The Very Best of Elvis Costello

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

Tracklist

1▼CD
#TitleArtistLength
1(What’s So Funny ’Bout) Peace, Love & Understanding
engineer:
Roger Bechirian
producer:
Nick Lowe
bass guitar:
Bruce Thomas
drums (drum set):
Pete Thomas
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 (number: 284)
cover recording of:
(What’s So Funny ’Bout) Peace, Love and Understanding
lyricist and composer:
Nick Lowe
publisher:
Plangent Visions Music, Inc.
Elvis Costello & The Attractions3:32
2Oliver’s Army
engineer:
Roger Bechirian
producer:
Nick Lowe
bass guitar:
Bruce Thomas
drums (drum set):
Pete Thomas
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 Attractions2:58
3Watching the Detectives
producer:
Nick Lowe
drums (drum set):
Steve Goulding
electric bass guitar [bass]:
Andrew Bodnar
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, 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 (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 Costello3:44
4Alison
producer:
Nick Lowe
drums (drum set):
Mickey Shine (in 1976)
electric bass guitar [bass]:
Johnny Ciambotti (in 1976)
guitar:
Elvis Costello (in 1976) and John McFee (in 1976)
organ and piano:
Sean Hopper (in 1976)
background vocals:
Sean Hopper (in 1976), Johnny Ciambotti (in 1976) and Nick Lowe (in 1976)
vocals:
Elvis Costello (in 1976)
recorded at:
Pathway Studios in Islington, London, England, United Kingdom (in 1976)
part of:
Rolling Stone: 500 Greatest Songs of All Time (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 Costello3:21
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 Attractions3:08
6Accidents Will Happen
engineer:
Roger Bechirian
producer:
Nick Lowe
bass guitar:
Bruce Thomas
drums (drum set):
Pete Thomas
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 Attractions3:01
7Pump It Up
producer:
Nick Lowe
performer:
The Attractions 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 Attractions3:14
8I Can’t Stand Up for Falling Down
producer:
Nick Lowe
cover recording of:
I Can’t Stand Up for Falling Down
composer:
Homer Banks and Allen Jones
Elvis Costello & The Attractions2:06
9Radio Radio
producer:
Nick Lowe
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 (from 2025-05-01 to present)
Elvis Costello & The Attractions3:06
10Clubland
associate producer:
Roger Bechirian
producer:
Nick Lowe
recording of:
Clubland
lyricist and composer:
Elvis Costello
Elvis Costello & The Attractions3:43
11Good Year for the Roses
producer:
Billy Sherrill
lead vocals:
Elvis Costello
cover recording of:
A Good Year for the Roses
lyricist and composer:
Jerry Chesnut
Elvis Costello3:05
12Man Out of Time
producer:
Geoff Emerick
performer:
The Attractions and Elvis Costello
phonographic copyright (℗) by:
Elvis Costello (in 1982)
recorded at:
AIR Studios in Hampstead, Camden, London, England, United Kingdom
recording of:
Man Out of Time
lyricist and composer:
Elvis Costello
publisher:
BMG Music Publishing Ltd.
Elvis Costello & The Attractions5:25
13I Wanna Be Loved
producer:
Clive Langer and Alan Winstanley
bass guitar:
Bruce Thomas (in 1984-02)
drums (drum set):
Pete Thomas (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, 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 Attractions4:45
14Everyday I Write the Book
producer:
Clive Langer and Alan Winstanley
bass guitar:
Bruce Thomas
drums (drum set):
Pete Thomas
guitar and lead vocals:
Elvis Costello
keyboard:
Steve Nieve
background vocals:
Afrodiziak
recorded at:
AIR Studios in Hampstead, Camden, 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 Attractions3:53
15Indoor Fireworks
producer:
T‐Bone Burnett and Larry Kalman Hirsch (task: with)
recording of:
Indoor Fireworks
writer:
Elvis Costello
Elvis Costello feat. His Confederates4:08
16Shipbuilding
producer:
Clive Langer and Alan Winstanley
bass guitar:
Bruce Thomas
drums (drum set):
Pete Thomas
guitar and lead vocals:
Elvis Costello
keyboard:
Steve Nieve
solo trumpet and trumpet:
Chet Baker
recorded at:
AIR Studios in Hampstead, Camden, 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
Elvis Costello & The Attractions4:50
17Tokyo Storm Warning
bass:
Bruce Thomas (from 1986-03 until 1986-05)
drums (drum set):
Pete Thomas (from 1986-03 until 1986-05)
guitar and lead vocals:
Elvis Costello (from 1986-03 until 1986-05)
recorded at:
Olympic Studios in Barnes, Richmond upon Thames, 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 Attractions6:24
18I Want You
producer:
Colin Fairley
acoustic guitar:
Nick Lowe (from 1986-03 until 1986-05)
bass:
Bruce Thomas (from 1986-03 until 1986-05)
drums (drum set):
Pete Thomas (from 1986-03 until 1986-05)
guitar and lead vocals:
Elvis Costello (from 1986-03 until 1986-05)
recorded at:
Olympic Studios in Barnes, Richmond upon Thames, 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 Attractions6:40
19God Give Me Strength
producer:
Burt Bacharach
alto flute:
Lawrence Feldman
bass:
T‐Bone Wolk
drums (drum set):
Chris Parker
flugelhorn:
Lew Soloff and Byron Stripling
grand piano:
Burt Bacharach
guitar:
David Spinozza
keyboard:
Rob Mounsey
vibraphone:
David Carey
vocals:
Elvis Costello
recording of:
God Give Me Strength
lyricist:
Elvis Costello
composer:
Burt Bacharach and Elvis Costello
Elvis Costello with Burt Bacharach6:07
20She
recording engineer:
Gareth Cousins and Simon Rhodes
assistant engineer:
Paul Hicks
producer:
Trevor Jones
mixer:
Gareth Cousins
bass guitar:
Trevor Barry
drums (drum set):
Paul Clarvis
instruments:
Clem Clempson
piano:
Dave Hartley
vibraphone:
Frank Ricotti
vocals:
Elvis Costello
orchestra:
London Symphony Orchestra
conductor:
Geoffrey Alexander
arranger:
Julian Kershaw
phonographic copyright (℗) by:
Island Records (in 1999)
recorded at and mixed at:
Abbey Road Studios in St John's Wood, Westminster, 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 Costello3:07