A new B-sides release reminds us just how brilliant--and brazen--the English songman's approach has been. Costello's piano ditties reintroduced rock to Bacharach pop when it was keen to be mean. No matter: his ragged vocals and scruffy sound say that pretty melodies don't equal pacified style.
On May 1, Hip-O/Universal Music Enterprises will release The Best Of Elvis Costello: The First 10 Years and Rock And Roll Music a rock-themed collection of hits, key album tracks, b-sides and previously unreleased rarities.
May 1st will also see the digital premiere of Costelloï¿?s first 11 original albums, marking the first time they will be available for digital downloads and mobile tones. These 11 original albums will be available for download exclusively on the iTunes Music Store (www.itunes.com) for 30 days before they are made available to all the online partners. The albums will also be released in their original versions as digipaks with booklets and obie sleeves.
Both of the 22-song collections were compiled by Costello and signal the start of the labelï¿?s work with the musicianï¿?s catalog, with a previously unreleased version of ï¿?Welcome to the Working Weekï¿? on 'Rock and Roll Music' presaging the fall release of the 30th anniversary (My Aim is True Deluxe Edition).
The releases come in conjunction with Costello & the Imposters ten city tour presented by Visa Signatureï¿?, spanning from the House of Blues in Los Angeles to the Nokia Theatre in New York City. The tour kicks off on May 2, 2007, with performances throughout the month. For tickets and information about Visa Signature benefits associated with the tour please visit www.hob.com/visasignature.