In the late 1970s, Elvis Costello wore a punk snarl to go along with his sharp suits and horn-rimmed glasses. Twenty-five years later, the prolific troubadour has replaced it with something more subtly sinister.
Cruel Smile, a companion LP to Costello’s latest studio album, When I Was Cruel, features B-sides, rare cuts and live versions from that album, as well as a handful of fan favorites. Due October 1, the 14-track enhanced CD also includes the video for When I Was Cruel’s “45,” according to an Island Records spokesperson. Costello selected the tracks himself, most of which were previously unavailable domestically or not at all.
Album highlights include “When I Was Cruel (No. 1)” (No. 2 is found on the studio album), live versions of “15 Petals,” “Dust,” “Almost Blue” (which originally appeared on 1982’s Imperial Bedroom), “Uncomplicated” (the leadoff track from 1986’s Blood & Chocolate, captured from the first stop of Costello’s world tour in support of When I Was Cruel), and a medley pairing the Costello classic “Watching the Detectives” with his adopted crooner standard “My Funny Valentine,” recorded at a Tokyo concert in July.
Nearly six months after he released it, Costello is still touring to support When I Was Cruel, his first studio album since the 1998 collaboration with Burt Bacharach Painted From Memory, and he isn’t planning on slowing until early November. Upon his return from a European jaunt, he’ll visit 12 U.S. cities with openers Phantom Planet in tow, perform with the Rolling Stones October 14 in Cleveland, and he’ll host a handful of shows with perpetual and exceptional bar band NRBQ toward at the end of the October.
Costello, along with Black Sabbath, the Police and ABBA, is also among the nominees for induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame for his work with his band the Attractions, with whom recorded 10 albums from 1978 to 1994. Voting takes place October 18.
Elvis Costello Tour Dates, According To Island Records:
- 9/22 – Santa Fe, NM – The Paramount
- 9/23 – Seattle, WA – Paramount Theatre
- 9/24 – Portland, OR – Arlene Schnitzer Hall
- 9/25 – Eugene, OR – McDonald Theatre
- 9/27 – San Francisco, CA – The Warfield
- 9/28 – Oakland, CA – Paramount Theatre
- 9/29 – Los Angeles, CA – Mayan Theatre
- 10/1 – Long Beach, CA – Terrace Theater – Long Beach Performing Arts Center
- 10/2 – Phoenix, AZ – Dodge Theatre
- 10/3 – Santa Fe, NM – Paolo Soleri Amphitheater
- 10/5 – Dallas, TX – Bronco Bowl
- 10/6 – Austin, TX – The Backyard
- 10/7 – Houston, TX – Verizon Wireless Theater
- 10/9 – Kansas City, MO – Midland Theatre
- 10/10 – St. Louis, MO – The Pageant
- 10/11 – Cincinnati, OH – Taft Theater
- 10/13 – Indianapolis, IN – Murat Theater
- 10/14 – Cleveland, OH – Gund Arena
- 10/16 – Minneapolis, MN – Orpheum Theatre
- 10/17 – Chicago, IL – Chicago Theatre
- 10/19 – Pittsburgh, PA – A.J. Palumbo Center
- 10/21 – Boston, MA – Orpheum Theatre
- 10/22 – New York, NY – Beacon Theatre
- 10/23 – New York, NY – Beacon Theatre
- 10/25 – Upper Darby, PA – Tower Theatre
- 10/26 – Washington, DC – DAR Constitution Hall
- 10/28 – Newark, NJ – New Jersey Performing Arts Center
- 11/1 – Orlando, FL – Hard Rock Live
- 11/2 – Miami Beach, FL – Jackie Gleason Theater
- 11/3 – Clearwater, FL – Ruth Eckerd Hall
- 11/6 – Atlanta, GA – Tabernacle
- 11/7 – Atlanta, GA – Tabernacle
