Me wrote:
>
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."
This is just beyond ridiculous. First of all, I can't imagine either
the Ryko or the Rhino reissues sold all that many copies. What could
possibly be the financial incentive to keep re-releasing this stuff in
different formats? At some point, it's got to be a whole lot more
trouble than it's worth. Second, the Rhino reissue series started not
even four years ago! Surely any and all demand for any kind of expanded
Costello albums has been sated for years to come. Third, it's hard to
imagine that any re-release of these albums could be more "deifnitive"
than Rhino's versions, which were mostly stellar. "Armed Forces,"
"Almost Blue" and "King Of America" in particular had a plethora of
great bonus material - what more could Universal offer that anyone
would want at this point? Fourth, aren't Elvis Costello fans a
notoriously snarky bunch who don't take too kindly to buying the same
albums over and over again in slightly different formats?
Can't say I blame Elvis for signing off on the deal, though. The guy
never sold all that many albums in his career in the first place. Why
not take a nice big paycheck if a bunch of stupid record companies are
going to keep clamoring to buy your stuff?
-Jyqm
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