Elvis is Everywhere

Infodump from Elvis Costello's PR department:

Elvis Costello has set a Sept. 21 release date for the simultaneous release of two new albums.

A new rock album will be issued by Lost Highway, while "Il Sogno," his first full-length orchestral work, will emerge via Deutsche Grammophon.

Largely recorded at Sweet Tea Studios in Oxford, Miss., the as-yet-untitled rock album features Costello backed by his band the Imposters -- Attractions drummer Pete Thomas and keyboardist Steve Nieve and former Cracker bassist Davey Farragher.

The disc also includes guest appearances by Lucinda Williams (news) and Emmylou Harris (news), who give voice to characters in the song "The Delivery Man." Also featured is pedal steel guitarist John McFee (Doobie Brothers), who previously appeared on Costello's 1977 debut "My Aim Is True" and 1981's "Almost Blue."
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As for "Il Sogno," it was recorded in 2002 by the London Symphony Orchestra after being originally commissioned by Italy's Aterballeto dance company for an adaptation of "A Midsummer Night's Dream."
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The 52-member Metropole Orkest will reprise its performance with Costello July 13 when it makes its North American debut at New York's Lincoln Center Festival 2004. Costello will play the event two nights later with the Imposters, and on July 17 attend the continental premiere of "Il Sogno," performed by the Brooklyn Philharmonic. Nieve and Costello will also perform several songs accompanied by the orchestra during the second half of the evening's program.

Expanded reissues of "Almost Blue," the 1984 set "Goodbye Cruel World" and 1995's "Kojak Variety" will arrive Aug. 3 via Rhino. Costello is also featured performing "Let's Misbehave" on the soundtrack to the Cole Porter biopic "De-Lovely." Released Tuesday by Sony Music Soundtrax, the collection features Costello's new bride, Diana Krall, as well as Alanis Morisette, Sheryl Crow and Natalie Cole among others.

Good God, I'm worn out just from the cut-and-paste job.

UPDATE: Douglas Wolk at Slate has nothing good to say about Costello and Krall's mutual musical influence, based on her latest, The Girl in the Other Room, and his latest/previous, North. As an EC guy from the beginning, I'll note that I listened to North twice and then wished it had never been made. Also, according to Wolk, Elvis's set lists nowadays run to pre-1987 material, plus whatever the current album is that he's pushing. Which, now that I think of it, squares with my recollection of the show I saw last summer.
- posted by Don Porges @ 6/18/2004 08:42:00 PM |