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To celebrate complete control over his own record catalogue — which may not seem much to you but artists tend to take these things seriously, especially after they've been maltreated by record companies — Elvis has put out this album of bits and pieces, previously only available in this country on cassette or as a very expensive album import.
All but one of the tracks — "Black And White World" (which according to my tame Costello junkie is an inferior version to others he's heard) — have actually been released on vinyl before but you'd have a nervous breakdown trying to track them down.
The twenty tracks, which all come from before 1980, are riddled with gems like the obvious "Radio, Radio" (a Radio One jingle for a few days until they found out what he was singing), "Watching The Detectives," "Stranger In The House" (without George Jones) and "Girls Talk."
But the more obscure delights are just as much fun. "Big Tears" must rank as the best Elvis song ever consigned to a B-side. "Just A Memory" is uncharacteristically poignant, as is his version of "My Funny Valentine." My own favourites are a beguiling "Hoover Factory" and a full-blooded "(What's So Funny 'Bout) Peace, Love And Understanding" which originally turned up on the back of a Nick Lowe single(!).
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