The not-all-that lavish Elvis Costello box set that the bespectacled singer himself railed against last fall has actually increased in price over the intervening months — Amazon.com now lists it at $280, up from $260 — but, as promised, fans soon will be able to spend $257.35 less for a slimmed-down repackaging of the set.
As Super Deluxe Edition notes, Universal Music Enterprises will release a CD/DVD “deluxe edition” of Costello’s The Return of the Spectacular Spinning Songbook!!! on April 3. The set, priced at $22.65 on Amazon.com, features the 16-track live CD and 19-track concert DVD that were featured in the original box set (see tracklist below). The CD ($14.48) and DVD ($19.98) also are being released individually on the same day.
Released in December, the limited-edition box set features a CD, DVD and 10-inch vinyl EP culled from the performer’s May 11 and 12, 2011, shows in Los Angeles, plus a 40-page hardcover book with candid and concert photos, a tour diary of Costello’s musings from each tour stop, a 20″ x 30″ concert tour poster and a limited edition postcard (see full details here).
Costello, however, took issue with the set, calling it — in a missive on his website entitled “Steal This Record” — an “elaborate hoax” (“the price appears to be either a misprint or a satire”). A message on the singer’s website at the time said, “we… find ourselves unable to recommend this lovely item to you,” and noted that for fans who really want to hear the Spinning Songbook collection, the concerts were to be issued this year as standalone CD and DVD releases, “assuming that you have not already obtained them by more unconventional means.”
Not only that, but Costello recommended that instead of buying the full-priced Spinning Songbook box set, fans purchase Louis Armstrong’s 10-disc Ambassador of Jazz collection: “The box should be available for under one hundred and fifty American dollars and includes a number of other tricks and treats. Frankly, the music is vastly superior.”
Tracklist: Elvis Costello & The Imposters, The Return of the Spectacular Spinning Songbook!!!: Deluxe Edition
CD
1. “I Hope You’re Happy Now”
2. “Heart of the City” (Nick Lowe)
3. “Mystery Dance”
4. “Radio Radio”
5. “Everyday I Write The Book”
6. “God Give Me Strength”
7. “Watching The Detectives”
8. “Tear Off Your Own Head (It’s A Doll Revolution)” featuring Susanna Hoffs of the Bangles
9. “Out Of Time” (Mick Jagger-Keith Richards)
10. “I Want You”
11. “Stella Hurt”
12. “All Grown Up”
13. “Lipstick Vogue”
14. “Man Out of Time”
15. “National Ransom”
16. “(What’s So Funny ’bout) Peace, Love and Understanding”
DVD
1. “I Hope You’re Happy Now”
2. “Heart Of The City” (Nick Lowe)
3. “Mystery Dance”
4. “Radio Radio”
5. “Clubland”
6. “God Give Me Strength”
7. “Tear Off Your Own Head (It’s A Doll Revolution)” featuring Susanna Hoffs of the Bangles
8. “Out Of Time” (Mick Jagger-Keith Richards)
9. “I Want You”
10. “Everyday I Write The Book”
11. “Stella Hurt”
12. “A Slow Drag With Josephine”
13. “Jimmie Standing In The Rain”
14. “Alison”
15. “Earthbound”
16. “(What’s So Funny ’bout) Peace, Love And Understanding”
Bonus Tracks
17. “Uncomplicated”
18. “Watching The Detectives”
19. “Monkey To Man”
PREVIOUSLY ON SLICING UP EYEBALLS
- Elvis Costello: ‘Steal’ my new $260 box set — or buy Louis Armstrong collection instead
- Elvis Costello to release ‘Return of the Spectacular Spinning Songbook’ live box set
- Vintage Video: Elvis Costello plays ‘Radio Radio’ on ‘Saturday Night Live’ in 1977
- Video: Elvis Costello plays ‘Jimmie Standing in the Rain’ live on BBC
- Video: Elvis Costello and Nick Lowe play ‘Peace, Love and Understanding’ in S.F.
- Elvis Costello, Nick Lowe to perform ‘Costello Sings Lowe/Nick Sings Elvis’
- Elvis Costello is 56 today; watch BBC special about ‘Spike’ from 1989
- Elvis Costello’s ‘National Ransom’ due Nov. 2, features Vince Gill, T Bone Burnett
