Elvis Costello - Out of Our Idiot

Following in the tradition of Taking Liberties and Ten Bloody Marys & Ten How's Your Fathers, Out of Our Idiot compiles 21 rarities Elvis Costello released during the early and mid-'80s, usually under pseudonyms. Many of these songs are collaborations -- "Seven Day Weekend" is a rollicking duet with Jimmy Cliff; Elvis sings "Baby It's You" with Nick Lowe; Costello and T-Bone Burnett form the Coward Brothers -- hence the album's billing as a "various-artists" record, which is indicative of its freewheeling, goofy humor. Even with a cover of Richard Thompson's harrowing "Withered and Died," Out of Our Idiot is pure fun, and it's not just for collectors. Costello's throwaways are frequently excellent, whether it's covers (Yoko Ono's "Walking on Thin Ice," Smokey Robinson's "From Head to Toe," "So Young"), genre exercises, jokes, or full-fledged songs. Most of the songs on Out of Our Idiot were later included as bonus tracks in the Demon/Rykodisc reissue series, but this remains the only place "Little Goody Two Shoes" (a working version of "Inch by Inch") is available. Besides, it's a great listen in its own right. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine, All Music Guide

Name Credits Alan Winstanley Producer Allen Toussaint Producer Annie Whitehead Trombone Bruce Thomas Saxophone, Bass Cait O'Riordan Vocals Clive Langer Producer Colin Fairley Producer, Mixing Coward Brothers Producer David Miner Bass Declan MacManus Guitar, Bass, Producer, Vocals, Percussion Declan Patrick Producer Elvis Costello Producer, Guitar, Vocals Gary Barnacle Sax (Baritone), Sax (Tenor) Geoff Emerick Producer Henry Coward Engineer, Rhythm, Guitar, Guitar (Rhythm) Howard Coward Mixing, Guitar Imposter Producer James Burton Guitar Jerry Scheff Bass Larry Hirsch Producer, Engineer Mickey Curry Drums Mono-Kings Producer Neill King Engineer Nick Lowe Vocals, Producer, Guitar (Bass), Bass Paul Bass Assistant Producer Pete Thomas Drums, Percussion, Saxophone Roger Bechirian Engineer Ron Tutt Drums Ross MacManus Trumpet, Handclapping, Clapping Steve Hart Piano Steve MacMillan Mixing Steve Nieve Keyboards Sylvan Richardson Performer T Bone Burnett Guitar, Producer T-Bone Wolk Bass The Royal Guardsmen Performer