The River In Reverse

The River In Reverse

Elvis Costello & Allen Toussaint's new album, featuring seven songs from Toussaint's back catalog, five songs newly written by Costello and Toussaint, and the title track, written by Costello.

Sessions for the album took place over two weeks in late 2005 in Hollywood, and at Piety Street Studios in New Orleans.

Produced by Joe Henry, the album combines Costello's band The Imposters with Toussaint's horn section, Amadee Castenell, Joe Smith, Sam Williams and Brian Cayolle and guitarist Anthony Brown.

Toussaint led the ensemble from the piano, with Imposters keyboard player Steve Nieve switching to Hammond B3. The majority of the tracks were cut with the entire group in the room and Costello singing live, occasionally adding his guitar to the mix. Costello selected songs from the Toussaint catalogue such as "Nearer To You," "Freedom For The Stallion" and "Tears, Tears and More Tears." Toussaint kicks off the lead vocal on his composition, "Who's Gonna Help Brother Get Further?" and trades vocal lines with Costello and bassist Davey Faragher on several other tracks.

Tracklist

01. On Your Way Down (Toussaint) [4:55]
02. Nearer To You (Toussaint) [3:32]
03. Tears, Tears And More Tears (Toussaint) [3:30]
04. The Sharpest Thorn (Costello, Toussaint) [4:16]
05. Who's Gonna Help Brother Get Further? (Toussaint) [5:04]
06. The River In Reverse (Costello) [4:32]
07. Freedom For The Stallion (Toussaint) [2:58]
08. Broken Promise Land (Costello, Toussaint) [4:34]
09. Ascension Day (Bird, Costello, ­Toussaint) [2:58]
10. International Echo (Costello, ­Toussaint) [4:59]
11. All These Things (Toussaint) [4:07]
12. Wonder Woman (Toussaint) [3:08]
13. Six-Fingered Man (Costello, Toussaint) [4:32]
14. The Greatest Love (Toussaint) - on Japanese release only
15. Where Is The Love (Costello, Toussaint) - on iTunes release only
Running time:

Note: On the LP version "The Sharpest Thorn" ends side A and "Tears, Tears And More Tears" opens side B.

Personnel

• Produced by: Joe Henry
• Musicians:

Elvis Costello - vocals, guitar

Allen Toussaint - vocals, piano

The Imposters:

Steve Nieve - keyboards

Pete Thomas - drums

Davey Faragher - bass

Anthony Brown - guitar

The Crescent City Horns:

Amadee Castenell - saxophone

Joe Smith - trumpet

Sam Williams - trombone

Brian Cayolle - saxophone

• Recorded at

Piety Street Studios, New Orleans, and

Sunset Sound, Hollywood.

Release info

2006-05-27 Japan: contains a bonus track on the CD, and a bonus DVD also; catalog number UCCB-9011
2006-05-29 UK: initial release includes bonus DVD; also available in LP format
2006-06-06 USA: initial release will contain a bonus DVD.
2006-06-06 USA: Apple iTunes release contains a bonus track, "Where Is The Love".

Internal links

• Lyrics

External links

• Verve Forecast
• AMG
• Meta Critic