Re-teaming with producer T Bone Burnett for the fourth time, Elvis Costello this fall will release National Ransom, an-all new album featuring the members of his recent backing bands The Imposters and The Sugarcanes, as well as high-profile guests Vince Gill, Jerry Douglas, Marc Ribot and Buddy Miller.
Due out Nov. 2 on Hear Music/Concord Music Group, the 15-track disc — recorded over a total of 11 days at studios in Nashville and Los Angeles earlier this year — is described by Costello, in today’s announcement of the release, as being “for the bankrupt times, whenever they may be” (see full tracklist and cover art below).
Like last year’s Burnett-produced Secret, Profane & Sugarcane, the new album features a heavy bluegrass sound with lap-steel, mandolin, dobro and fiddle, although this time out, according to today’s announcement, “the music probably owes more to the rhythms and harmonies of R&B or even gospel music.”
The songs on National Ransom — first tipped earlier this year as being titled American Ransom — are all new Costello compositions, except for “I Lost You,” co-written with Jim Lauderdale, and “All of These Times,” which Costello co-wrote with Burnett. Additionally, “My Lovely Jezebel” is a Leon Russell tune with lyrics by Costello and Burnett.
Some of the new songs — such as “A Slow Drag With Josephine” and “Jimmie Standing in the Rain” — already have made it into Costello’s live set; you can see video clips of performances of both songs posted below.
See tracklist and cover art for Elvis Costello’s ‘National Ransom’ after the jump…
Tracklist: Elvis Costello, American Ransom
1. “National Ransom”
2. “Jimmie Standing in the Rain”
3. “Stations of the Cross”
4. “A Slow Drag With Josephine”
5. “Five Small Words”
6. “Church Underground”
7. “You Hung the Moon”
8. “Bullets for the New-Born King”
9. “I Lost You”
10. “Dr Watson, I Presume”
11. “One Bell Ringing”
12. “The Spell That You Cast”
13. “That’s Not The Part of Him You’re Leaving”
14. “My Lovely Jezebel”
15. “All These Strangers”
PREVIOUSLY ON SLICING UP EYEBALLS
- Elvis Costello reveals tracklist for ‘Pomp & Pout: The Universal Years’ compilation
- Elvis Costello releasing ‘Pomp & Pout’ comp, ‘American Ransom’ album this year
- Elvis Costello performing solo, with Imposters, Sugarcanes and orchestra this spring
- Elvis Costello’s ‘Live at Hollywood High’ due in January
- Elvis Costello’s ‘Live at the El Mocambo’ to kick off ‘Costello Show’ live CD series
- Elvis Costello reteams with T Bone Burnett for ‘Secret’ new Americana record
