Search - Elvis Costello :: Very Best of

Elvis Costello
Very Best of
Genres: Alternative Rock, Folk, Pop, Rock

Track Listings (21) - Disc #1
1. (What's So Funny 'Bout) Peace, Love and Understanding? - Elvis Costello, Lowe, Nick
2. Oliver's Army
3. Watching the Detectives
4. Alison
5. (I Don't Want to Go to) Chelsea
6. Accidents Will Happen
7. Pump It Up
8. I Can't Stand Up for Falling Down - Elvis Costello, Banks, Homer
9. Radio, Radio
10. Clubland
11. A Good Year for the Roses - Elvis Costello, Chesnut, Jerry
12. Man Out of Time
13. I Wanna Be Loved - Elvis Costello, Dixon, Willie [1]
14. Everyday I Write the Book
15. Brilliant Mistake
16. The Other Side of Summer
17. Tokyo Storm Warning
18. Sulky Girl
19. So Like Candy - Elvis Costello, MacManus, Declan
20. Veronica - Elvis Costello, MacManus, Declan
21. She - Elvis Costello, Aznavour, Charles
Track Listings (21) - Disc #2
1. Big Tears
2. Beyond Belief
3. Lipstick Vogue
4. Green Shirt
5. Pills and Soap
6. Tramp the Dirt Down
7. Shipbuilding
8. High Fidelity
9. New Lace Sleeves
10. (The Angels Wanna Wear My) Red Shoes
11. Talking in the Dark
12. New Amsterdam
13. I Hope You're Happy Now
14. Riot Act
15. My Funny Valentine - Elvis Costello, Hart, Lorenz
16. Indoor Fireworks
17. Almost Blue
18. I Want You
19. God Give Me Strength - Elvis Costello, Bacharach, Burt
20. That Day Is Done
21. I Want to Vanish

CD Details

All Artists: Elvis Costello
Title: Very Best of
Members Wishing: 0
Total Copies: 0
Label: Rhino / Wea
Original Release Date: 1/1/2001
Re-Release Date: 4/17/2001
Genres: Alternative Rock, Folk, Pop, Rock
Styles: Hardcore & Punk, Singer-Songwriters, New Wave & Post-Punk, Singer-Songwriters, Adult Alternative
Number of Discs: 2
SwapaCD Credits: 2
UPC: 081227665227

Synopsis

Amazon.com

The debate over whether he is punk or new wave is long over; today Elvis Costello is less likely to be found on a list with Strummer and Scabies than he is with Bacharach and David and Jimmy Webb. Lauded initially for his energetic and literate attacks on the social ills of Thatcher's England, he has become a peerless master of the popular song. The evolution of Costello's craft as a songwriter and performer, from the early high-octane polemics, through his stylistic experiments with country and soul, and on to standards written for others, is splendidly documented on this elegant two-disc set. Chronology is ignored in favor of a thoughtful program that catalogs the jewels from his prolific output and a sprinkling of covers that demonstrate the maturing of his singing voice. The 42 tracks here lean generously to the first 10 years with the Attractions, but also collects the best of his subsequent collaborations with the cream of America's session musicians and on through to "She," his contribution to the soundtrack of 1999's Notting Hill. --Rob Stewart

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Member CD Reviews

Darrin R. from EDINBURG, TX
Reviewed on 3/21/2007...

Great compilation of one of the most influential alt artists of the 20th century. 2-cd set

CD Reviews

Truly the Essential Elvis!

L. Alper | Englewood CO | 06/23/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I have owned quite a number of Elvis Costello anthology albums. The first was back in the late 80's, a "Greatest Hits" LP put out by CBS/Columbia. In 91 I purchased "Girls, Girls, Girls" a triple CD collection, & recently found a budget priced cassette called "Extreme Honey: the Best of the Warner Bros. Years". Each of these had songs I liked, but often contained more that I didn't.Now I have purchased "The Very Best of Elvis Costello" & for once I can say this album absolutely lives up to it's title! In 2 CD's we have an overview of the extraordinary career of one of the most prolific & multi-faceted songwriters of our time. It's wonderful! Everything is here, from the chilling "Watching the Detectives" & supersonic "Lipstick Vogue" of the early albums thru the jazz & country-tinged experiments of the late 80's up to his latest collaborations with the Brodsky Quartet & Burt Bacharach. There isn't a single song that tempts me to hit the "forward" button on my CD player.Curiously, Rhino has opted to put the material in a non-sequential order. Most greatest hits collections start with the earliest songs, working their way up to the latest. "The Very Best of..." was organized by someone who had their mind on creating an emotional mood rather than a history of the artist. Although normally I prefer the time-line approach, in this casse it works quite well. If you want to hear the developement of Costello's song-writing, Rhino has included original release dates in the credits so that you can sequence your own order. Other than song titles & lists of musicians, this is about all the information you will discover inside the jewel case. This is about the only weakness I can find to this package. Personally I would have preferred some type of liner notes included.If you only own 1 Elvis Costello album, make it "The Very Best of..." . I guarantee you won't regret it!"

Basically, THE Perfect Compilation Disk

Spencer Medvick | Richfield, OH USA | 01/15/2002

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This is an exceptional album, it may be the best compilation disk I have ever heard, over it's two disks it:1. Provides an excellant cross section of Elvis' career
2. Keeps the listener interested by the mix of sounds
3. Doesn't have a "clunker"
4. Provides something hard to find elsewhere ("She")
5. Does not give everything away, there are omissions here that make me go back to the original albumsAs an introduction to Elvis or for the obsessed fan, this album is essential."

Pump It Up!

R. Gorham | 04/17/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Out of Declan (Elvis) McManus' several greatest hits packages, this one is the best. While the single disc entries are good, you just can't contain Elvis's library of music to one cd. Brains, style & energy - this is Elvis. Whether his lyrics discuss political views, relationships or they're just plain cynical observations - you know Elvis will sing about it smartly. Sure, the hits are wonderful, but the real gems lie in some of those obscure album tracks. Disc 1 in this collection concentrates on many of the radio friendly songs (Alison, Watching The Detectives, Oliver's Army, Pump It Up, Radio Radio, Everday I Write The Book) that Elvis & the Attractions stamped out in the late 70's and 80's. Although I enjoy all of Elvis' work, I was a major fan of his at the beginning of his career (My Aim Is True, Armed Forces, This Year's Model). While this package disregards chronologic order, the song selections of Elvis & the Attractions and his solo career are well placed. Disc 2, in my opinion, leans toward the more recent & obscure tunes (the best being Big Tears, Pills & Soap, Indoor Firworks & High Fidelity). It's quite evident that his style has changed since 1977's "My Aim Is True". His career has covered the spectrum - New wave, punk, pop and rock. Hard to believe that prior to "Elvis & The Attractions" - this boy was playing country rock in the band "Flip City". There are at least 3 "greatest hits" packages now by Elvis Costello. This one is easily the best to date, and the most complete."

It's incredible, but I can't recommend it.

Jonathan Hill | Jackson Ms | 06/28/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Costello is one of the absolute all time greats in 20th century music. (thus the 5 stars) I cannot say you should buy this album when their is a much better substitute. It will cost a bit more but it is very much worth it: Buy The Best of Elvis costello and the attractions (a different one, not this one). And buy The best of Elvis Costello (Extreme Honey). They both contain many must-have gems that are sadly overlooked on this newer addition to the Macmanus Canon."

Two-and-a-half Hours of Classic Costello

Steve Vrana | Aurora, NE | 11/11/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Sure, Costello burst onto the music scene in 1977 when the punk/new wave scene was emerging and songs like "Welcome to the Working Week" and "Less Than Zero" from his debut certainly seemed to fit the genre. But on that same debut was the gorgeous "Alison," which proved Costello to be one of pop music's best songwriters. Over the next twenty years (and as many albums), Costello shows time and again why he should be mentioned in the same breath as Lennon-McCartney, Brian Wilson, Bob Dylan and Paul Simon as one of pop music's most accomplished songwriters. This 42-track, 90-minute-plus collection is a great place to find that out for yourself. While Costello hasn't put out an essential album since 1982's Imperial Bedroom (and 24 of this collection's tracks come from his 1977-82 period), there is much to enjoy here from his later work as well. The only downside to this collection is Rhino's surprisingly uninformative 16-page booklet. Fully half of the booklet is a repeat of the cover photo--just done in different colors. There are no liner notes or commentary from Costello, just a list of songs and a discography. But the music is all first-rate, and this is an inexpensive way to upgrade your vinyl collection (like me) or to start your collection. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED"