Elvis Costello

The second in a four-CD set of singles released in 1996, the title cut is taken from All This Useless Beauty, Costello's own version of the song he wrote with Aimee Mann back in 1989 and which she recorded on 'Til Tuesday's album Everything's Different Now. Costello slows the arrangement and changes a verse or two and, of course, his vocals are very different from Mann's. Another reworking, "Basement Kiss," was written for Wendy James' Now Ain't the Time for Your Tears and appears here live. Costello's reunion tour with the Attractions was a chance to take back some of the songs that he had "given" away, and "Basement Kiss" shows Costello unearthing the melody and hooks from what had been James' fey delivery. "Complicated Shadows," here in a "Cashbox Version," was written for Johnny Cash but never recorded. You can hear Costello play acting the role of the man in black, throwing in some "Jumping Jack Flash" riffs as well. ~ Ted Mills, All Music Guide