Record Collector, September 2004: Difference between revisions
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The last time ''Goodbye Cruel World'' was reissued, Costello's own sleevenotes described it as his worstd record, and while the Langer & Winstanley 1984 production has dated terribly, it can't diminish the power of some of the singer's most brutally honest falling-out of-love songs ("Home Truth," "Inch By Inch"). Bonus disc highlights include the ballad version of "The Only Flame In Town" (a white boy disco mess on the original album) and the radical reworking of the Madness hit "Tomorrow's Just Another Day," plus several live solo recordings which illustrate just how much the ''GCW'' songs suffered from a slick studio overhaul. | The last time ''Goodbye Cruel World'' was reissued, Costello's own sleevenotes described it as his worstd record, and while the Langer & Winstanley 1984 production has dated terribly, it can't diminish the power of some of the singer's most brutally honest falling-out of-love songs ("Home Truth," "Inch By Inch"). Bonus disc highlights include the ballad version of "The Only Flame In Town" (a white boy disco mess on the original album) and the radical reworking of the Madness hit "Tomorrow's Just Another Day," plus several live solo recordings which illustrate just how much the ''GCW'' songs suffered from a slick studio overhaul. | ||
Kojak Variety, a compendium of none too-obvious cover versions, sat on the shelf for five years until its 1995 release, but was welcomed by Elvis diehards as a chance to get hold of Dylan, Supremes, Little Richard and Aretha Franklin tunes he'd frequently drop into live sets. The bonus disc features another 20 covers, including 10 which Costello demoed in a single day when considering songs his hero George Jones should record. Jones never took the bait, but EC's takes on the likes of Springsteen, Hoagy Carmichael, Paul Simon and Tom Waits are a fine addition to any serious fan's collection. Special mention should also go to a garage band thrash through | Kojak Variety, a compendium of none too-obvious cover versions, sat on the shelf for five years until its 1995 release, but was welcomed by Elvis diehards as a chance to get hold of Dylan, Supremes, Little Richard and Aretha Franklin tunes he'd frequently drop into live sets. The bonus disc features another 20 covers, including 10 which Costello demoed in a single day when considering songs his hero George Jones should record. Jones never took the bait, but EC's takes on the likes of Springsteen, Hoagy Carmichael, Paul Simon and Tom Waits are a fine addition to any serious fan's collection. Special mention should also go to a garage band thrash through Cilla's "Step Inside Love" (from the Roddy Doyle TV series ''Family'') and "But Not For Me," which saw him team up with veteran harmonica player Larry Adler on the highlight of a various artists album of George Gershwin numbers. | ||
With just ''King Of America'' and ''The Juliet Letters'' to follow next year, the Elvis reissues have been fascinating Costellophiles the world over, and although this trio might appear on paper as the least essential. | With just ''King Of America'' and ''The Juliet Letters'' to follow next year, the Elvis reissues have been fascinating Costellophiles the world over, and although this trio might appear on paper as the least essential. |
Revision as of 17:18, 21 November 2013
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