lossless downloads in addition to CD and vinyl. Three tracks are delivered immediately when download is purchased. This version of the album excluded the Japanese/iTunes bonus track I Hope. It is now available for download.

An alternate version of the title track has been posted on YouTube with an accompanying video under the title "The Return Of The Imposter". This has been promoted through Twitter and other social media and has featured in some of Elvis' solo concerts. See it here: YouTube.

Elvis Costello on tour

Concert Schedule2011 Revolver Tour.jpg

In 2011 Elvis and The Imposters toured the USA and Canada. On "The Revolver Tour" part of the set-list was chosen by ”The Spectacular Spinning Songbook”, a monumental game-show wheel that featured 40 song-titles, including hits, rarities and very unexpected covers. Set lists for each show appeared on Elvis' own website. Over 100 different songs have been performed on the tour, although not all on the same night. A tabulation of all the songs played on the tour, and the songs that featured on the Spectacular Spinning Songbook is here: The_Revolver_Tour.

Elvis played solo dates at the Sligo Live festival and in Athens, Belfast and Vienna in October and in November played solo shows in Belgium, the Czech Republic, Germany, the Netherlands, Norway, Romania and Turkey. Shows in Belgium, Iceland, the Netherlands and Sweden were postponed due to the ill-health of Elvis' father. All but one of these (Malmo) have been rescheduled for 2012. See the Concert Schedule and Gigography for details.

For April 2012 Elvis has announced dates on the West Coast of the USA in Los Angeles, Seattle, Portland, Ore., San Diego and San Francisco, Canadian dates in Vancouver and Windsor and a short tour of Florida and North Carolina with The Imposters. The Florida and North Carolina dates are mostly rescheduled dates from "The Revolver Tour".

Dates for a European leg of "The Revolver Tour" with The Imposters have been announced for May. These include: Aarhus, Amsterdam, Basingstoke, Birmingham, Bournemouth, Brighton, Bristol, Cambridge, Dublin, Glasgow, Hamburg, Liverpool, Manchester, Newcastle, Nottingham, Paris, Zurich and two shows at London's Royal Albert Hall. See the Concert Schedule and Gigography for details.

The Return Of The Spectacular Spinning Songbook

On 5 December 2011 Hip-O records released a limited-edition box – only 1,500 numbered copies worldwide – culled from the two dates Elvis and The Imposters played at Los Angeles’ Wiltern Theatre in May 2011. The set includes a CD of 16 performances from both nights. An accompanying DVD showcases the second show on May 12 including a guest appearance from Susanna Hoffs. The box set also features a 10″ EP with an additional four songs, a 40-page hardbound book of photos and Costello’s journal entries while on tour, a 20″ x 30″ poster, a limited edition tour postcard and a commemorative card signed by Costello himself.

On his own website Elvis has complained that the box set is over-priced (at around 268 US Dollars) and suggests that such a sum could be better spent on a Louis Armstrong box set. The Hip-O box set is here: Amazon | Amazon.uk. The Louis Armstrong box set is here: Amazon | Amazon.uk The Louis Armstrong box set is currently out of stock at Amazon.com, as allegedly the Louis Armstrong museum have bought up every copy from the US Distributor.

A CD only version of this album and the accompanying DVD will be released at a more affordable price. These were scheduled for release on 24 January, but that date has now been put back to 6 March 2012. Details of the tracks to be included have yet to appear, but you can pre-order the CD here: Amazon | Amazon.uk and the DVD here: Amazon

National Ransack

National Ransack was released as a 7" vinyl EP on December 21, 2010 according to the National Ransom website. It contained the songs previously available digitally through www.nationalransom.com.

Other news

  • Elvis appears on the soundtrack album of the horror musical "Ghost Brothers of Darkland County" - a collaboration between Stephen King, John Mellencamp and T-Bone Burnett. The album will be released in both single CD and three CD format, on 22 May 2012 via Hear Music.

Pomp & Pout: The Universal Years

Hip-O will release the compilation Pomp & Pout: The Universal Years February 08, 2011 (U.S.). No release date for the UK has been announced. This collection was originally scheduled for release in August 2010, but appears to have been delayed to avoid a clash with promotion for National Ransom. Amazon | Amazon.uk

Elvis Costello Nominated for Songwriters Hall of Fame

According to his MySpace page, Elvis Costello is among the Songwriters Hall of Fame's 2010 induction nominees. The list of nominees can be found here.

Elvis didn't make it,yet again.

Spectacle season 1 DVD now available, season 2 aired

Spectacle Elvis Costello With Season 1 DVD cover.jpg
Spectacle Elvis Costello With Season 2 DVD cover.jpg

Season One of Elvis' TV series Spectacle: Elvis Costello with... was released on DVD and Blu-ray on November 17 '09 in the US and Canada. The series is also available from iTunes US, which has a free excerpt featuring Elton John and Diana Krall available in HD or standard definition.

Season Two aired in the US from December 9 '09 with guests including Bono, The Edge, Neko Case, Jesse Winchester, Sheryl Crow, Ron Sexsmith, Ray LaMontagne, Lyle Lovett, John Prine, Levon Helm, Allen Toussaint, Nick Lowe, Richard Thompson, and Bruce Springsteen. It was scheduled for release on DVD and Blu-ray in the US on December 7, '10, but appears to have been pushed back to an April 30, '11 release. The Canadian release date now appears to be 7 June '11.

Season 1

Season 2

The Costello Show series

The Costello Show, a series of live CDs from the archives, began with the September 29 '09 reissue of Live At The El Mocambo and continues on January 12 '10 with the complete Hollywood High concert from 1978.

Secret, Profane & Sugarcane

Secret, Profane & Sugarcane is the album Elvis Costello recorded in Nashville between March 31 and April 2, 2008. It was released on June 2, 2009 on the Hear Music label.

New Elvis recording in The Invention Of Lying

The Ricky Gervais film The Invention Of Lying included Elvis' version of Sitting, the 1972 hit by the artist formerly known as Cat Stevens. There has been no word about a soundtrack album. Blu-ray: Amazon | Amazon.uk, DVD: Amazon | Amazon.uk

John Peel box set

Kats Karavan: The History Of John Peel On The Radio, a 4CD box set released on October 26 '09 in the UK, included High Fidelity from a BBC session recorded 1980-02-25. Amazon | Amazon.uk

Magazine Appearances

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Appearance on Other Artists Albums

Elvis guests on the Amy Allison album, Sheffield Streets. Stream the entire album on Bandcamp.com


Elvis guests on a Rosanne Cash album, Oct. 09


'Elvis Costello’s on tour and tells Jon Perks to expect an edge to old and new sounds'-Birmingham Post [[1]] ... with a few additional thoughts [[2]]

'I have no interest in being a statesman, elder or otherwise.' Elvis talks to Liam Sloan[[3]]


Colbertshow.jpg

Stephen Colbert hosted a Christmas special in 2008 on Comedy Central. “A Colbert Christmas: The Greatest Gift of All!” was shown on Nov. 23 as a one-hour program and featured musical performances by artists including John Legend, Elvis Costello, Toby Keith, Willie Nelson and Feist.[[4]]


Something Borrowed, Something New The Perfect Union of Elvis Costello and Jenny Lewis Filter, Holiday '08[[5]]


Elvis is this year's model yet again.'- The Nation, Aug.'08

Long, thoughtful , very informed analysis of all things Costello . Quote- he gives us a place to find parts of ourselves in his seemingly endless catalog of beauty and bile



Stingelvis.jpg

Welcome To The Voice see also New Releases

Elvis Costello and Sting appeared in a limited engagement of Welcome To The Voice in Paris. The engagement took place at the historic Théâtre du Châtelet in Nov. '08.


A Night at the Opera with Sting and Elvis[[6]]

Sting Barks, Elvis Costello Rasps in Paris Pop Opera Premiere[[7]]


Costello/Tharp ballet,Los Angeles, Oct.24-26'08

LA Weekly[[8]] Los Angeles Times[[9]] The Orange County Register[[10]]

Nightspot, a ballet with choreography by Twyla Tharp and a score by Elvis Costello opened on March 28, 2008 at Miami's Carnival Center for the Performing Arts.

Elvis writes about Nightspot

'Elvis Costello's richly atmospheric score,..swells and swirls with emotion, taking audience and dancers along for a heart-snapping ride.'

'Exploring love's dark side', Miami Herald , March 29 '08[[11]]

'...a spectacularly bad-ass ballet'

'Tharp and Costello's NIGHTSPOT: Shocked and Awed',Miami New Times, March 29 '08[[12]]


Icons of Pop Music book cover.jpg

New book: Elvis Costello (Icons of Pop Music)

Dai Griffiths' book Elvis Costello (Icons of Pop Music) is an in depth examination of many facets of Elvis' career, along with witty asides like "Costello is Marmite on slightly burnt toast."


Special Guest - Elvis Costello

Elvis guests on some albums.

  • Jenny Lewis's Acid Tongue features a duet with Elvis,'Carpetbaggers'.
  • Charlie Haden's Family and Friend's Rambling Boy features Elvis singing Hank William's You Win Again.
  • Lucinda Williams' Little Honey includes a duet with Elvis on Jailhouse Tears.
  • Folie A Deux by Fall Out Boy (released December 16th 2008) features Elvis on the track What A Catch, Donnie. Elvis takes lead vocal for a few lines (lasting 13 seconds) at about the 3:00 minute mark in the song.
  • An album by the Latin/Tango group Bajofondo Tango Club called Mar Dulce (originally released in Argentina, 3 September 2007, re-released 15th July 2008), features Elvis providing the lead vocal on a great track entitled Fairly Right

2008 EC Fender Jazzmaster.jpg

Elvis Costello on Fender.com

In conjunction with the offering of the Elvis Costello Jazzmaster guitar, Fender.com has added Elvis Costello to its lineup of Fender Artists.

The guitar, a reproduction of his Jazzmaster as it was at the time My Aim Is True was recorded, has its own page as well.




The Elvis Costello Heritage Trail

A fan walks the streets of Elvis' U.K. upbringing.


Momofuku

Momofuku, by Elvis Costello and The Imposters, was released April 22 '08 (on vinyl) and May 6 '08 (on CD).


Word interview

David Hepworth's interview with Elvis conducted on February 16th 2008 appeared in the April '08 edition of The Word Magazine - FULL TEXT



This Year's Model Deluxe Edition, 2008

This Year's Model: Deluxe Edition released March 4 '08

Shore Fire Media had the details of the reissue. Disc 2 included the complete show from 1978-02-28 at the Warner Theatre in Washington, DC.



Covers And Collaborations - The Number Ones Album, 2008

Elvis covers The Searchers

Elvis and Amsterdam recorded The Searchers' 1964 hit Don't Throw Your Love Away for Covers And Collaborations - The Number Ones Album, released February 4, 2008 in the UK. Listen to the song now at Amsterdam's MySpace page.



Help Fund the Site

The Elvis Costello Wiki and Fan Forum is strictly volunteer operated and has no subscription fee. PayPal account not necessary.

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ElvisCostello.com
Elvis Costello dot-com 2010-04-30.jpg

The official website ElvisCostello.com has been revamped.



Random Quote:

"I'm often told that my work isn't emotional, that it's an intellectual exercise, jumping from style to style for its own sake.But of course it all comes from emotion, so maybe it's something lacking in the listener to not hear that. It really isn't some big jigsaw puzzle that needs to be explained. It's too much effort to do these things just for effect."

Elvis, Jan.'10-MSN


Featured Picture:

Record Mirror, April 1981. Illustration by David Street



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