Elvis Costello and Burt Bacharach have announced The Songs of Bacharach & Costello, a new box set compiling their collaborative work. Set for release on March 3, the 4xCD, 2xLP ‘Super Deluxe Edition’ includes both the newly remastered Painted From Memory and a new record, Taken From Life, which features unreleased material from the proposed stage adaptation of their 1998 album Painted From Memory, live performances and more. The box set also contains rare photographs, session notes, and an essay by Costello about working with Bacharach. Three unreleased live recordings are out today, and you can listen to them below.
Of the new songs on Taken From Life, Costello said in a statement: “These reflect the stories and impulses of a group of people who are, obsessive and vain, who are betrayed and become disappointed in life but long tenderly for a happier time, who are unfaithful, dishonest, destructive and turn out to be the inventors of a dangerous past, who are guilty, haunted and romantically deluded, desperate, vengeful and even cruel.”
He added: “In their musical form they are different kinds of dark love songs that anyone might sing if they happened to be an artist, his model, a wife, a fantasist, a lover, a philanderer or disillusioned daughter. You know, fun for all the family.”
Costello and Bacharach first collaborated in 1996 on ‘God Give Me Strength’ for the film Grace of My Heart. In 2018, Costello and the Imposters released Look Now, which featured three songs co-written with Bacharach.
The Songs of Bacharach & Costello (Super Deluxe) Tracklist:
1. In the Darkest Place (2023 Remaster)
2. Toledo (2023 Remaster)
3. I Still Have That Other Girl (2023 Remaster)
4. This House Is Empty Now (2023 Remaster)
5. Tears at the Birthday Party (2023 Remaster)
6. Such Unlikely Lovers (2023 Remaster)
7. My Thief (2023 Remaster)
8. The Long Division (2023 Remaster)
9. Painted From Memory (2023 Remaster)
10. The Sweetest Punch (2023 Remaster)
11. What’s Her Name Today? (2023 Remaster)
12. God Give Me Strength (2023 Remaster)
1. You Can Have Her
2. Painted From Memory
3. Don’t Look Now [feat. Burt Bacharach]
4. Everyone’s Playing House
5. I Looked Away
6. Taken From Life
7. My Thief
8. Shameless
9. Photographs Can Lie [fet. Burt Bacharach]
10. In the Darkest Place
11. Why Won’t Heaven Help Me?
12. Stripping Paper
13. He’s Given Me Things
14. What’s Her Name Today?
15. Look Up Again
16. Lie Back & Think of England
1. Toledo (Live in Tokyo, Japan, Nakano Sunplaza Hall / February 08, 1999)
2. In the Darkest Place (Live in Melbourne, Australia, Athenaeum Theatre / February 16, 1999)
3. My Thief (Live in Tokyo, Japan, Nakano Sunplaza Hall / February 08, 1999)
4. I Still Have That Other Girl (Live in Tokyo, Japan, Shibuya Hall / February 10, 1999)
5. I’ll Never Fall in Love Again (Live in Toronto, Ontario, Massey Hall / June 16, 1999)
6. God Give Me Strength (Live in Toronto, Ontario, Massey Hall / June 16, 1999)
7. Painted From Memory (Live in Stockholm, Sweden, Berwaldhallen / January, 5, 1999)
8. What’s Her Name Today? (Live in Stockholm, Sweden, Berwaldhallen / January, 5, 1999)
9. This House Is Empty Now (Live in New York City, Late Night With Conan O’Brien / Nov. 27, 1998)
1. I Just Don’t Know What to Do With Myself (Live at University of East Anglia, Norwich, UK / October 17, 1977)
2. Baby It’s You
3. Please Stay
4. I’ll Never Fall in Love Again (Live in Toronto, Ontario at Massey Hall / June 16, 1999)
5. Make It Easy on Yourself (Live in London at Royal Festival Hall / October 29, 1998)
6. My Little Red Book (Live in London at Royal Festival Hall / October 29, 1998)
7. Anyone Who Had a Heart (Live in London at Royal Festival Hall / October 29, 1998)
8. I Just Don’t Know What to Do With Myself (Live in New York City, Sessions at West 54th / October 18, 1998)
