CostelloNews.com

The Clarksdale Press Register reports -

Extract -

With three Grammy nominations in hand, Elvis has a January release entitled Clarksdale Sessions expressing his fondness of this community.

"Costello has only been in Clarksdale maybe a couple of times, but says he loves it here because he doesn't face the usual fan pressures," says Guy Malvezzi.

Malvezzi and Jimbo Mathus, co/owners of Delta Recording Services, 257 Yazoo St., are among Costello's closest ties with Clarksdale.

Malvezzi said unlike some recording artists who are aloof and difficult to deal with, "Elvis is one of the nicest, down-to-earth guys you'll ever meet.
"He gave Clarksdale, the (Delta) Blues Museum, the Shack Up Inn and our recording a real plug in his album credits," Malvezzi said.

Malvezzi said Costello was in Oxford doing some recording when he "decided to visit our Delta Blues Museum."
Costello made a sweep through Ground Zero Blues Cafe, the museum and Delta Recording during his most recent visit to Clarksdale, Malvessi said.

"He took some friends out to eat at Madidi for dinner and dropped a chunk of change," Malvessi said. "Then, he went to Super Soul and bought four suits."

The Clarksdale Press Register

Elvis Costello to pay tribute to Clarksdale

By LARRY BINZ, News Editor December 30, 2004

With three Grammy nominations in hand, Elvis has a January release entitled Clarksdale Sessions expressing his fondness of this community.

"Costello has only been in Clarksdale maybe a couple of times, but says he loves it here because he doesn't face the usual fan pressures," says Guy Malvezzi.

Malvezzi and Jimbo Mathus, co/owners of Delta Recording Services, 257 Yazoo St., are among Costello's closest ties with Clarksdale.

Malvezzi said unlike some recording artists who are aloof and difficult to deal with, "Elvis is one of the nicest, down-to-earth guys you'll ever meet.
"He gave Clarksdale, the (Delta) Blues Museum, the Shack Up Inn and our recording a real plug in his album credits," Malvezzi said.

Costello's highly-acclaimed album The Delivery Man has received two nominations for Best Rock Album and Best Rock Performance By A Duo Or Group With Vocal (for the track Monkey To Man) and a third nomination for De-Lovely from a movie.

Born Declan Patrick McManus in Liverpool, England, home to the Beatles, Costello has frequented Mississippi in his many travels.

Malvezzi said Costello was in Oxford doing some recording when he "decided to visit our Delta Blues Museum."
Costello made a sweep through Ground Zero Blues Cafe, the museum and Delta Recording during his most recent visit to Clarksdale, Malvessi said.

"He took some friends out to eat at Madidi for dinner and dropped a chunk of change," Malvessi said. "Then, he went to Super Soul and bought four suits."

Meanwhile, Costello is closing in on a deal to record Club Ate: Live in Memphis through Eagle Rock Entertainment. He records under the label Lost Highway.

According to one entertainment writer on the Internet, Costello's style of music includes traditional rock and roll and more complicated compositional pieces.

Costello and his group, The Imposters, recently released five additional live-in-the-studio sound tracks from the album exclusively through Apple' I-TunesMusic Store known as Future Sessions.

Among Costello's 2005 performances are appearances in Orlando, Miami and Tampa in March.

©Clarksdale Press Register 2004

Posted by at 10:34 AM | Permalink

The Calgary Sun has this best of ´04 list -

3. Elvis Costello and the Imposters — The Delivery Man
Costello digs deep inside himself and his past for an out-of-nowhere album. From his vocals to the playing, to the songs themselves, you’ll be transported back at least two decades to when Elvis really was the king.

The Silicon Valley Metro have this -

Elvis Costello & the Imposters—'Monkey to Man.' This tongue-in-cheek tune's misanthropic narrator is a monkey who's depressed about the corrupt people in charge of the world outside his cage. Sounds like a blue stater.

The Cleveland Free Times have TDM at 8 in their best of the year , with this comment -

The same goes for old-timers like Tom Waits and Elvis Costello who, with Real Gone and The Delivery Man , respectively, came out swinging and took their music in new, unpredictable directions.

Calgary Sun

3. Elvis Costello and the Imposters — The Delivery Man
Costello digs deep inside himself and his past for an out-of-nowhere album. From his vocals to the playing, to the songs themselves, you’ll be transported back at least two decades to when Elvis really was the king.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

From the December 29, 2004-January 4, 2005 issue of Metro, Silicon Valley's Weekly Newspaper.

Singled Out

MP3 blogs and iTunes boosted the singles market. Here's an impartial list of the best from 2004.

By Jimmy Aquino

Elvis Costello & the Imposters—'Monkey to Man.' This tongue-in-cheek tune's misanthropic narrator is a monkey who's depressed about the corrupt people in charge of the world outside his cage. Sounds like a blue stater.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The Cleveland Free Times.

1. Loretta Lynn , Van Lear Rose (Interscope)
2. Franz Ferdinand , Franz Ferdinand (Sony)
3. Tom Waits , Real Gone (Anti)
4. Elvis Costello , The Delivery Man (Lost Highway)
5. The Black Keys , Rubber Factory (Fat Possum)
6. Bob Dylan , Bootleg Series 6: Concert at Philharmonic Hall (Sony)
7. Elliott Smith , From a Basement on the Hill (Anti)
8. Arcade Fire , Funeral (Merge)
9. Brian Wilson , Smile (Nonesuch)
10. The Libertines , The Libertines (Rough Trade)

In fact, country singer Loretta Lynn delivered the year's best rock album with Van Lear Rose . Produced by the White Stripes' Jack White, it's got an edge to it that's apparent from the opening track, when Lynn practically sneers “this here's the Van Lear Rose” in the title track. Backed by White and two members of Cincinnati's Greenhornes, the album's got as much bite as any of the newfangled garage rock acts making waves.

The same goes for old-timers like Tom Waits and Elvis Costello who, with Real Gone and The Delivery Man , respectively, came out swinging and took their music in new, unpredictable directions.

Posted by at 10:05 AM | Permalink

The Delivery Man has featured in the 'Best of '04' in USA Today , The Guardian (London) and The Winnipeg Sun.

The Guardian, London
8. E.C./Imps, TDM

After years of beards and classical music and long hair , EC tightens up his trousers and punks it up.

Winnipeg Sun

Last year, he went North to croon piano ballads for his sweetie. This year, the unpredictable Costello makes another left turn, plugging in his axe and making a beeline for the Deep South (literally and musically). Recorded in the Mississippi Delta, Mr. E's 21st set is a narrative concept disc of romantic betrayal and Biblical overtones, set against a backdrop of rawboned juke joint blues, tearstained country waltzes, twangy honky-tonk, sweet Memphis soul, funky R&B and even bluegrass. Damned if it doesn't deliver the goods.

Winnipeg Sun's top CDs of 2004

The Sun's Darryl Sterdan picks the best 75 albums of the year

By DARRYL STERDAN -- Winnipeg Sun

Well, it's that time again -- time to look back at all the music of the past year. Despite our best efforts, we weren't able to listen to every album that came out in 2004. But we did manage to get through more than 1,000. Here are the ones we'll still be listening to next year. And the ones you might want to seek out at those Boxing Day sales.

6. Elvis Costello & The Imposters
THE DELIVERY MAN
(LOST HIGHWAY/UNIVERSAL)

Last year, he went North to croon piano ballads for his sweetie. This year, the unpredictable Costello makes another left turn, plugging in his axe and making a beeline for the Deep South (literally and musically). Recorded in the Mississippi Delta, Mr. E's 21st set is a narrative concept disc of romantic betrayal and Biblical overtones, set against a backdrop of rawboned juke joint blues, tearstained country waltzes, twangy honky-tonk, sweet Memphis soul, funky R&B and even bluegrass. Damned if it doesn't deliver the goods.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Guardian, London
Don Simpson selects his Top 10 for ´04 -

8. E.C./Imps, TDM

After years of beards and classical music and long hair , EC tightens up his trousers and punks it up.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

USA TODAY album of the year

U2, How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb. Gundersen labeled it U2's best album; others on the panel weren't quite as laudatory, but it did garner the most mentions. Also rock album of the year.

The rest of the top 10

2. Alison Krauss & Union Station, Lonely Runs Both Ways (best country album)

3. Loretta Lynn, Van Lear Rose

4. Green Day, American Idiot

5. Kanye West, The College Dropout (best rap album)

6. Brian Wilson, Smile

7. Prince, Musicology (best R&B album)

8. Elvis Costello & The Attractions, The Delivery Man (best singer/songwriter album)

9. Patty Griffin, The Impossible Dream

10. Usher, Confessions

Posted by at 11:35 AM | Permalink

Read all about Elvis' Day After Christmas song

Posted by at 5:56 AM | Permalink

Who are the artists' artists of the year?

Elvis selects -

Real Gone by Tom Waits

This is my absolute favourite. This one lets us see Waits detached from the words "gravel", "gutter" and "gin-soaked". Behold the righteous anger of "Hoist That Flag", the Turkish mystery of "Trampled Rose", the mad roll call that closes "Don't Go Into That Barn", and the frightened sanity of the soldier in "The Day After Tomorrow". There is real beauty in this record; the elusive ear of Kathleen Brennan [Wait's wife and musical collaborator] in the heart of the words; son, Casey, on traps; and the untameable guitar of Marc Ribot, who once described a track as, "like rock and roll after America has been conquered by a Small African Republic". It's all here, and "Horse Face Ethel" and her marvellous "Pigs in Satin".

Posted by at 5:53 AM | Permalink

Michael reviews Elvis and The Imposters in Tokyo , Dec.14th -

Extract -

As Davey walked the walk with his Hofner bass, he was sumptously complimented by Thomas's fills and Nieve's dissonant pepperings, helping give Elvis a proper platform to beautifully anoint his latest wares created to all within earshot. Changing the pace, but staying with his latest, they rolled into the reflective waltzing, stop-start strolling of "Country Darkness." Upon its completion, a rare break in music was measured from the bespeckled man himself, "Good evening...How are ya?" The instantaneous thunderous reception, no matter the language difference nor in his brevity lessened the wild enthusiasm inside. Remaining a constant throughout, as with all affairs, certain tracks nevertheless resonated deepest.

The sweeping tender "All This Useless Beauty" coupled with the yearning heartbreak of "So Like Candy" struck universal cords as Davey stepped it up in the latter, filling in for the big vocal shoes of Emmylou Harris as he echoed Elvis soulfully in its stripped down country twang. The sparse "Complicated Shadows" followed by the blues-infused rockabilly "Needle Time" lined up matters towards a solid finish for the imminent and filling encore. Beginning with "(The Angels Wanna Wear My) Red Shoes" and sliding into the Wilco-inspiring/inspired country up tempo of a Lucinda Williams-less, but still savory "There's A Story In Your Voice," a wholly energized Elvis and Imposters gleefully dispensed "(What's So Funny Bout) Peace, Love and Understanding" to a raucous house with Davey clearly beaming his joy in playing this all-time favourite of many.

(Submitted by Ayako)

Elvis Costello @ Tokyo Koseinenkin Kaikan (14th Dec. '04)

Third Time More Than The Charm Elvis & His Imposters Walk Freely As A Local City-Smashing Legend Would

In the same year that has given us a celebratory, but sad final bow to Godzilla's 50 year reign with his last film release, another multi-generational giant refuses to take his. Not that this Elvis is feeling the need to upon the back of not only an equally stellar career, but especially so with a highly productive 2004 in the dual release of his classical-arranged "Il Sogno" alongside his multi-Grammy nominated "The Delivery Man". Award nominations and accolades aside, his output and latest Imposters revelation gives more than a welcomed fair warning that there are no signs of retirement. With a bookend to bookend robust journey dispensed in both forms, a clearly reborn, reinvigorated, refocused and inspired Elvis live Tokyo transmissions once again carried weight like the much adored atomic bred reptilian's when squaring off with his greatest foils downtown.

Beautifully challenged and articulating with the greatest of ease seen in years, Elvis is clearly enjoying the amassed fruits of his collaborative labours of love alongside his Imposters. And for good reason as The Imposters themselves are a crack unit in themselves with the playful pepperings of keyboardist, Theramin wielding and sound shaper extraordinaire Steve Nieve alongside timekeepers Davey Faragher on bass and Pete Thomas on the kit who collectively provide the necessary anchors, ensuring the delivery of another wonderfully satisfying set.

Simple yet powerfully true as always, Elvis' third visit to Tokyo's famed and intimate Koukasai Nenkin Kaikan (Hall) was another exclamation mark to his current globe-spanning "Delivery Man" tour. Made even that more sweeter due to the fact that this added date sandwiched within a nationwide jaunt, the man whose boundaries keep expanding displayed his surging growing power likened to artists half his age with a fluid non-stop near 2 hour set that dutifully gave his Japan based faithful plenty to duly savour.

As always for any well-honed legendary figure, the question was not how well the delivery would be, but what it would entail for a man responsible for 20 studio albums alone and the subsequent mammoth choices of songs to select from for his subjects here in Japan. Exuberating a budding confidence from his last group effort, Elvis heavily leaned upon it while not denying favourites to be heartily embraced and consumed. Opening up with some proper arena rock riffs, he launched into his Attractions era classic "I Hope You're Happy Now" as the fully filled 2,000 seat venue came happily alive as all seated quickly rose to their feet and remained there enthralled til show close. The spirited pace continued unabated with other old gems such as the racing "Waiting For The End Of The World" before breaking into a new one, the meaty and meandering bass heavy led groove of "Button My Lip."

As Davey walked the walk with his Hofner bass, he was sumptously complimented by Thomas's fills and Nieve's dissonant pepperings, helping give Elvis a proper platform to beautifully anoint his latest wares created to all within earshot. Changing the pace, but staying with his latest, they rolled into the reflective waltzing, stop-start strolling of "Country Darkness." Upon its completion, a rare break in music was measured from the bespeckled man himself, "Good evening...How are ya?" The instantaneous thunderous reception, no matter the language difference nor in his brevity lessened the wild enthusiasm inside. Remaining a constant throughout, as with all affairs, certain tracks nevertheless resonated deepest.

The sweeping tender "All This Useless Beauty" coupled with the yearning heartbreak of "So Like Candy" struck universal cords as Davey stepped it up in the latter, filling in for the big vocal shoes of Emmylou Harris as he echoed Elvis soulfully in its stripped down country twang. The sparse "Complicated Shadows" followed by the blues-infused rockabilly "Needle Time" lined up matters towards a solid finish for the imminent and filling encore. Beginning with "(The Angels Wanna Wear My) Red Shoes" and sliding into the Wilco-inspiring/inspired country up tempo of a Lucinda Williams-less, but still savory "There's A Story In Your Voice," a wholly energized Elvis and Imposters gleefully dispensed "(What's So Funny Bout) Peace, Love and Understanding" to a raucous house with Davey clearly beaming his joy in playing this all-time favourite of many.

Alas, it wouldn't be Elvis without his signature show closer. This night was no different as the lights dimmed and a sole light focused on him as he forked over his ultimate and eery masterful ode to pining, unleashing the ever delightfully disturbing "I Want You" to finish off this town just as that big green guy has done so for decades over as well. Yet unlike that giant who has gone out with a box office bang, this giant shall keep coming back for more and more in 2005 and beyond in a host of ways to triumph. Nope. Elvis is far from dead. Like any mover or shaker, he's diversifying his portfolio, ensuring his health and longevity.

Posted by at 2:42 PM | Permalink

Elvis' PR people announce -

Extract -

In March, Lost Highway Records will release a limited edition of the Grammy nominated 'The Delivery Man,' the acclaimed new album from Elvis Costello & The Imposters, to celebrate the kickoff of a US tour March 1. The limited edition includes a bonus disc, 'The Clarksdale Sessions,' featuring five alternate versions of songs from 'The Delivery Man,' and two non-album tracks including the new and otherwise unavailable Costello song "In Another Room." 'The Clarksdale Sessions' will also be released separately as a 10" record.

The Clarksdale Sessions Track listing:

1. The Monkey
2. Country Darkness
3. Needle Time
4. The Scarlet Tide
5. In Another Room
6. The Delivery Man
7. Dark End Of The Street

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
December 21, 2004
LOST HIGHWAY RECORDS TO RELEASE LIMITED BONUS EDITION OF ELVIS COSTELLO & THE IMPOSTERS' GRAMMY-NOMINATED 'THE DELIVERY MAN'

Special package of 7 previously unreleased tracks from Clarksdale recording sessions, including otherwise unavailable new song "In Another Room," and video excerpt from upcoming DVD on Eagle Rock Entertainment

March 1 release will coincide with 2005 US tour

In March, Lost Highway Records will release a limited edition of the Grammy nominated 'The Delivery Man,' the acclaimed new album from Elvis Costello & The Imposters, to celebrate the kickoff of a US tour March 1. The album received a Grammy nomination for best rock album, and the first single "Monkey to Man" for best rock performance by a duo or group with vocal. The limited edition includes a bonus disc, 'The Clarksdale Sessions,' featuring five alternate versions of songs from 'The Delivery Man,' and two non-album tracks including the new and otherwise unavailable Costello song "In Another Room." 'The Clarksdale Sessions' will also be released separately as a 10" record.

The new 'Delivery Man' edition will also be enhanced with a preview video clip from the track "Bedlam," taken from the upcoming DVD release of Elvis Costello and the Imposters recorded live in Memphis this past September. The DVD will be released by Eagle Rock Entertainment.

Steve Hochman of The LA Times recently called 'The Delivery Man' "his most inspired album in years."

The Clarksdale Sessions Track listing:

1. The Monkey
2. Country Darkness
3. Needle Time
4. The Scarlet Tide
5. In Another Room
6. The Delivery Man
7. Dark End Of The Street

Posted by at 6:41 PM | Permalink

Harp magazine have a feature on Elvis in their Jan./Feb.'05 issue.

' Elvis Costello opens up about his work scoring a ballet, his love for America's deep South and the concepts behind his new album, The Delivery Man, and reminds us that he's anything BUT your average rocker. '

Posted by at 7:11 AM | Permalink

In addition to the previously announced Florida, Atlanta and New
Orleans shows, we now have:

3/8/2005 Charlotte, NC Grady Cole Center
3/9/2005 Nashville, TN Ryman Auditorium
3/10/2005 Knoxville, TN Historic Tennessee Theatre
3/17/2005 Tulsa, OK Cain's Ballroom
3/19/2005 Denver, CO Fillmore Auditorium

( Submitted by Craig Montoya)

Posted by at 1:57 AM | Permalink

The Jan'05 issue of Record Collector ( London) has this note -

COSTELLO SPECTACLE
Demon issue an Elvis Costello DVD-Video on 17 January, entitled The Right Spectacle — The Very Best Of Elvis Costello — The Videos. The package features 27 videos from his Radar and Warners years (running to 100 minutes), as well as an audio commentary from Elvis on each clip. Additionally, there’s 70 minutes of archive TV footage, including unbroadcast material from The Tube, film from the UK, Netherlands and Sweden shot between 1977 and 1983, and an unseen easter egg video. The digipak contains extensive production sleevenotes by Elvis.

Posted by at 6:01 PM | Permalink

A subjective ranking of 50 favorite rock hits collections

CNN
Extract -
36. "The Very Best of Elvis Costello and the Attractions," Elvis Costello and the Attractions (1994) -- Available online as his best single-disc overview, these 22 songs from the musically eclectic Liverpudlian's first 11 albums (1977-1986) showcase a cynically brilliant songwriter with the passion of a punk.

Posted by at 5:41 PM | Permalink

.....an ad in the Miami Herald today announcing the upcoming Elvis
show refers to the above as being the tour's name.

( Submitted by Mario)

Posted by at 7:19 PM | Permalink

Billlboard reports -

Extract - Never one to rest on his laurels, Elvis Costello has a variety of projects on the horizon, including a 10-inch vinyl EP of previously unreleased recordings, two DVDs and a 2005 itinerary packed with touring.

First up is the seven-song vinyl release "The Clarksdale Sessions," due Jan. 25 via Lost Highway. The set chronicles a rehearsal session for Costello's latest album with the Imposters, "The Delivery Man," captured on tape at a one-room recording studio in Clarksdale, Miss.

In addition to "The Delivery Man" tracks "The Monkey" (an alternate version of "Monkey to Man") "Country Darkness," "Needle Time," "The Scarlet Tide" and the title song, "Sessions" sports a cover of the Chips Moman/Dan Penn composition "Dark End of the Street" and the previously unreleased original "In Another Room."

A collection of music videos and TV performances, "The Right Spectacle," will arrive on DVD Jan. 17 in the U.K. via Demon, with release plans in other territories still being finalized. And although details are still being nailed down, March will bring the release of a live DVD via Eagle Rock Entertainment, taped at a small club show in the United States this summer.

(Submitted by Invisible Pole)

Costello Cooking Up New EP, DVDs, Tour

Never one to rest on his laurels, Elvis Costello has a variety of projects on the horizon, including a 10-inch vinyl EP of previously unreleased recordings, two DVDs and a 2005 itinerary packed with touring.

First up is the seven-song vinyl release "The Clarksdale Sessions," due Jan. 25 via Lost Highway. The set chronicles a rehearsal session for Costello's latest album with the Imposters, "The Delivery Man," captured on tape at a one-room recording studio in Clarksdale, Miss.

In addition to "The Delivery Man" tracks "The Monkey" (an alternate version of "Monkey to Man") "Country Darkness," "Needle Time," "The Scarlet Tide" and the title song, "Sessions" sports a cover of the Chips Moman/Dan Penn composition "Dark End of the Street" and the previously unreleased original "In Another Room."

Costello and the Imposters recently released five additional live-in-the-studio versions of tracks from the album exclusively via Apple's iTunes Music Store as "The Futurama Sessions."

A collection of music videos and TV performances, "The Right Spectacle," will arrive on DVD Jan. 17 in the U.K. via Demon, with release plans in other territories still being finalized. And although details are still being nailed down, March will bring the release of a live DVD via Eagle Rock Entertainment, taped at a small club show in the United States this summer.

The artist already has a full slate of 2005 tour dates on tap, beginning Jan. 19 in Stockholm and wrapping Feb. 20 in Manchester, England. A two-month North American run is scheduled for March, but the only dates confirmed so far are three Florida engagements: March 2 in Orlando, March 4 in Miami and March 5 in Tampa.

Finally, Costello was nominated for three Grammys last week: best rock album for "The Delivery Man," best rock performance by a duo our group with vocal for "Monkey to Man" and best male pop vocal performance for "De-Lovely," from the film of the same name.

Here are Elvis Costello's tour dates:

Jan. 19: Stockholm (Concert House)
Jan. 21: Oslo (Rockefeller)
Jan. 22: Copenhagen (Vera)
Jan. 24: Utrecht, Holland (Music Centrum)
Jan. 26: Antwerp (Koningen Elizabeth Hall)
Jan. 28: Berlin (UDK)
Jan. 29: Hamburg (Kampnagel)
Jan. 30: Frankfurt (Mouson Turm)
Feb. 1: Murcia, Spain (Auditorio de Murcia)
Feb. 2: Valencia, Spain (Palau De La Musica)
Feb. 5: Milan (Auditorium Verdi)
Feb. 6: Rome (Parco Della Musica)
Feb. 9: Brighton, England (Brighton Dome)
Feb. 10: London (Hammersmith Apollo)
Feb. 12: Bristol, England (Colston Hall)
Feb. 13: Coventry, England (Warwick Arts Center)
Feb. 14: Edinburgh, England (Usher Hall)
Feb. 16: Liverpool, England (Royal Court)
Feb. 17: Sheffield, England (Octagon)
Feb. 18: Buxton, England (Opera House)
Feb. 20: Manchester, England (Bridgewater Hall)
March 2: Orlando, Fla. (House of Blues)
March 4: Miami (Jackie Gleason Theatre)
March 5: Tampa (Tampa Theatre)

Posted by at 2:07 PM | Permalink

Elvis Costello and The Imposters
Kinro Kaikan
Nagoya, Japan
Dec.15 '04

Blue Chair
(The Angels Wanna Wear My) Red Shoes
Next Time 'Round
Beyond Belief
Radio Radio
Button My Lip
Country Darkness
She's Pulling Out The Pin
Brilliant Mistake
Either Side Of The Same Town
(I Don't Want To Go To) Chelsea
Heart Shaped Bruise
Suit Of Lights
The Scarlet Tide
Deep Dark Truthful Mirror
Watching The Detectives
Love That Burns
I Can't Stand Up For Falling Down
High Fidelity
Uncomplicated
Encore 1
The Delivery Man
Monkey To Man
Bedlam
(What's So Funny 'Bout) Peace, Love And Understanding?

There's A Story In Your Voice
Pump It Up

(Submitted by Kenji Tanahashi)

Posted by at 4:48 PM | Permalink

Mojo have The Delivery Man at No.8 in their albums of the year.

Posted by at 8:12 AM | Permalink

Elvis Costello and The Imposters
Kosei Nenkin Hall
Tokyo, Japan
Dec.14 '04

I Hope You're Happy Now
Possession
Waiting For The End Of The World
Lipstick Vogue
Button My Lip
Country Darkness
In Another Room
Temptation
Either Side Of The Same Town
Green Shirt
Honey, Are You Straight Or Are You Blind?
Dust 2…
All This Useless Beauty
So Like Candy
The Scarlet Tide
Just About Glad
Nothing Clings Like Ivy
Complicated Shadows
Needle Time
The Delivery Man
Monkey To Man
Bedlam
Encore 1
(The Angels Wanna Wear My) Red Shoes
There's A Story In Your Voice
(What's So Funny 'Bout) Peace, Love And Understanding?

I Want You

( Submitted by Kenji Tanahashi)

Posted by at 8:06 AM | Permalink

U.S. residents only (grrrr!) ; enter via this link -

From Johnny Cash to the Willie Nelson; Whiskeytown to Ryan Adams; Kim Richey to the O Brother, Where Art Thou? Soundtrack; Lucinda Williams to Lyle Lovett; Tift Merritt to Drive-By Truckers, Lost Highway Records has one of the most enticing stable of artists around.

Whether your format choice is CD, SACD or VINYL this catalogue is a must-have for music lovers!! Because of this Red Trumpet is opening this new Lost Highway Store to celebrate all of this great music all in one place!

Register now to get one of the following:
1) GRAND PRIZE #1: Autographed copy of Elvis Costello THE DELIVERY MAN LP

2) GRAND PRIZE #2: Autographed copy of Tift Merritt TAMBOURINE LP

3) FIRST PRIZE: One of five cool lithographs of Elvis Costello THE DELIVERY MAN

The Red Trumpet Lost Highway Contest ends 11:59 PM ET January 4, 2005.

A random drawing from among all eligible entries received during the entire Contest Period will be conducted on or about January January 11, 2005 for the Grand and First Prizes. Odds of winning will depend on the total number of eligible entries received for the applicable drawing.

Posted by at 7:58 AM | Permalink

Posted by at 7:28 AM | Permalink

.....well, sort of ! Elvis' album with the Brodsky Quartet , The Juliet Letters , was inspired by a story about people sending letters to the imaginary Shakespeare character. It seems that some are still sending them....

What light through yonder window breaks? I can't tell, it's posted over

By Peter Popham in Rome
10 December 2004
The Indepndent , London

The city of Verona has a fabulous Roman arena, a Romanesque cathedral and the rather recently fabricated house of an imaginary romantic heroine. No prizes for guessing which is the biggest tourist draw.

But now the city is faced with a delicate problem. Hundreds of tourists, domestic and foreign, pour every day through the Casa di Giulietta, "Juliet's House", at number 27 Via Capello. They come to gaze on the legendary balcony where Juliet may have sighed and Romeo clambered (had either of them existed), to admire the bronze statue of the unlucky lady and to place a hand on its left breast, to give themselves better fortune than hers.

But most of all they come, couples from all over the world, to think happy thoughts about the condition of being in love. And, these days at least, they write their fond thoughts on little yellow sticky slips and attach them to the exterior walls of the house, wherever they can find a space, with chewing gum.

The walls are now plastered with the things, there is barely an inch of free space, and they reach such a height - practically to the balcony - that the lovers must be bringing their own ladders. And the city government has had enough. These walls are medieval, they point out. They won't take much more of this chewing gum. The little slips, adorned with hearts and X loves Y messages, must go. "The damage is evident and intolerable," says Francesca Tamellini, the city's tourism councillor, "we must do something". The stuck-up messages are to be banned. Instead, lovers visiting the house will be invited to send their ardent emotions in the form of SMS messages (phone number yet to be published) which will be displayed on a giant video screen to be set up inside the house, as well as on a special website.

It might work - though citizens of Verona point out that earlier attempts at shutting down the problem survived only a matter of weeks before the little yellow things started creeping back. The "technologically correct" solution (as Corriere della Sera newspaper terms it) is open to criticism on two counts. For one thing the messages will enjoy only a brief life, being rapidly killed off by incoming new ones. For another, the semiology is all wrong. Given the number of Japanese tourists piling through Casa Giulietta, it's no surprise to learn Verona's lovenote fad - dating back only 18 months - has a Japanese provenance.

Visit a Shinto shrine in Japan and you see thousands of prayers written on slips of white paper, folded and tied to the branches of trees. They are intended to stop people carving their thoughts on the sacred walls.

Posted by at 1:54 PM | Permalink

Elvis Costello with the Imposters
Kosei Nenkin Hall
Tokyo , Japan
Dec.9 '04

1. Blue Chair
2. No Dancing
3. 45
4. Beyond Belief
5. No Action
6. Button My Lip
7. Country Darkness
8. The Name Of This Thing is Not Love
9. Brilliant Mistake
10. Either Side Of The Same Town
11. Episode Of Blonde
12. Heart Shaped Bruise
13. Suit Of Lights
14. You Turned To Me
15. When I Was Cruel No. 2
16. Watching The Detectives
17. The Judgment
18. Temptation
19. High Fidelity
20. Man Out Of Time

Encore 1
21. The Delivery Man
22. Monkey To Man
23. Bedlam

Encore 2
24. There's A Story In Your Voice
25. Oliver's Army
26. (What's So Funny 'Bout) Peace, Love And Understanding?
27. Pump It Up

( Submitted by Kenji Tanahashi )

Posted by at 1:51 AM | Permalink

Issue 13 of Paste magazine has the Monkey To Man video on its cover DVD.

Posted by at 5:43 PM | Permalink

Elvis Costello with the Imposters
Kosei Nenkin Hall
Tokyo , Japan
8 Dec. 04

1.Accidents Will Happen
2.Tear Off Your Own Head (It's A Doll Revolution)
3.Next Time 'Round
4.Radio Radio
5.Sulky Girl
6.Bedlam
7.Country Darkness
8.Blame It On Cain
9.Either Side Of The Same Town
10.(I Don't Want To Go To) Chelsea
11.Good Year For The Roses
12.No Wonder
13.You Turned To Me
14.When I Was Cruel No.2
15.13 Steps Lead Down
16.I Can't Stand Up For Falling Down
17.High Fidelity
18.Uncomplicated
19.The Delivery Man
20.Monkey To Man
Encore
21.Nothing Clings Like Ivy
22.There's A Story In Your Voice
23.Needle Time
24.(What's So Funny 'Bout) Peace, Love And Understanding?

(Submitted by Kenji Tanahashi)

Posted by at 5:14 PM | Permalink

Musictap have this -

Lost Highway will press 10" vinyl for ECostello fans
on January 25. The album is The Clarksdale Sessions.

U.music have this -

COSTELLO ELVIS | The Clarksdale Sessions (12inch Album Vinyl)
release date :: Tue, Jan 18, 2005 | catalogue # :: B000390501 | format :: 12inch ALBUM - VINYL

Posted by at 1:44 PM | Permalink

Elvis Costello and the Imposters
The Tabernacle, Atlanta, GA
Sun, Mar 6, 2005 08:00 PM

Posted by at 1:41 PM | Permalink

Elvis is all over the Grammy nominations!

Field 1 - Pop
Category 6 - Best Male Pop Vocal Performance
(For a solo vocal performance. Singles or Tracks only.)

• Let's Misbehave
Elvis Costello
Track from: De-lovely - Music From The Motion Picture (Various Artists)
[Columbia]

-Field 4 - Rock
Category 16 - Best Rock Performance By A Duo Or Group With Vocal
(For duo, group or collaborative performances, with vocals. Singles or Tracks only.)

• Monkey To Man
Elvis Costello & The Imposters
Track from: The Delivery Man
[Lost Highway Records]

-Field 4 - Rock

Category 21 - Best Rock Album
(Vocal or Instrumental. Includes Hard Rock and Metal.)

• The Delivery Man
Elvis Costello & The Imposters
[Lost Highway Records

-Field 22 - Film/TV/Visual Media

Category 79 - Best Compilation Soundtrack Album For A Motion Picture, Television Or Other Visual Media (Award to the Artist(s) and/or Producer(s) of a majority of the tracks on the album, or to the individual(s) actively responsible for the concept and musical direction and for the selection of artists, songs and producers, as applicable.)

• Cold Mountain
Various Artists
[DMZ/Columbia/Sony Music Soundtrax]

・De-Lovely
Various Artists
[Columbia/Sony Music Soundtrax]

-Field 22 - Film/TV/Visual Media

Category 81 - Best Song Written For A Motion Picture, Television Or Other Visual Media
(A Songwriter(s) award. For a song (melody & lyrics) written specifically for a motion picture, television or other visual media, and released for the first time during the Eligibility Year. (Artist names appear in parenthesis.) Singles or Tracks only.)

• The Scarlet Tide (From Cold Mountain)
Henry Burnett & Elvis Costello, songwriters (Alison Krauss)
Track from: Cold Mountain
[DMZ/Columbia/Sony Music Soundtrax; Publishers: Plangent Visions Music/Henry Burnett Music

-Field 25 - Album Notes

Category 87 - Best Album Notes

• No Thanks! The '70's Punk Rebellion
Chris Morris, album notes writer (Various Artists)
[Rhino Records]

-Field 27 - Production, Non-Classical

Category 89 - Best Engineered Album, Non-Classical
(An Engineer's Award. (Artists names appear in parenthesis.))

• The Girl In The Other Room
Al Schmitt, engineer (Diana Krall)
[Verve]

-Field 27 - Production, Non-Classical

Category 90 - Producer Of The Year, Non-Classical
(A Producer's Award. (Artists names appear in parenthesis.))

• T Bone Burnett
• Cold Mountain - Soundtrack (Various Artists)

Posted by at 2:30 PM | Permalink

Andrew in Adelaide comments on Elvis in concert in the Barossa Valley winery ( Dec.4) -

Extract - They played for over 2 hours, and over 30 songs. I'm told the reason he
was playing outdoor concerts was so there would be no "Elvis has left
the building" jokes at the end!

Anyway, I was wondering what to expect, given the variety of music he's
done in recent years but for the most part it was a really full-on hard
driving rock concert with lots of attitude. I wouldn't go so far as to
say it was "post punk" - for a start, it was too well played - but it
was just straight ahead, unpretentious good music.

Some highlights - Uncomplicated, which segued into I Want To Take You
Higher, epitomised the concert with its full force sound (I kept
thinking, these 4 guys are making louder music than the 12 piece Eagles
band!); Alison was beautiful and showed that you can be subtle as well
as strong, as did Good Year for the Roses; Monkey to Man, Accidents Will
Happen, I Can't Stand Up for Falling Down, What's So Funny About Peace
Love and Understanding were all powerhouses. Oliver's Army was well
received, as you'd expect, and for I've Got to Get You Into My Life he
conducted the audience in a singalong. Delivery Man and some other
tracks from the new album sounded great, so that might be one to buy.

Obviously there were lots more. At the end of Alison he segued into
Suspicious Minds, which I'm sure was a deliberate piece of irony - but
it did make wonder whether an Elvis tribute to Elvis might be his next
musical experiment!

The outdoor concert is always a bit of a mixed experience. This one is a
great day in a beautiful setting, but you have to take it as that and
not get too fussed about the fact people aren't always listening to the
concert, and there are other distractions. It was a pity though, in the
middle of the encores when the sound system started making a deafening
noise that had people holding their heads, putting their fingers in
their ears and then when it didn't stop soon, leaving. The band kept
playing and evidently couldn't hear it, because after a couple of songs
like this Elvis asked the audience what the matter was - he could see
people making funny faces and so on, but didn't know why. Thankfully
they fixed it, and he played about 5 more songs to close the show.

Elvis Costello was brilliant! Amazing four piece band - drums, bass,
keyboards and Elvis on guitar. Only four of them, but what a powerful
sound - made me realise that it's the music and how it's played that
matters most.

It was an outdoor concert in the Barossa Valley, one of our premier wine
regions here in Australia. It was called A Day on the Green, with the
music starting about 4pm with 5 support acts, then Elvis and the
Impostors came on at about 8pm just as it was heading into dusk.

They played for over 2 hours, and over 30 songs. I'm told the reason he
was playing outdoor concerts was so there would be no "Elvis has left
the building" jokes at the end!

Anyway, I was wondering what to expect, given the variety of music he's
done in recent years but for the most part it was a really full-on hard
driving rock concert with lots of attitude. I wouldn't go so far as to
say it was "post punk" - for a start, it was too well played - but it
was just straight ahead, unpretentious good music.

Some highlights - Uncomplicated, which segued into I Want To Take You
Higher, epitomised the concert with its full force sound (I kept
thinking, these 4 guys are making louder music than the 12 piece Eagles
band!); Alison was beautiful and showed that you can be subtle as well
as strong, as did Good Year for the Roses; Monkey to Man, Accidents Will
Happen, I Can't Stand Up for Falling Down, What's So Funny About Peace
Love and Understanding were all powerhouses. Oliver's Army was well
received, as you'd expect, and for I've Got to Get You Into My Life he
conducted the audience in a singalong. Delivery Man and some other
tracks from the new album sounded great, so that might be one to buy.

Obviously there were lots more. At the end of Alison he segued into
Suspicious Minds, which I'm sure was a deliberate piece of irony - but
it did make wonder whether an Elvis tribute to Elvis might be his next
musical experiment!

The outdoor concert is always a bit of a mixed experience. This one is a
great day in a beautiful setting, but you have to take it as that and
not get too fussed about the fact people aren't always listening to the
concert, and there are other distractions. It was a pity though, in the
middle of the encores when the sound system started making a deafening
noise that had people holding their heads, putting their fingers in
their ears and then when it didn't stop soon, leaving. The band kept
playing and evidently couldn't hear it, because after a couple of songs
like this Elvis asked the audience what the matter was - he could see
people making funny faces and so on, but didn't know why. Thankfully
they fixed it, and he played about 5 more songs to close the show.

Overall a great concert!

Andrew in Adelaide

Posted by at 7:47 AM | Permalink

King's Park,
Pert ,
Australia

Dec. 5 2004
Elvis Costello with the Imposters

Accidents Will Happen
Tear Off Your Own Head (It's A Doll Revolution)
Radio Radio
Beyond Belief
Bedlam
Country Darkness
Blame It On Cain
Pouring Water On A Drowning Man
(I Don't Want To Go To) Chelsea
Good Year For The Roses
Tonight The Bottle Let Me Down
Deep Dark Truthful Mirror/You Really Got A Hold On Me
13 Steps Lead Down
Complicated Shadows
Encore 1
The Delivery Man
Monkey To Man
I Can't Stand Up For Falling Down
High Fidelity
Uncomplicated
Alison/Suspicious Minds
Watching The Detectives
There's A Story In Your Voice
Oliver's Army
(What's So Funny 'Bout) Peace, Love And Understanding?
Pump It Up
The Monkey
The Scarlet Tide
Sweet Dreams

(Submitted by Dave Pannell )

Posted by at 3:42 PM | Permalink

Elvis and The Imposters , House Of Blues , New Orleons
March 12 2005

Posted by at 3:39 PM | Permalink

Graeme Thomson's biography of Elvis has been getting reviews in the year-end round-up of books in The Independent and The Sunday Times.

The Sunday Times , London , Dec.5 '04

COMPLICATED SHADOWS: The Life and Music of Elvis
Costello
by Graeme Thomson
Canongate £16.99
Costello has said plenty over the years without giving
much away, and Thomson has performed a useful service
here in trying to get at the man beyond the music.
With no direct access to Costello, the author has
chased down school friends and a small army of musical
associates to drive the story along: a picture emerges
of a workaholic muso who may be admirable but is not
quite lovable.

Robert Sandall
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The Independent , London , Dec.4 '04
( extract , after comments on bio. of Malcolm
Arnold )

To straddle the divide between popular and serious
music in the 1950s was to invite critical censure.
These days there's no moral panic when Elvis Costello
succumbs to unbridled eclecticism and releases rock
and "classical" albums back to back. Graeme Thomson's
Complicated Shadows: the life and music of Elvis
Costello (Canongate, £16.99) documents rather than
revivifies the screeching sparkiness of the New Wave
years. Bruce Thomas, former bass player with The
Attractions, makes no bones about his dislike of the
man he calls the "barking cabbage". The book is
thorough in its parade of tour dates and critical
judgements, tactful about personal relationships.
Oddly, Thomson neither quotes from song lyrics nor
provides a discography.
David Gutman

Posted by at 7:57 AM | Permalink

Alison Moyet has released her splendid version of Almost Blue as a single.

Posted by at 7:49 AM | Permalink

Elvis nominates his best of '04 for Q magazine and it's - surprise ,surprise - More Adventures by Rilo Kiley.

" That's my favourite unheard thing. But I also like The Street's record. I like the writing , the words , the way it's constructed and the way it's delivered."

Posted by at 10:03 AM | Permalink

Elvis Costello and The Imposters will play Mousonturm,
Frankfurt , Germany on 30 Jan 2005.

Posted by at 6:22 PM | Permalink

Elvis' former partner Cait O'Riordan has appeared on Irish TV , playing bass with The Radiators, Plan 9. In the next few weeks she will be doing Irish dates with The Enemigos and U.K. and Irish dates with The Pogues.

The Pogues back catalogue is being re-issued , featuring production work by Elvis on the albums Red Roses For Me and Rum, Sodomy and The Lash. These re-issues will include the first CD release of assorted Costello produced b-sides and E.P. tracks .

Posted by at 2:45 PM | Permalink

Paul answers some questions -

Extract -

Of all the other songwriters you've collaborated with since the break-up of the Beatles, which partnership did you think worked best? Gareth Jones, by e-mail

Paul - Elvis Costello. He and I sat down with two acoustic guitars and threw ideas at each other. When we were happy enough with the result we made a quick demo to capture the feel. It was also a great privilege to work with Stevie Wonder.

Posted by at 1:54 AM | Permalink

Concert Maps announce -

Elvis Costello & The Imposters are heading back on the road and once
again Elvis Costello is offering his online community early access to order
tickets directly through his official website!! Beginning with the
upcoming shows in Florida, Elvis Costello will offer his fans the
opportunity to buy tickets before they go on sale to the public. The
majority will also have reduced service charges compared to other
ticket outlets.

Tickets on sale Wednesday (12/1) at Noon EST for the following shows:

3/2/2004- Elvis Costello & The Imposters- House of Blues Orlando
3/4/2004- Elvis Costello & The Imposters- Tampa Theatre
3/5/2004- Elvis Costello & The Imposters- Jackie Gleason Theatre (ON
SALE 3PM EST ON 12/1)

Posted by at 1:52 AM | Permalink