Lokimok

The TRIO cable channel is running the 1989 Late Night With David Letterman with Elvis tonight at 10 (est). He comes out & does Pads, Paws, & Claws > Leave My Kitten Alone solo, then chats with Dave about God's Comic & touring. Good stuff. This is the show that first made me really take notice of Elvis.

cdollaz

That makes we want to go and listen to Spike.

Gamblor187

In other Elvis news, I believe it is now official that the next batch of reissues will be "Goodbye Cruel World", "Almost Blue", and "Kojak Variety". The reissues are being done thematically, so I guess the theme of this set is "Least Popular Albums".

Of course, my general indifference to the above titles will not keep me from buying all three the day they are released. In fact, I'm almost looking forward to "Goodbye Cruel World", in the hopes that the extra disc will contain demos that show what the album could have been.

Here are the announced dates for the new North American tour.

Thu, Feb 19 Clearwater, FL Ruth Eckerd Hall

Fri, Feb 20 Tampa, FL Performing Arts Center

Sat, Feb 21 Boca Raton, FL Mizner Park Amphitheatre

Tue, Feb 24 Nashville, TN Ryman Auditorium

Thu, Feb 26 New York, NY Beacon Theater

Fri, Feb 27 Boston, MA Wang Center

Sat, Feb 28 Toronto Massey Hall

Mon, Mar 1 Chicago, IL Oriental Theater

Wed, Mar 3 Los Angeles, CA Royce Hall

Sun, Mar 7 Vancouver, BC The Vogue Theater

Mon, Mar 8 Seattle, WA Benaroya Hall

Tue, Mar 9 Portland, OR Schnitzer Hall

Thu, Mar 11 San Francisco, CA Warfield Theater

More dates to come, I'm sure.

I'm not sure if he's touring with a full band, or just with Steve Nieve like on the "Lonely World" tour. I'm guessing that latter since the tour is in support of "North".

jim

The Antipodean

Any idea when those next three reissues will come out? That will nearly complete my set as far as I'm concerned (I owned "Juliet Letters" once and see no real need to own it again, but I am eagerly awaiting "King of America").

cdollaz

I think King Of America will be in there instead of Kojak Variety.

Gamblor187

According to Rhino, "The Juliet Letters", "Gwendolyn" (Wendy James demos), "Taking Liberties", and (finally!!!) "King Of America" will come out in February, 2005.

The last official release date for the next round ("Goodbye Cruel World", "Kojak Variety", and "Almost Blue") was for April, but I highly doubt we'll see them that soon.

jim

cdollaz

King Of America should be in the next batch.

wendersfan

Why would there be a new release of Taking Liberties? Hasn't it been rendered obsolete since they're putting all those extra tracks on the other CDs. Of course, the cover art is pretty cool.

The Antipodean

Ooo, King of America. That's one of the few Costello albums I've never listened to, I've been waiting for this for a while. Unfortunately it looks like I get to keep on waiting for another year.

Gamblor187

I don't understand the point of a new release of "Taking Liberties", either. Of course, they'll probably find a way of making me buy it....like adding a couple bonus tracks that won't be on the other reissues.

jim

cungar

Outtakes from an album of outtakes. Sort of self defeating innit it?

Gamblor187

I think so. But Rhino probably realizes that obsessive fans like myself (the kind that have bought the CDs three times now...not to mention vinyl and bootlegs) will buy it if they add a track of Elvis singing in the shower.

jim

Supermallet

I don't understand the common theme between The Juliet Letters, Gwendolyn, and Taking Liberties. Couldn't they have put King of America in earlier? I've been waiting so long for that remaster, dammit.

The Antipodean

Actually according to Rhino, "taking liberties" will be expanded -- not sure how or by what, but that's what this guy said:

http://www.rhino.com/news/articles/gstewart.lasso

monkish

According to the Elvis Costello Home Page, the Almost Blue/Goodbye Cruel World/Kojak Variety reissue batch has been delayed until August 17th.

And, yes, King Of America really should be in this batch instead of Goodbye Cruel World -- in fact, that was *supposed* to be the plan; you can read it in the aforementioned Gary Stewart interview (thanks for the link, Sierra Disc). The idea was that this batch would focus on Costello's love of American roots music. Unfortunately, according to all of the Costello websites I've scoured, Goodbye Cruel World has indeed replaced KOA in this lineup, with no explanation given. To me, that's kinda like replacing Abbey Road with... Live At The Star Club, maybe?

The Antipodean

And how's this for cool news:

Elvis Costello to release two albums simultaneously this fall
NEW YORK (AP) — Elvis Costello’s split musical personality is showing.
The British songwriter will release two albums this fall — a rock ’n’ roll disc and his first full-length orchestral work, his publicist said Wednesday.
Costello is now recording the rock album with his backup band, the Imposters, in Memphis, Tenn., and Oxford, Miss. It will be released on Lost Highway Records.
The classical album, “Il Sogno,” was recorded by the London Symphony Orchestra, with conductor Michael Tilson Thomas. This disc will be released on the Deutsche Grammophon label.
Costello’s most recent album, “North,” was a jazzy, piano-based song cycle on love lost and found.


I have to admit I have no interest in the classical album ("North" was EC's worst album in many moons IMHO) but the rock album sounds absolutely great! I used to live in Oxford Mississippi and am psyched to learn EC's recording there!

cungar

Not to mention he's written an opera too

:: 15th of March 2004::

• Elvis Costello has written an opera to mark the 200 years since Hans Christian Andersen's birthday. The opera is written especially for the Royal Danish Theatre's new opera house at Holmen, Copenhagen, Denmark.
No date has yet been mentioned.
Stay tuned for more info!

Gamblor187

Well, it's not his worst if you count "For The Stars".

CRM114

Theres a couple good songs on that. Namely the title track.

The Antipodean

I skipped that one entirely.

Gamblor187

The U.S. release date for the next batch of reissues (Almost Blue. Kojak Variety. and Goodbye Cruel World) has been set for July 20th. The tracks for the bonus CDs are listed here:

http://www.geocities.com/ned3705/tracklists.html

jim

DJLinus

Cool! Thanks for the heads-up. I cannot wait to get a copy of his version of "Brilliant Disguise" on CD (currently just have it on an mp3). He really makes that song his own.

Rhino has yet to disappoint me with this series. I'd go as far to say that this is the best string of CD reissues that I've ever seen. It really panders to the completest (like me).

I just wish A&E would release his "Live By Request" on DVD.

Gamblor187

Yes, it would be nice to have "Live By Request" on DVD in an uncut version, as well as "A Case For Song".

Looks like some great tracks on these bonus discs....a duet with Johnny Cash....a song with Madness...the aforementioned "Brilliant Disguise. And I'm really looking forward to the demos on Goodbye Cruel World. The demos of "The Comedians" and "The Only Flame In Town" found on the bonus disc of All This Useless Beuaty were excellent.

DJLinus

The latest wave of rereleases totally flew under my radar and were put out last week. Guess I know what I'll be picking up this week.

Gamblor187

Then start saving up for his two new albums. "Il Songo", a ballet (I'll probably skip this one) and "The Delivery Man" with The Impostors. Both are coming in September!