Elvis Costello

Released on the heels of Ryko's release of Costello's back catalog in 1994-95, this bootleg collects B-sides and extra curricular recordings that didn't make it as bonus tracks on the official CD reissues. Legalities aside, it makes a money saving alternative to paying several hundreds of dollars to own all this vinyl; as a collection, it's purely chronological. Of interest are live covers of songs by the Damned ("Neat, Neat, Neat"), Jimmy Cliff ("Many Rivers to Cross"), and songs that Costello has disowned in interviews: a overdubbed-string laden "Alison" (remixed against the artist's wishes by Columbia), a faux-disco remix of "Town Cryer," and the throwaway "Party Party" from the soundtrack album of the same name (which, if Costello has his way, will never see the light of day). ~ Ted Mills, All Music Guide