These came out in 2004 – or at least that’s when I got them. Here’s what I said about them back then (with some minor editing):
Two steps forward, three steps back. To go with the pair of new albums Elvis Costello delivered last month, the archivists at Rhino have reissued another trio of remastered and expanded works from the master’s back catalogue. And each has something to offer fans.
Those who love his new roots-rock concept album The Delivery Man will want to seek out 1981’s magnificent Almost Blue, Costello’s first foray into country and western. Along with the original 12-cut disc of covers from the likes of Hank Williams (a raucous Why Don’t You Love Me?) and Merle Haggard (a twangy Tonight the Bottle Let Me Down), the set includes a second stellar disc with 27 excellent live recordings, B-sides and leftovers, including duets with Nashville OGs like George Jones and Johnny Cash.
Want even more covers? Try 1995’s Kojak Variety, which finds Elvis tackling classics by everyone from Screamin’ Jay Hawkins (Strange) to Randy Newman (I’ve Been Wrong Before). The 20-track bonus disc picks up where the first one leaves off, with covers of Bruce Springsteen’s Brilliant Disguise, Tom Waits’ Innocent When You Dream and Bob Dylan’s You’re Gonna Make Me Lonesome When You Go — most of which Costello cut in the hopes of convincing George Jones to record them.
Meanwhile, on the other side of the coin, even Costello calls 1984’s dark Goodbye Cruel World his worst record — though the 26-track bonus disc of raw demos and stark live recordings goes a long way to redeeming songs like Only Flame In Town. I’d call that a step in the right direction.
