The Very Best of Elvis Costello

~ Release by Elvis Costello (see all versions of this release, 7 available)

Tracklist

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1▼CD
#TitleArtistRatingLength
1(What’s So Funny ’Bout) Peace, Love & Understanding
engineer:
Roger Bechirian
producer:
Nick Lowe (UK singer/songwriter/instrumentalist/producer)
bass guitar:
Bruce Thomas
drums (drum set):
Pete Thomas (drummer)
guitar:
Elvis Costello
organ, piano and synthesizer:
Steve Nieve
vocals:
Elvis Costello
part of:
New York Post: 100 Greatest Covers (2007) (number: 65) and Rolling Stone: 500 Greatest Songs of All Time (as at 2016-06-10) (number: 284)
cover recording of:
(What’s So Funny ’Bout) Peace, Love and Understanding
lyricist and composer:
Nick Lowe (UK singer/songwriter/instrumentalist/producer)
publisher:
Plangent Visions Music, Inc.
Elvis Costello & The Attractions4.23:32
2Oliver’s Army
engineer:
Roger Bechirian
producer:
Nick Lowe (UK singer/songwriter/instrumentalist/producer)
bass guitar:
Bruce Thomas
drums (drum set):
Pete Thomas (drummer)
guitar:
Elvis Costello
organ, piano and synthesizer:
Steve Nieve
vocals:
Elvis Costello
recording of:
Oliver’s Army (from 1978-08 until 1978-09)
lyricist and composer:
Declan Patrick MacManus
publisher:
BMG Music Publishing Ltd.
Elvis Costello & The Attractions4.352:58
3Watching the Detectives
producer:
Nick Lowe (UK singer/songwriter/instrumentalist/producer)
drums (drum set):
Steve Goulding (English drummer for the Rumour, Mekons, etc.)
electric bass guitar [bass]:
Andrew Bodnar (bass player)
guitar:
Elvis Costello
organ and piano:
Steve Nieve
vocals:
Elvis Costello
phonographic copyright (℗) by:
Elvis Costello (in 1977)
phonographic copyright (℗) by:
Demon Records Ltd. (in 1984)
recorded at:
Pathway Studios in Islington, London (Greater London), England, United Kingdom (in 1976, from 1977-05 until 1977-06)
part of:
Indie 88: Top 500 Indie Rock Songs (number: 354) and Rolling Stone: 500 Greatest Songs of All Time (as at 2016-06-10) (number: 355)
recording of:
Watching the Detectives
lyricist and composer:
Declan Patrick MacManus
publisher:
BMG Music Publishing Ltd., BMG Songs, Inc. and Universal Music Publishing International MGB Ltd.
Elvis Costello4.153:44
4Alison
producer:
Nick Lowe (UK singer/songwriter/instrumentalist/producer)
drums (drum set):
Mickey Shine (Clover drummer) (in 1976)
electric bass guitar [bass]:
Johnny Ciambotti (in 1976)
guitar:
Elvis Costello (in 1976) and John McFee (singer, songwriter, guitarist for The Doobie Brothers) (in 1976)
organ and piano:
Sean Hopper (US Keyboardist for Huey Lewis & the News) (in 1976)
background vocals:
Sean Hopper (US Keyboardist for Huey Lewis & the News) (in 1976), Johnny Ciambotti (in 1976) and Nick Lowe (UK singer/songwriter/instrumentalist/producer) (in 1976)
vocals:
Elvis Costello (in 1976)
recorded at:
Pathway Studios in Islington, London (Greater London), England, United Kingdom (in 1976)
part of:
Rolling Stone: 500 Greatest Songs of All Time (as at 2016-06-10) (number: 318) and Rolling Stone: 500 Greatest Songs of All Time: 2021 edition (number: 396)
recording of:
Alison (in 1976)
lyricist and composer:
Elvis Costello
publisher:
Universal Music Publishing International MGB Ltd.
Elvis Costello3.853:21
5(I Don’t Want to Go to) Chelsea
recording of:
(I Don’t Want to Go to) Chelsea
lyricist and composer:
Declan Patrick MacManus
Elvis Costello & The Attractions43:08
6Accidents Will Happen
engineer:
Roger Bechirian
producer:
Nick Lowe (UK singer/songwriter/instrumentalist/producer)
bass guitar:
Bruce Thomas
drums (drum set):
Pete Thomas (drummer)
guitar:
Elvis Costello
organ, piano and synthesizer:
Steve Nieve
vocals:
Elvis Costello
recording of:
Accidents Will Happen (from 1978-08 until 1978-09)
lyricist and composer:
Declan Patrick MacManus
publisher:
Universal Music Publishing MGB Limited
Elvis Costello & The Attractions43:01
7Pump It Up
producer:
Nick Lowe (UK singer/songwriter/instrumentalist/producer)
performer:
The Attractions (Elvis Costello) and Elvis Costello
phonographic copyright (℗) by:
Elvis Costello (in 1978)
part of:
Indie 88: Top 500 Indie Rock Songs (number: 181)
recording of:
Pump It Up
lyricist and composer:
Elvis Costello
publisher:
BMG Music Publishing Ltd. and Universal Music Publishing MGB Australia
Elvis Costello & The Attractions4.63:14
8I Can’t Stand Up for Falling Down
producer:
Nick Lowe (UK singer/songwriter/instrumentalist/producer)
cover recording of:
I Can’t Stand Up for Falling Down
composer:
Homer Banks (soul singer and songwriter) and Allen Jones (producer/songwriter/musician/engineer)
Elvis Costello & The Attractions4.52:06
9Radio Radio
producer:
Nick Lowe (UK singer/songwriter/instrumentalist/producer)
part of:
Indie 88: Top 500 Indie Rock Songs (number: 239)
recording of:
Radio, Radio
lyricist and composer:
Elvis Costello
premiered by:
Rangeline Hill (from 2025 to present) and Midwinter's Dream (Indy) (from 2025-05-01 to present)
Elvis Costello & The Attractions53:06
10Clubland
associate producer:
Roger Bechirian
producer:
Nick Lowe (UK singer/songwriter/instrumentalist/producer)
recording of:
Clubland
lyricist and composer:
Elvis Costello
Elvis Costello & The Attractions43:43
11Good Year for the Roses
producer:
Billy Sherrill (US songwriter/producer/arranger)
lead vocals:
Elvis Costello
cover recording of:
A Good Year for the Roses
lyricist and composer:
Jerry Chesnut
Elvis Costello4.253:05
12Man Out of Time
producer:
Geoff Emerick (British recording engineer)
performer:
The Attractions (Elvis Costello) and Elvis Costello
phonographic copyright (℗) by:
Elvis Costello (in 1982)
recorded at:
AIR Studios (Lyndhurst Hall 1991–present) in Hampstead, Camden (London Borough of Camden), London (Greater London), England, United Kingdom
recording of:
Man Out of Time
lyricist and composer:
Elvis Costello
publisher:
BMG Music Publishing Ltd.
Elvis Costello & The Attractions3.55:26
13I Wanna Be Loved
producer:
Clive Langer and Alan Winstanley (English record producer)
bass guitar:
Bruce Thomas (in 1984-02)
drums (drum set):
Pete Thomas (drummer) (in 1984-02)
guitar family and lead vocals:
Elvis Costello (in 1984-02)
keyboard:
Steve Nieve (in 1984-02)
vocals:
Green Gartside (in 1984-02)
recorded at:
Sarm West in Notting Hill, Kensington and Chelsea, London (Greater London), England, United Kingdom (in 1984-02)
mixed at:
Genetic Studios in West Berkshire, England, United Kingdom (in 1984-03)
cover recording of:
I Wanna Be Loved (in 1984-02)
lyricist and composer:
Farnell Jenkins
Elvis Costello & The Attractions24:46
14Everyday I Write the Book
producer:
Clive Langer and Alan Winstanley (English record producer)
bass guitar:
Bruce Thomas
drums (drum set):
Pete Thomas (drummer)
guitar and lead vocals:
Elvis Costello
keyboard:
Steve Nieve
background vocals:
Afrodiziak
recorded at:
AIR Studios (Lyndhurst Hall 1991–present) in Hampstead, Camden (London Borough of Camden), London (Greater London), England, United Kingdom
mixed at:
Genetic Studios in West Berkshire, England, United Kingdom
music videos:
Everyday I Write the Book by Elvis Costello
recording of:
Everyday I Write the Book
lyricist and composer:
Elvis Costello
publisher:
Universal Music Publishing MGB Ltd.
Elvis Costello & The Attractions43:52
15Brilliant Mistake
producer:
T‐Bone Burnett (musician, songwriter and producer) and Larry Kalman Hirsch (Producer & Engineer) (task: with)
recording of:
Brilliant Mistake
lyricist and composer:
Declan Patrick MacManus
The Costello Show feat. His Confederates3.53:42
16The Other Side of Summer
recording of:
The Other Side of Summer
lyricist and composer:
Elvis Costello
Elvis Costello4.53:53
17Tokyo Storm Warning
bass:
Bruce Thomas (from 1986-03 until 1986-05)
drums (drum set):
Pete Thomas (drummer) (from 1986-03 until 1986-05)
guitar and lead vocals:
Elvis Costello (from 1986-03 until 1986-05)
recorded at:
Olympic Studios (1966–2009) in Barnes, Richmond upon Thames, London (Greater London), England, United Kingdom (from 1986-03 until 1986-05)
recording of:
Tokyo Storm Warning (from 1986-03 until 1986-05)
writer:
Declan Patrick MacManus and Cait O’Riordan
Elvis Costello & The Attractions4.56:24
18Sulky Girl
assistant recording engineer:
Julie Gardner (engineer)
recording engineer and mixer:
Tchad Blake
producer:
Elvis Costello and Mitchell Froom
assistant mixer:
John Paterno
bass guitar:
Bruce Thomas (in 1993)
drums (drum set) and percussion:
Pete Thomas (drummer) (in 1993)
guitar:
Elvis Costello (in 1993)
harmonium, organ and piano:
Steve Nieve (in 1993)
vocals:
Elvis Costello (in 1993)
recorded at:
Olympic Studios (1966–2009) in Barnes, Richmond upon Thames, London (Greater London), England, United Kingdom (in 1993)
mixed at:
Sunset Sound Factory (1982–2017) in Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, United States
recording of:
Sulky Girl (in 1993)
lyricist and composer:
Elvis Costello
Elvis Costello & The Attractions3.55:05
19So Like Candy
recording of:
So Like Candy
lyricist and composer:
Declan Patrick MacManus and Paul McCartney (The Beatles)
Elvis Costello34:35
20Veronica
engineer and mixer:
Kevin Killen
acoustic guitar:
T‐Bone Burnett (musician, songwriter and producer)
bass guitar:
Paul McCartney (The Beatles)
chamberlin and electric piano:
Mitchell Froom
drums (drum set):
Jerry Marotta (drummer and composer)
electric guitar and lead vocals:
Elvis Costello
glockenspiel and timpani:
Michael Blair (American drummer/producer/songwriter based in Sweden)
piano and piano spinet [Baldwin spinet]:
Benmont Tench
recording of:
Veronica
writer:
Declan Patrick MacManus and Paul McCartney (The Beatles)
Elvis Costello4.653:07
21She
recording engineer:
Gareth Cousins and Simon Rhodes (senior recording engineer at Abbey Road Studios)
assistant engineer:
Paul Hicks
producer:
Trevor Jones (South African score composer)
mixer:
Gareth Cousins
bass guitar:
Trevor Barry
drums (drum set):
Paul Clarvis (percussionist)
instruments:
Clem Clempson
piano:
Dave Hartley (pianist)
vibraphone:
Frank Ricotti (percussionist)
vocals:
Elvis Costello
orchestra:
London Symphony Orchestra
conductor:
Geoffrey Alexander
arranger:
Julian Kershaw
phonographic copyright (℗) by:
Island Records (NOT for release label use! A division of UMG Recordings, Inc.) (in 1999)
recorded at and mixed at:
Abbey Road Studios in St John's Wood, Westminster, London (Greater London), England, United Kingdom
cover recording of:
She (Seven Faces of Woman)
lyricist:
Herbert Kretzmer
composer:
Charles Aznavour
publisher:
Essex Music International, Inc. and Standard Music Publishing Ltd.
translated version of:
Tous les visages de l’amour
Elvis Costello2.53:08
2▼CD
#TitleArtistRatingLength
1Big Tears
recording of:
Big Tears
lyricist and composer:
Elvis Costello
Elvis Costello & The Attractions3.53:10
2Beyond Belief
producer:
Geoff Emerick (British recording engineer)
recorded at:
AIR Studios (Lyndhurst Hall 1991–present) in Hampstead, Camden (London Borough of Camden), London (Greater London), England, United Kingdom
recording of:
Beyond Belief
lyricist and composer:
Elvis Costello
Elvis Costello & The Attractions3.52:33
3Lipstick Vogue
producer:
Nick Lowe (UK singer/songwriter/instrumentalist/producer)
recording of:
Lipstick Vogue
lyricist and composer:
Elvis Costello
Elvis Costello & The Attractions4.53:31
4Green Shirt
engineer:
Roger Bechirian
producer:
Nick Lowe (UK singer/songwriter/instrumentalist/producer)
bass guitar:
Bruce Thomas
drums (drum set):
Pete Thomas (drummer)
guitar:
Elvis Costello
organ, piano and synthesizer:
Steve Nieve
vocals:
Elvis Costello
recording of:
Green Shirt (from 1978-08 until 1978-09)
lyricist and composer:
Declan Patrick MacManus
Elvis Costello & The Attractions3.752:44
5Pills and Soap
drum machine and lead vocals:
Elvis Costello
piano:
Steve Nieve
recorded at:
AIR Studios (Lyndhurst Hall 1991–present) in Hampstead, Camden (London Borough of Camden), London (Greater London), England, United Kingdom
mixed at:
Genetic Studios in West Berkshire, England, United Kingdom
recording of:
Pills and Soap
lyricist and composer:
Elvis Costello
Elvis Costello43:44
6Tramp the Dirt Down
recording of:
Tramp the Dirt Down
lyricist and composer:
Declan Patrick MacManus
Elvis Costello25:42
7Shipbuilding
producer:
Clive Langer and Alan Winstanley (English record producer)
bass guitar:
Bruce Thomas
drums (drum set):
Pete Thomas (drummer)
guitar and lead vocals:
Elvis Costello
keyboard:
Steve Nieve
solo trumpet and trumpet:
Chet Baker (American jazz trumpeter and vocalist)
recorded at:
AIR Studios (Lyndhurst Hall 1991–present) in Hampstead, Camden (London Borough of Camden), London (Greater London), England, United Kingdom
mixed at:
Genetic Studios in West Berkshire, England, United Kingdom
recording of:
Shipbuilding (in 1983)
lyricist:
Elvis Costello
composer:
Clive Langer
publisher:
Plangent Vision Music and Warner Bros. Music (publisher; do NOT use as release label)
Elvis Costello & The Attractions3.254:52
8High Fidelity
producer:
Nick Lowe (UK singer/songwriter/instrumentalist/producer)
recording of:
High Fidelity
lyricist and composer:
Elvis Costello
Elvis Costello & The Attractions4.352:28
9New Lace Sleeves
recording of:
New Lace Sleeves
lyricist and composer:
Elvis Costello
Elvis Costello & The Attractions33:47
10(The Angels Wanna Wear My) Red Shoes
producer:
Nick Lowe (UK singer/songwriter/instrumentalist/producer)
drums (drum set):
Mickey Shine (Clover drummer) (in 1976)
electric bass guitar [bass]:
Johnny Ciambotti (in 1976)
guitar:
Elvis Costello (in 1976) and John McFee (singer, songwriter, guitarist for The Doobie Brothers) (in 1976)
organ and piano:
Sean Hopper (US Keyboardist for Huey Lewis & the News) (in 1976)
background vocals:
Sean Hopper (US Keyboardist for Huey Lewis & the News) (in 1976), Johnny Ciambotti (in 1976) and Nick Lowe (UK singer/songwriter/instrumentalist/producer) (in 1976)
vocals:
Elvis Costello (in 1976)
recorded at:
Pathway Studios in Islington, London (Greater London), England, United Kingdom (in 1976)
recording of:
(The Angels Wanna Wear My) Red Shoes (in 1976)
lyricist and composer:
Elvis Costello
Elvis Costello3.652:47
11Talking in the Dark
recording of:
Talking in the Dark
lyricist and composer:
Declan Patrick MacManus
Elvis Costello & The Attractions41:57
12New Amsterdam
recording of:
New Amsterdam
lyricist and composer:
Elvis Costello
publisher:
Plangent Vision Music
Elvis Costello42:13
13I Hope You’re Happy Now
bass:
Bruce Thomas (from 1986-03 until 1986-05)
drums (drum set):
Pete Thomas (drummer) (from 1986-03 until 1986-05)
guitar and lead vocals:
Elvis Costello (from 1986-03 until 1986-05)
recorded at:
Olympic Studios (1966–2009) in Barnes, Richmond upon Thames, London (Greater London), England, United Kingdom (from 1986-03 until 1986-05)
recording of:
I Hope You’re Happy Now (from 1986-03 until 1986-05)
lyricist and composer:
Elvis Costello
Elvis Costello & The Attractions53:08
14Riot Act
producer:
Nick Lowe (UK singer/songwriter/instrumentalist/producer)
recording of:
Riot Act
Elvis Costello & The Attractions33:35
15My Funny Valentine
producer:
Elvis Costello
phonographic copyright (℗) by:
Riviera Global Record Productions Ltd. (in 1979)
recording of:
My Funny Valentine (from “Babes in Arms”)
lyricist:
Lorenz Hart (in 1937)
composer:
Richard Rodgers (composer) (in 1937)
publisher:
Chappell & Co., Inc. (USA), Touch Music Publishing Pte Ltd., Warner Chappell Music Ltd. (no slash; used 1988–1996), Warner/Chappell (Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.) and Williamson Music Company
sub-publisher:
Warner/Chappell Music, Hong Kong Limited (華納音樂版權香港有限公司, 1995–2019), シンコーミュージック・エンタテイメント (Shinko Music Entertainment Co., Ltd.), ヤマハミュージックエンタテインメントホールディングス (Yamaha Music Entertainment Holdings, Inc., holding company – do not use as release label) and ワーナー・チャペル音楽出版 Synch事業部 (Warner/Chappell Music Japan K.K., Synch Division)
part of:
Babes in Arms (full musical)
part of:
The Real Book (compilation of jazz standards, volume I)
part of:
Waiting to Exhale (1995 film)
cover recording of:
My Funny Valentine (from “Babes in Arms”)
lyricist:
Lorenz Hart (in 1937)
composer:
Richard Rodgers (composer) (in 1937)
publisher:
Chappell & Co., Inc. (USA), Touch Music Publishing Pte Ltd., Warner Chappell Music Ltd. (no slash; used 1988–1996), Warner/Chappell (Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.) and Williamson Music Company
sub-publisher:
Warner/Chappell Music, Hong Kong Limited (華納音樂版權香港有限公司, 1995–2019), シンコーミュージック・エンタテイメント (Shinko Music Entertainment Co., Ltd.), ヤマハミュージックエンタテインメントホールディングス (Yamaha Music Entertainment Holdings, Inc., holding company – do not use as release label) and ワーナー・チャペル音楽出版 Synch事業部 (Warner/Chappell Music Japan K.K., Synch Division)
part of:
Babes in Arms (full musical)
part of:
The Real Book (compilation of jazz standards, volume I)
part of:
Waiting to Exhale (1995 film)
Elvis Costello51:30
16Indoor Fireworks
producer:
T‐Bone Burnett (musician, songwriter and producer) and Larry Kalman Hirsch (Producer & Engineer) (task: with)
recording of:
Indoor Fireworks
writer:
Elvis Costello
The Costello Show feat. His Confederates44:09
17Almost Blue
producer:
Geoff Emerick (British recording engineer)
recorded at:
AIR Studios (Lyndhurst Hall 1991–present) in Hampstead, Camden (London Borough of Camden), London (Greater London), England, United Kingdom
recording of:
Almost Blue
lyricist and composer:
Elvis Costello
Elvis Costello & The Attractions22:50
18I Want You
producer:
Colin Fairley
acoustic guitar:
Nick Lowe (UK singer/songwriter/instrumentalist/producer) (from 1986-03 until 1986-05)
bass:
Bruce Thomas (from 1986-03 until 1986-05)
drums (drum set):
Pete Thomas (drummer) (from 1986-03 until 1986-05)
guitar and lead vocals:
Elvis Costello (from 1986-03 until 1986-05)
recorded at:
Olympic Studios (1966–2009) in Barnes, Richmond upon Thames, London (Greater London), England, United Kingdom (from 1986-03 until 1986-05)
recording of:
I Want You (from 1986-03 until 1986-05)
lyricist and composer:
Declan Patrick MacManus
Elvis Costello & The Attractions3.156:43
19God Give Me Strength
producer:
Burt Bacharach
alto flute:
Lawrence Feldman (flutist and saxophonist)
bass:
T‐Bone Wolk
drums (drum set):
Chris Parker (American drummer)
flugelhorn:
Lew Soloff and Byron Stripling
grand piano:
Burt Bacharach
guitar:
David Spinozza
keyboard:
Rob Mounsey
vibraphone:
David Carey (vibraphonist/percussionist)
vocals:
Elvis Costello
recording of:
God Give Me Strength
lyricist:
Elvis Costello
composer:
Burt Bacharach and Elvis Costello
Elvis Costello with Burt Bacharach36:11
20That Day Is Done
recording engineer and mixer:
Robert Tassi (engineer)
piano:
Larry Knechtel
lead vocals:
Elvis Costello
vocals:
Isaac Freeman, Robert Hamlett, James Hill (US singer, member of the Fairfield Four), Joseph Rice (Gospel singer, member of the Fairfield Four) and Walter Settles
recorded at and mixed at:
The Loft in Nashville, Tennessee, United States
recording of:
That Day Is Done
writer:
Elvis Costello and Paul McCartney (The Beatles)
The Fairfield Four feat. Elvis Costello25:11
21I Want to Vanish
mixer:
Geoff Emerick (British recording engineer) and Jon Jacobs (UK producer/engineer)
editor:
Kevin Killen
strings:
The Brodsky Quartet
recording of:
I Want to Vanish
lyricist and composer:
Elvis Costello
Elvis Costello & Steve Nieve feat. Brodsky Quartet23:15
22Smile
Elvis Costello3:05