Search - Elvis Costello :: Taking Liberties

Leftovers -- Yummy!!

J. Valentine | Durham, NC | 05/29/2006

(4 out of 5 stars)

""Taking Liberties" is a collection of songs that didn't make it on to Elvis Costello's first 4 releases. Actually, that's not quite right since two of the tracks here -- (I Don't Want to go to) Chelsea" and "Night Rally" -- were on the UK versions of "This Years Model." The songs are great, led by a loving "Hoover Factory", a nice remake of Betty Everett's "Getting Mighty Crowded", his version of "Girls Talk" which Dave Edmunds made a hit, "Crawling to the U.S.A.", and the aforementioned songs from "This Years Model." Originally released in 1980, it's remarkable that EC had released four LP's in 4 years and still had leftovers for "Taking Liberties."



At any rate, with the exception of "Black & White World" (which is an alternate take of a song from "Get Happy!!") every track on this CD is available on the Rhino re-releases of "My Aim is True", "This Years Model", "Armed Forces", and "Get Happy!!", with most of the songs coming from the last two. If you already have these four CD's and don't plan on buying the Rhino remasters, then "Taking Liberties" is a good option.



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Not for the witless...

tuss12 | edgewood, pa United States | 08/30/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Elvis Costello never fails to serve up ingenious humor and brutal truth... and so, only those prepared to contemplate the universe and its curious and contrary human inhabitants need consider setting themselves apart by owning and honering the works of Elvis Costello. I'll let you in on a little secret: his tunes are often just as much fun as they are insightful!!! There are unlimited reasons why Elvis Costello is firmly implanted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. Taking Liberties is a hell of a good time. Your friends will thank you for giving them all a listen to it!"

Best of the Rest...you call these crumbs?!

G. Mitchell | Los Angeles, CA United States | 05/07/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"It was 1980 and Elvis was on a roll. Four albums in four years - and still 20 peerless, unstopabble, impossible impassioned, & craftily clever tracks that somehow didn't manage to make the cut? Amazing how there are 20 "leftovers" here on one LP (now OOP CD) and not one bad apple in the whole bunch. This is Costello at his cocky, confident peak of his powers, loaded with unlimited potential and an unrivaled master working at the height of his gifts - WOW. Why is this OUT OF PRINT?!"