Elvis Costello is making the rounds, virtually, promoting his new album, Hey Clockface, which is out Friday. He appeared on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert on Wednesday night, where he chatted as his usual witty, erudite self, and played the title track from the record as well as "Party Girl" from his classic album Armed Forces (which is getting a new box set that's out next week). Elvis was joined by Late Show bandleader Jon Batiste on both and you can watch both those performances below.
Stephen also talked with Elvis about his musical adaptation of A Face in the Crowd which was originally supposed to open on Broadway this year till the pandemic canceled everything. The parallels between the story -- which was made into the acclaimed 1957 film starring Andy Griffith -- and Donald Trump are pretty obvious. Elvis describes the plot as "the story of Lonesome Rhodes, a lying, cheating, swindling hillbilly singer who rises through the realms of Entertainment to be a man of influence -- be careful what you wish for."
When asked by Colbert for a song that would be perfect for a Trump rally, Elvis read a few lyrics from the show: “If you’re tired of the lies of politicians and of preachers, you can put your trust in me / Help me be your brother’s keeper / If you pay too many taxes and think salvation should be cheaper / Just say blood and hot sauce / When the bailiffs are at the door, and you want to venge your spleen / Vaseline my pompadour, I’m twice the man you should’ve been / And round the ammunition and the gasoline / Just say blood and hot sauce.”
You can watch that as well below.
As for that Armed Forces box set, it's vinyl only and here are the details:
This super deluxe edition was personally curated by Elvis Costello. The box fully embraces Barney Bubbles’ epic package art and features 9 pieces of vinyl, 7 custom notebooks containing updated liner notes from Costello (nearly 10,000 words total) and his handwritten lyrics from the era. The album receives a brand-new remaster from the original production master tapes with the sonic fidelity matching the original 1979 UK pressing. Along with selections from the Hollywood High show, there are 3 more concerts, 23 never released live songs including the full PinkPop 1979 set and highlights from the notorious Riot at The Regent concert and the December 24, 1978 Dominion Theatre. The set includes the vintage grenade and gun poster and the 4 original postcards of each band member. Costello commissioned acclaimed artist Todd Alcott to recreate pulp novel covers of to represent songs from Armed Forces featuring Costello as the star of the cover in precarious situations.
Check out the Armed Forces packaging and tracklist below.
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ARMED FORCES BOX SET TRACKLIST: Armed Forces 12” LP Side 1 1 1 Accidents Will Happen 2 2 Senior Service 3 3 Oliver’s Army 4 4 Big Boys 5 5 Green Shirt 6 6 Party Girl 7 Side 2 8 1 Goon Squad 9 2 Busy Bodies 10 3 Sunday’s Best 11 4 Moods For Moderns 12 5 Chemistry Class 13 6 Two Little Hitlers 14 7 (What’s So Funny ‘Bout) Peace, Love & Understanding? Christmas In The Dominion - Live 24th December ’78 10” LP Side 1 1 1 (The Angels Wanna Wear My) Red Shoes 2 2 No Dancing 3 Side 2 4 1 I Stand Accused 5 2 (What’s So Funny ‘Bout) Peace, Love & Understanding? Europe ‘79 – Live At Pinkpop 12” LP Side 1 1 1 Goon Squad 2 2 B-Movie 3 3 Green Shirt 4 4 (I Don’t Want To Go To) Chelsea 5 5 Opportunity 6 6 So Young 7 7 High Fidelity 8 Side 2 9 1 Lipstick Vogue 10 2 Watching The Detectives 11 3 Big Boys 12 4 Pump It Up 13 5 You Belong To Me 14 6 (What’s So Funny ‘Bout) Peace, Love & Understanding? Live at Hollywood High & Elsewhere 1978 12” LP Side 1 1 1 Accidents Will Happen 2 2 Mystery Dance 3 3 Goon Squad 4 4 Party Girl 5 5 Stranger In The House 6 Side 2 7 1 Alison 8 2 Lipstick Vogue 9 3 Watching The Detectives 10 4 You Belong To Me 11 5 Chemistry Class (Live at The Warner Theatre, Washington D.C.) Live In Sydney ’78 10” LP Side 1 1 1 Oliver’s Army 2 2 Waiting For The End Of The World 3 3 Big Boys 4 Side 2 5 1 This Year’s Girl 6 2 You Belong To Me 7 3 Pump It Up Sketches for Emotional Fascism 10" LP Side 1 1 1 Clean Money 2 2 Talking In The Dark 3 3 Wednesday Week 4 4 Tiny Steps 5 Side 2 6 1 Crawling To The U.S.A. 7 2 Big Boys (Alternate Version) 8 3 Green Shirt (Demo Version) 9 4 My Funny Valentine Riot At The Regent – “Accidents Will Happen” 7” Side 1 1 1 Accidents Will Happen 2 Side 2 3 1 Busy Bodies (Alternate) Nick Lowe & His Sound “American Squirm” 7" Side 1 1 American Squirm 2 Side 2 3 (What's So Funny 'Bout) Peace, Love & Understanding? “Oliver's Army” 7" Side 1 1 Oliver's Army 2 Side 2 3 Big Boys (Demo)
