http://billboard.com/bbcom/news/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1002949316
Universal Acquires First 11 Costello Albums
August 02, 2006, 12:00 PM ET
Jill Menze, N.Y.
Universal Music Enterprises has acquired 11 albums from Elvis
Costello's early catalog, with plans to re-release the artist's
material via reissues, deluxe editions, compilations and box sets.
The albums acquired begin with Costello's 1977 debut, "My Aim Is True,"
and continue through "This Year's Model" (1978), "Armed Forces" (1979),
"Get Happy!!" (1980), "Almost Blue" (1981), "Trust" (1981), "Imperial
Bedroom" (1982), "Punch the Clock" (1983), "Goodbye Cruel World"
(1986), "King of America" (1986) and "Blood and Chocolate" (1986).
Although these albums have already been reissued in expanded form by
Rykodisc as well as Rhino, UME promises its new versions will be the
"definitive reissues." The company also plans to produce limited
edition releases for its Hip-O Select imprint, DVDs of videos and
concerts and usher Costello's music into new formats such as ringtones.
"A Pekingese in a tuxedo could sell you 'My Aim Is True,' you know,"
Costello told Billboard in May 2001, when the Rhino reissue campaign
launched. "When you've got a record that maybe didn't reach its
audience in its time, you have to use a bit of imagination in the way
that you present it, to make it seem as if it might be worth
investigating now."
Costello just wrapped a tour with Allen Toussaint in support of their
collaborative Verve Forecast album, "The River in Reverse." He will
also be heard singing "Little Boxes," the theme song for the Showtime
series "Weeds," on its Aug. 14 season premiere. The track will be sung
by a different artist during each episode, including Englebert
Humperdinck, Death Cab For Cutie, Ozomatli and Regina Spektor.
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