WARNING!
This album contains country & western music & may produce radical reaction in narrow minded people. (original UK F-Beat album sticker)
Elvis Costello And The Attractions
Almost Blue (Released: October 1981 - Recorded: May 18 to May 29, 1981
Disc 1 - Almost Blue - Album
01. Why Don't You Love Me (Like You Used To Do)?
02. Sweet Dreams
03. Success
04. I'm Your Toy
05. Tonight The Bottle Let Me Down
06. Brown To Blue
07. Good Year For The Roses
08. Sittin' And Thinkin'
09. Colour Of The Blues
10. Too Far Gone
11. Honey Hush
12. How Much I Lied
Disc 1 - Almost Blue - Elvis Costello Introduces...The Tracks From His New Album "Almost Blue" (UK F-Beat Promo Vinyl LP, E.C. CHAT 1)
13. Why Don't You Love Me (Like You Used To Do)? (Introduces)
14. Sweet Dreams (Introduces)
15. Success (Introduces)
16. I'm Your Toy (Introduces)
17. Tonight The Bottle Let Me Down (Introduces)
18. Brown To Blue (Introduces)
19. Good Year For The Roses (Introduces)
20. Sittin' And Thinkin' (Introduces)
21. Colour Of The Blues (Introduces)
22. Too Far Gone (Introduces)
23. Honey Hush (Introduces)
24. How Much I Lied (Introduces)
Disc 2 - Almost Blue - Alternates, Demos, Rarities and Live
January 20, 1981
01. Too Far Gone ("Lost Session" Version)
02. He's Got You ("Lost Session" Version)
May 18 and May 29, 1981
03. Honky Tonk Girl
04. That's Why I'm Walking
05. Wondering
06. Darling, You Know I Wouldn't Lie
07. My Shoes Keep Walking Back To You
08. Blues Keep Calling
09. Tears Before Bedtime (Early Version)
10. Psycho
11. Cry, Cry, Cry
12. I'll Take Care Of You
13. Your Angel Steps Out Of Heaven
July 30, 1981 Aberdeen
14. He's Got You (Live) (Almost Blue 1994 Rykodisc RCD 20277)
15. Cry, Cry, Cry (Live) (Almost Blue 1994 Rykodisc RCD 20277)
16. There Won't Be Anymore (1) (Live) (Almost Blue 1994 Rykodisc RCD 20277)
17.Sittin' And Thinkin' (1) (Live) (Almost Blue 1994 Rykodisc RCD 20277)
18. Honey Hush (1) (Live) (Almost Blue 1994 Rykodisc RCD 20277)
19. Brand New Heartache (Live)
20. There Won't Be Anymore (2) (Live)
21. Sittin' And Thinkin' (2) (Live)
22. Honey Hush (2) (Live)
January 7, 1982 London
23. I'm Your Toy (with Intro) (Live)
Disc 3 - Almost Blue - Sessions (Bootleg)
Rehearsals
01. I'm Your Toy (1) - count-in, similar arrangement to the AB album version, conversation at the end.
02. Brown To Blue (1) - count-in, similar arrangement to the AB album version, faster tempo, end cuts off.
03. Brown To Blue (2) - guitar practice intro, count-in, different arrangement to the AB album version, faster tempo.
04. Brown To Blue (3) - EC talks, count-in, different arrangement to the AB album version, faster tempo.
05. Brown To Blue (4) - count-in, different arrangement to the AB album version, faster tempo, only a 1:04 portion of this track.
06. Honey Hush (1) - count-in, different arrangement to the AB album version, faster tempo.
07. That's Why I'm Walking (1) - count-in, false start, count-in, similar arrangement to the AB bonus disc version, conversation at the end.
08. Wondering (1) - count-in, false start, count-in, similar arrangement to the AB bonus disc version, end cuts off.
09. My Shoes Keep Walking Back To You (1) - count-in, false start, count-in, similar arrangement to the AB bonus disc version, slower tempo.
10. Darling, You Know I Wouldn't Lie (1) - count-in, similar arrangement to the AB bonus disc version.
11. Blues Keep Calling (1) - similar arrangement to the AB bonus disc version, only a 40 second portion of this track.
Sessions
12. Why Don't You Love Me (Like You Used To Do?) (1) - sounds the same as AB album version, with longer intro, alternate vocal on first verse, lyric flub 0:21, no effect on vocal "Ain't had no loving...".
13. Sweet Dreams (1) - sounds the same as AB album version, has a solo violin track from 0:52 to 1:44 not heard on the AB album version, missing background vocals and strings.
14. Success (1) - count-in, sounds the same as AB album version.
15. I'm Your Toy (2) - sounds the same as AB album version, two-tap intro, missing organ overdubs, fades early.
16. Tonight The Bottle Let Me Down (1) - sounds the same as AB album version, count-in and some extra snare and piano at the end, missing the electric guitar track.
17. Brown To Blue (5) - alternate completely different take, piano and talking, count-in, same basic arrangement as the AB album version.
18. Brown To Blue (6) - sounds the same as AB album version, some pre-song noise and stray piano notes at the end.
19. Good Year For The Roses (1) - count-in, sounds the same as AB album version, missing background vocals and strings.
20. Sittin' And Thinkin' (1)- sounds the same as AB album version, drum intro longer at full volume not faded in, EC say's "a bit slower", count-in, missing background vocals and piano.
21. Colour Of The Blues (1) - count-in, sounds the same as AB album version, with a cough at the end.
22. Too Far Gone (1) - alternate completely different take, talking, count-in, same basic arrangement as the AB album version, missing background vocals and strings.
23. Honey Hush (2) - sounds the same as AB album version, longer intro, missing harmonies on "hi ho silver" and scream at the end.
24. How Much I Lied (1) - sounds the same as AB album version, with a drum intro continuing into the opening seconds later mixed out.
25. He's Got You - alternate completely different take, same basic arrangement as the AB bonus disc version, slower tempo.
26. Honky Tonk Girl - tape drag during count-in, sounds the same as the AB bonus disc version (original notes say with minor vocal differences but I don't hear them).
27. That's Why I'm Walking (2) - sounds the same as the AB bonus disc version.
28. Wondering (2) - sounds the same as the version accidentally released on Singles Volume 2, which is the same as the AB bonus disc version with an alternate vocal and a few seconds more sound at the end.
29. Darling, You Know I Wouldn't Lie (2) - sounds the same as the AB bonus disc version but with a very slightly longer count-in.
30. My Shoes Keep Walking Back To You (2) - alternate completely different take, slower tempo.
31. Blues Keep Calling (2) - alternate completely different take, same basic arrangement as the AB bonus disc version.
32. Tears Before Bedtime (Early Version) - sounds the same as the AB bonus disc version with a slightly longer fade out.
33. Psycho - count-in, sounds the same as the AB bonus disc version.
34. Cry, Cry, Cry - sounds the same (with slight differences in the vocals) as the version accidentally released on Singles Volume 2, which is the same as the AB bonus disc version before editing, lyric flub at 1:31.
35. I'll Take Care Of You - sounds the same as the AB bonus disc version, two false starts, no reverb on vocal, fades out earlier.
36. Your Angel Steps Out Of Heaven (1) - sounds the same as the AB bonus disc version, some pre-song noise, missing the background organ, at least one vocal difference on "her heaven's not the same" (1:10).
37. Your Angel Steps Out Of Heaven (2) - same as the above, but with the keyboards entering a few seconds later (possibly a difference in the mix rather than the performance).
Disc 4 - Almost Blue - Sessions (Bootleg)
38. Why Don't You Love Me (Like You Used To Do?) (2) - sounds the same as AB album version with longer intro.
39. Sweet Dreams (2) - count in, sounds the same as AB album version, has a solo violin track from 0:52 to 1:44 not heard on the AB album version, missing strings.
40. Success (2) - count-in, sounds the same as AB album version.
41. I'm Your Toy (3) - sounds the same as AB album version with two-tap intro.
42. Tonight The Bottle Let Me Down (2) - count-in, sounds the same as AB album version, some extra snare and piano at the end.
43. Brown To Blue (7) - sounds the same as AB album version, with some pre-song noise.
44. Good Year For The Roses (2) - count-in, sounds the same as AB album version, missing strings.
45. Good Year For The Roses (3) - sounds the same as AB album version, missing strings.
46. Sittin' And Thinkin' (2) - sounds the same as AB album version, drum intro longer at full volume not faded in, EC say's "a bit slower", count-in.
47. Colour Of The Blues (2) - count-in, sounds the same as AB album version.
48. Too Far Gone (2) - sounds the same as AB album version, some pre song snare noise, some differences in piano and vocal tracks, missing strings.
49. Honey Hush (3) - sounds the same as AB album version with longer intro.
50. How Much I Lied (2) - sounds the same as AB album version, some pre-song chatter and a drum intro continuing into the opening seconds which was later mixed out.
51. Your Angel Steps Out Of Heaven (3) - sounds the same as the AB bonus disc version, some pre-song noise.
Almost Blue Sessions Notes:
This collection of tracks from the Almost Blue sessions came to me (thank you my friend) in Flac format, they originate from cassette tapes, the equipment and software used for the transfer is unknown.
It came with notes for each track that I have tried my best to verify (thank you to the original researcher, excellent job).
There are no specific recording dates in the original info but the cd liner notes tell us that the album was recorded between May 18 and May 29, 1981. The live in studio tracks were recorded earlier.
Should any of this information be incorrect please let me know by personal message.
Notes:
Disc 3 Tracks: 1-11 sound like early live in the studio rehearsals, none have been released. All are unique performances. These may be from the rehearsals with Paul Riley which EC describes in the Ryko and Rhino liner notes.
Disc 3 Tracks 12-31 are the same basic performances which appear on either the album or the bonus disc but they all differ in some way from the released versions, the few alternate takes aren't different in any major way. The background vocals from Nashville Edition and the strings (where applicable) are missing.
Disc 4 Tracks 38-51 are the same basic performances which appear on either the album or the bonus disc but they all differ in some way from the released versions. The background vocals from Nashville Edition (where applicable) are there but the strings (where applicable) are missing.
I have not removed the tracks that sound exactly the same as the released versions in case they have some differences that I missed.
I sequenced the tracks in the album running order, followed by the non album tracks in chronological recording order.
- Source CD unless otherwise indicated: Almost Blue (with Bonus Disc) (Remastered) (2004 Rhino R2 76485)
- Source Info: http://www.geocities.com/ned3705/ab.html
- Source Recordings: CD>Flac, Vinyl>Wav>Flac, Flac Bootleg. (All Flac at level 8)
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WHAT'S MISSING (RELEASED RECORDINGS)
PSYCHO (LIVE, LONDON, JUN. 1, 1981)
[Fundamental Frolics LP by various artists]
With the more famous 1979 live version and the 1981 studio version being used on the bonus disc, it is not surprising that a third version of "Psycho" failed to make the grade. Unlike the other two, this one is performed by Elvis solo. A live "Gloomy Sunday" from this same concert is commercially available only on video.
CRY, CRY, CRY (ALTERNATE VOCAL)
["I'm Your Toy" CD single included in Singles, Volume 2]
WONDERING (ALTERNATE VOCAL)
["I'm Your Toy" CD single included in Singles, Volume 2]
These were left off the Rhino CD with good reason. Aside from being redundant, they were never intended for release in the first place and only appeared on Singles, Volume 2 when the wrong tapes were used by mistake. These are the same basic performances that appear on the bonus disc, but they include subtle differences in Elvis' vocals. They were previously available in inferior quality on the bootleg Nashville And More and probably represent the tracks as originally recorded, before they were touched up for official release.
WHAT'S MISSING (UNRELEASED RECORDINGS)
BLUES KEEP CALLING / CRY, CRY, CRY
HOW MUCH I LIED (ALTERNATE VERSION)
HE'S GOT YOU (ALTERNATE TAKE)
DARLING, YOU KNOW I WOULDN'T LIE (ALTERNATE TAKE)
These outtakes from the Almost Blue sessions can be found on Nashville And More. The medley of "Blues Keep Calling" and "Cry, Cry, Cry" is moderately interesting, but it is not surprising it was passed over in favor of the individual versions of each song which do appear on the bonus disc. There are actually two alternates of "How Much I Lied" which are similar to each other but noticeably different from the album version thanks to a faster tempo. "He's Got You" and "Darling, You Know I Wouldn't Lie" are unique takes, but they differ little from the released versions. (It seems possible, however, that "He's Got You" is from the main album sessions as opposed to the "Lost Session" version on the bonus disc. This would mean that it features John McFee rather than Pete Drake on pedal steel guitar.) Nashville And More also includes versions of "My Shoes Keep Walking Back To You" and "Honky Tonk Girl" with slight differences in Elvis' vocals.
ADDITIONAL NOTES
Just prior to the May 1981 album sessions, the band (with Paul "Bassman" Riley substituting for an ill Bruce Thomas) rehearsed "30 or so songs," according to the Rhino liner notes. (Elvis had previously claimed "more than 40 songs" in the Ryko notes.) Since the rehearsals for the albums immediately before and after Almost Blue are known to have been recorded, it seems very likely that these tapes exist and include some songs which went unrecorded during the main sessions. Although specific titles are not available, these could include songs outside the country genre which fit the album's original concept of "melancholy songs of many styles." Among the songs reportedly under consideration early on were "Gloomy Sunday" and Little Willie John's "Need Your Love So Bad." No songs from the rehearsals were used on Rhino's bonus disc.