Artist: Elvis Costello & The Imposters
Title: The Return Of The Spectacular Spinning Songbook!!!
Year Of Release: 2011/2012
Label: Hip-O/Elvis Costello
Genre: Rock
Quality: FLAC (tracks) 24/96
Total Time: 76:09
Total Size: 1.57 GB



A weighty box set containing one concert in three different formats -- CD, DVD, and 10" vinyl -- The Return of the Spectacular Spinning Songbook!!! gained some notoriety in the week prior to its release when Elvis Costello claimed its “price appears to be either a misprint or a satire.” True, the $262 price tag is steep -- particularly for an album that offers 16 songs on its CD and 19 on its DVD, some overlapped, some not -- but some die-hard fans with deep wallets will surely find the replica of the Spectacular Spinning Songwheel appealing and the musical contents, which are penciled in for a separate affordable release sometime in 2012, are strong. Costello & the Imposters are in high spirits, jumping out of the gate with “I Hope You’re Happy Now” -- a tune whose 1986 vintage dates from the original Spinning Songwheel tour, legendary among Costello fanatics for its loose, unpredictable nature -- then tearing into Nick Lowe’s “Heart of the City,” one of two unexpected covers here (the other being the Rolling Stones’ “Out of Time”). Other pleasant surprises rear their heads -- notably Susanna Hoffs taking lead on “Tear Off Your Own Head (It’s a Doll Revolution),” a song the Bangles recorded after Elvis -- but he still finds time for such staples as “Everyday I Write the Book,” “Watching the Detectives,” “I Want You,” “(What’s So Funny ‘Bout) Peace, Love and Understanding,” and “Radio, Radio,” so it’s not entirely a stroll through the darkest corners of Costello’s past, something that undoubtedly makes that high price tag sting just a little bit more. But disregard the cost of The Return of the Spectacular Spinning Songbook!!! for a moment and focus on the music: it’s an enjoyable set that is absolutely worth the price when it’s available at a lower suggested retail, and for those wealthy Costello fanatics, this big box is a handsome collectable.


01. I Hope You're Happy Now (3:14)
02. Heart Of The City (2:22)
03. Mystery Dance (2:05)
04. Radio Radio (2:35)
05. Everyday I Write The Book (5:00)
06. God Give Me Strength (6:33)
07. Watching The Detectives (6:51)
08. Tear Off Your Own Head (It's A Doll Revolution) (feat. Susanna Hoffs) (3:43)
09. Out Of Time (5:00)
10. I Want You (8:39)
11. Stella Hurt (6:43)
12. All Grown Up (4:43)
13. Lipstick Vogue (4:25)
14. Man Out Of Time (4:54)
15. National Ransom (4:04)
16. (What's So Funny 'Bout) Peace, Love And Understanding? (5:19)