The Very Best of Elvis Costello
Encyclopedia
The Very Best of Elvis Costello is a compilation album
on two compact discs by Elvis Costello
, sampling his recorded work from the years 1977 through 1998. First issued on Polygram Records on September 21, 1999, it was re-released less than two years later on Rhino Records. A one-disc version was also released.
unless otherwise indicated.
Disc one
Disc two
Compilation album
A compilation album is an album featuring tracks from one or more performers, often culled from a variety of sources The tracks are usually collected according to a common characteristic, such as popularity, genre, source or subject matter...
on two compact discs by Elvis Costello
Elvis Costello
Elvis Costello , born Declan Patrick MacManus, is an English singer-songwriter. He came to prominence as an early participant in London's pub rock scene in the mid-1970s and later became associated with the punk/New Wave genre. Steeped in word play, the vocabulary of Costello's lyrics is broader...
, sampling his recorded work from the years 1977 through 1998. First issued on Polygram Records on September 21, 1999, it was re-released less than two years later on Rhino Records. A one-disc version was also released.
Track listing
All songs written by Elvis CostelloElvis Costello
Elvis Costello , born Declan Patrick MacManus, is an English singer-songwriter. He came to prominence as an early participant in London's pub rock scene in the mid-1970s and later became associated with the punk/New Wave genre. Steeped in word play, the vocabulary of Costello's lyrics is broader...
unless otherwise indicated.
Disc one
- "(What's So Funny 'Bout) Peace, Love, and Understanding(What's So Funny 'Bout) Peace, Love, and Understanding" Peace, Love, and Understanding" is a 1970s song written by English musician Nick Lowe and recorded in the best-known version by Elvis Costello....
" (Nick LoweNick LoweNicholas Drain "Nick" Lowe , is an English singer-songwriter, musician and producer.A pivotal figure in UK pub rock, punk rock and new wave, Lowe has recorded a string of well-reviewed solo albums. Along with vocals, Lowe plays guitar, bass guitar, piano and harmonica...
) (single, 1978) – 3:31 - "Oliver's ArmyOliver's Army"Oliver's Army" is a song written by Elvis Costello, originally performed by Elvis Costello and the Attractions and appearing on the album Armed Forces in 1979. It remains his most successful single, spending four weeks at Nº2 in the UK singles chart....
" (from Armed Forces, 1979) – 2:57 - "Watching the DetectivesWatching the Detectives (song)"Watching the Detectives" is a 1977 single by English singer-songwriter Elvis Costello. It was his first single that credited his backing band, the Attractions, and gave him his first UK hit single...
" (single, 1977) – 3:43 - "AlisonAlison (song)"Alison" is the fifth track on Elvis Costello's first album, My Aim Is True, released in 1977. Because "Alison" was recorded before Elvis Costello and the Attractions formed, his backing band was Clover...
" (from My Aim Is TrueMy Aim Is TrueMy Aim Is True is the debut album by Elvis Costello.The album was recorded at Pathway Studios in Holloway, London Borough of Islington, over the course of 1976 during late-night studio sessions, in a total of twenty-four hours...
, 1977) – 3:21 - "(I Don't Want to Go To) Chelsea" (from This Year's ModelThis Year's ModelThis Year's Model is Elvis Costello's second album and his first with The Attractions, released in 1978 . It was recorded mainly at Eden Studios in West London....
, 1978) – 3:07 - "Accidents Will HappenAccidents Will Happen"Accidents Will Happen" is a song by Elvis Costello. It first appeared on the 1979 album Armed Forces, which he recorded with The Attractions. In reference to the song title, the cover of the single was printed inside-out...
" (from Armed Forces, 1979) – 3:01 - "Pump It Up" (from This Year's ModelThis Year's ModelThis Year's Model is Elvis Costello's second album and his first with The Attractions, released in 1978 . It was recorded mainly at Eden Studios in West London....
, 1978)– 3:13 - "I Can't Stand Up for Falling DownI Can't Stand Up For Falling Down"I Can't Stand Up for Falling Down" is a song by Sam & Dave released in 1967, written by Homer Banks and Allen Jones.British musician Elvis Costello covered the song in 1980 for his album Get Happy!!. It was one of 3 singles taken from the album in the UK and peaked at number four. It became one of...
" (Homer BanksHomer BanksHomer Banks was an African-American songwriter, singer and record producer, best known for his songs for Stax Records in the 1960s and 1970s...
, Alan Jones) (from Get Happy!!, 1980)– 2:05 - "Radio RadioRadio Radio"Radio Radio" was a single by Elvis Costello and The Attractions released in the UK in October 1978. The song had already appeared on the US version of their second album, This Year's Model, released earlier that year...
" (single, 1978) – 3:06 - "Clubland" (from Trust, 1981) – 3:43
- "Good Year for the Roses" (Jerry ChesnutJerry ChesnutJerry Donald Chesnut is an American country music songwriter. His hits include "A Good Year for the Roses" and "T-R-O-U-B-L-E" ....
) (from Almost BlueAlmost BlueAlmost Blue is an album by Elvis Costello and the Attractions. It was recorded May 1981 in Nashville, and released on 23 October 1981. The record's songs consist entirely of country covers, including works originally written by Hank Williams, Merle Haggard, George Jones and Gram Parsons...
, 1981) – 3:35 - "Man Out of Time" (from Imperial BedroomImperial BedroomImperial Bedroom is a 1982 album by Elvis Costello and the Attractions. It was the second Costello album, along with Almost Blue, not produced by Nick Lowe, the production duties handled by Beatles engineer Geoff Emerick...
, 1982) – 5:25 - "I Wanna Be Loved" (Farnell Jenkins) (from Goodbye Cruel WorldGoodbye Cruel World (album)Goodbye Cruel World was Elvis Costello's ninth album overall and eighth with backing band The Attractions. It was released in 1984 by F-Beat Records in the UK and Columbia in the US....
, 1984) – 4:46 - "Everyday I Write the BookEveryday I Write the Book"Everyday I Write the Book" is a song written by Elvis Costello, from Punch the Clock, an album released in 1983 by Elvis Costello and the Attractions. The song peaked at 28 on the UK Singles Chart and was their first hit single in the United States, placing in the Billboard Top 40.-Lyrics:The...
" (from Punch the ClockPunch the ClockPunch the Clock is an album released in 1983 by Elvis Costello and the Attractions. It was Costello's eighth album, his seventh with the Attractions since 1978. The album featured Costello's first U.S...
, 1983) – 3:52 - "Brilliant Mistake" (Declan MacManusElvis CostelloElvis Costello , born Declan Patrick MacManus, is an English singer-songwriter. He came to prominence as an early participant in London's pub rock scene in the mid-1970s and later became associated with the punk/New Wave genre. Steeped in word play, the vocabulary of Costello's lyrics is broader...
) (from King of AmericaKing of AmericaKing of America is the tenth studio album by the British rock singer and songwriter Elvis Costello, released in 1986 in the United Kingdom as F-Beat ZL 70946, and in the United States as Columbia JC 40173. It was billed as by "The Costello Show featuring the Attractions and Confederates" in the UK...
, 1986) – 3:41 - "The Other Side of Summer" (MacManus) (from Mighty Like a RoseMighty Like a RoseMighty Like A Rose is the 13th studio album by the British rock singer and songwriter Elvis Costello, released in 1991 on compact disc as Warner Brothers 26575. The title is presumably a reference to the pop standard "Mighty Lak' a Rose", and although that song does not appear on the album, the...
, 1991) – 3:53 - "Tokyo Storm Warning" (MacManus) (from Blood and ChocolateBlood and Chocolate (album)Blood & Chocolate is the eleventh studio album by the British rock singer and songwriter Elvis Costello, released in the United Kingdom as Demon Records XFIEND 80, and in the United States as Columbia 40518...
, 1986) – 6:23 - "Sulky Girl" (MacManus) (from Brutal Youth)Brutal Youth (Elvis Costello album)Brutal Youth is an album by Elvis Costello. This is the first album Costello recorded with his band the Attractions after Blood and Chocolate...
, 1994) – 5:04 - "So Like Candy" (MacManus, McCartneyPaul McCartneySir James Paul McCartney, MBE, Hon RAM, FRCM is an English musician, singer-songwriter and composer. Formerly of The Beatles and Wings , McCartney is listed in Guinness World Records as the "most successful musician and composer in popular music history", with 60 gold discs and sales of 100...
) (from Mighty Like a Rose, 1991) – 4:35 - "VeronicaVeronica (song)"Veronica" is a single from Elvis Costello's 1989 album Spike, co-written by Costello with Paul McCartney. The song "Veronica" was co-produced by T-Bone Burnett and Kevin Killen, and features Paul McCartney on his iconic Höfner bass...
" (MacManus, McCartney) (from SpikeSpike (Elvis Costello album)Spike is the 12th studio album by the British rock singer and songwriter Elvis Costello, released on and compact disc as Warner Brothers 25848. It was his first album for the label. It peaked at #5 on the UK album chart, and at #32 on the Billboard 200....
, 1989) – 3:07 - "She" (Charles AznavourCharles AznavourCharles Aznavour, OC is an Armenian-French singer, songwriter, actor, public activist and diplomat. Besides being one of France's most popular and enduring singers, he is also one of the best-known singers in the world...
, Herbert KretzmerHerbert KretzmerHerbert Kretzmer OBE is a South African-born English journalist and lyric writer. He is perhaps best known as the lyricist for the English-language musical adaptation of Les Misérables.-Journalist:...
) (from Soundtrack to Notting HillNotting Hill (film)Notting Hill is a 1999 British romantic comedy film set in Notting Hill, London, released on 21 May 1999. The screenplay was by Richard Curtis, who had written Four Weddings and a Funeral. It was produced by Duncan Kenworthy and directed by Roger Michell...
, 1999) – 3:05
Disc two
- "Big Tears" (from This Year's Model, 1978) – 3:10
- "Beyond Belief" (from Imperial Bedroom, 1982) – 2:33
- "Lipstick Vogue" (from This Year's Model, 1978) – 3:31
- "Green Shirt" (from Armed Forces, 1979) – 2:44
- "Pills and Soap" (from Punch the Clock, 1983) – 3:43
- "Tramp the Dirt Down" (MacManus) (from Spike), 1989)– 5:41
- "ShipbuildingShipbuilding (song)"Shipbuilding" is a song written by Elvis Costello and Clive Langer . Written during the Falklands War of 1982, Costello's lyrics discuss the contradiction of the war bringing back prosperity to traditional shipbuilding areas of Merseyside , North East England and Belfast to build new ships to...
" (Costello, Clive LangerClive LangerClive Langer is a British record producer active from the mid 1970s onwards. He usually works with Alan Winstanley. He composed the music for the films Still Crazy and Brothers of the Head. Prior to his record producing career he was a guitarist with the British cult band Deaf SchoolLanger...
) (from Punch the Clock, 1983)– 4:51 - "High Fidelity" (from Get Happy!!, 1980) – 2:28
- "New Lace Sleeves" (from Trust, 1981) – 3:47
- "(The Angels Wanna Wear My) Red Shoes" (from My Aim Is True, 1977) – 2:46
- "Talking in the Dark" (single, 1979) – 1:57
- "New Amsterdam" (from Get Happy!!, 1980) – 2:13
- "I Hope You're Happy Now" (from Blood and Chocolate, 1986) – 3:07
- "Riot Act" (from Get Happy!!, 1980) – 3:34
- "My Funny Valentine" (Lorenz HartLorenz HartLorenz "Larry" Milton Hart was the lyricist half of the famed Broadway songwriting team Rodgers and Hart...
, Richard RodgersRichard RodgersRichard Charles Rodgers was an American composer of music for more than 900 songs and for 43 Broadway musicals. He also composed music for films and television. He is best known for his songwriting partnerships with the lyricists Lorenz Hart and Oscar Hammerstein II...
) (B-side from "Oliver's Army" single, 1979) – 1:29 - "Indoor Fireworks" (from King of America, 1986) – 4:09
- "Almost Blue" (from Imperial Bedroom, 1982) – 2:49
- "I Want You" (from Blood and Chocolate, 1986) – 6:43
- "God Give Me Strength" (Burt BacharachBurt BacharachBurt F. Bacharach is an American pianist, composer and music producer. He is known for his popular hit songs and compositions from the mid-1950s through the 1980s, with lyrics written by Hal David. Many of their hits were produced specifically for, and performed by, Dionne Warwick...
, Costello) (from Painted from MemoryPainted from MemoryPainted from Memory is a collaboration between Elvis Costello and Burt Bacharach. It was released September 29, 1998 on Mercury Records, a division of Universal Music Group....
, 1998) – 6:10 - "That Day Is Done" (MacManus, McCartney) (I Couldn't Hear Nobody Pray, 1997) – 5:10
- "I Want to Vanish" (from All This Useless BeautyAll This Useless BeautyAll This Useless Beauty is the 17th studio album by the English rock singer and songwriter Elvis Costello, released on compact disc as Warner Brothers 46198. It peaked at #28 on the UK album chart, and at #53 on the Billboard 200...
, 1996) – 3:14