2014 Edition.
I’ve been revising and updating this work in progress and
thought it might be fun to post later volumes and include some youtube links
where available.
Overview
This collection attempts to draw together all of the original versions of the hundred’s of covers performed & recorded by Elvis Costello over a career that now spans more than 30 years.
Naturally, with such an ambitious project there is more than a little speculation and uncertainty about some of the selections, particularly in the first couple of discs that represent the pre/professional period of his career. Nevertheless this has been researched and cross referenced extensively with a number of sources for more than two years. If not comprehensive at worst it is an essential insight on the musical influences on EC over the last 30 years and an incredibly diverse selection of popular music that spans almost a century that would never be found together on any commercial collection
There is also sometimes a little contention as to which original version to include, usually I have gone for the original version, but sometimes a more famous or influential version (on Elvis) exists. Usually songs are only included once but a 2nd version has been included on some songs that Elvis has returned to more than once throughout his career. E.g. I Don’t know what to do With Myself and You Win Again.
Incidentally I should also point out that while most of these selections have been performed by Elvis, the collection also attempts to include cameos, crowd teasers and singalongs. What’s more, now that Elvis is a music show host....you will also hear some of the songs performed by other guests on his shows. See individual track notes for details.
Finally just to mention the obvious that while you will not hear a single Elvis Composition nor indeed his voice on this collection, the entire collection is marked with his impeccable taste.
Acknowledgements
Thanks go to the amazing Elvis Costello Information Services, the best source of EC information on the whole web, Greame Thompson and his well researched biography ‘Complicated Shadows” and especially to Dave Edney for providing many of the selections and Nunki, who’s original collection was the inspiration for this project. Also a big thanks to everyone else who provided comments & suggestions on compiling this collection.
Thanks also to all the youtube posters for the songs which I have linked.in each volume. I take no responsibility for these,nor any dead or missing links. I have been asked many times to provide copies of this collection and have been offered cash for this. While I cannot do this, I can at least provide existing links to most of the songs in the collection. This compilation is NOT for sale (at least by me); it only exists in virtual form as a playlist and is subject to changes in later editions. Basically, it is me having fun with my record collection and making my own compilations.I would encourage people to be creative with their own playlists and hopefully like me, discover some great artists that were not familiar, all of this through the eclectic tastes of Elvis Costello.
I would appreciate any comments on the collection and suggestions for further inclusions are most welcome.
Enjoy!
Drumhead
