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Editorial Reviews Amazon.com The debate over whether he is punk or new wave is long over; today Elvis Costello is less likely to be found on a list with Strummer and Scabies than he is with Bacharach and David and Jimmy Webb. Lauded initially for his energetic and literate attacks on the social ills of Thatcher's England, he has become a peerless master of the popular song. The evolution of Costello's craft as a songwriter and performer, from the early high-octane polemics, through his stylistic experiments with country and soul, and on to standards written for others, is splendidly documented on this elegant two-disc set. Chronology is ignored in favor of a thoughtful program that catalogs the jewels from his prolific output and a sprinkling of covers that demonstrate the maturing of his singing voice. The 42 tracks here lean generously to the first 10 years with the Attractions, but also collects the best of his subsequent collaborations with the cream of America's session musicians and on through to "She," his contribution to the soundtrack of 1999's Notting Hill. --Rob Stewart Spotlight Reviews (What's this?) Write an online review and share your thoughts with other customers.
4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:
Maybe there's too much music here (42 tracks), and previous Costello collections indeed short-changed him. But after the first ten tracks or so on Disc One--which cover the cream of his new wave years and are all great--Costello veers all over the road, trying out country before edging back toward many kinds of pop. Occasionally he caught fire--"Everyday I Write The Book" is a catchy song with just the right Costello lyrical bite, and it was a deserved pop hit. The story of "Veronica" is made plain in the video, but it's still a powerfully emotional song. But the second disc is a mess--too little focus as he apparently grew bored with each incarnation. The last tracks on that disc are from the Bacharach collection, and they're very good. It takes a lot of patience to reach them, however.
32 of 35 people found the following review helpful:
Now I have purchased "The Very Best of Elvis Costello" & for once I can say this album absolutely lives up to it's title! In 2 CD's we have an overview of the extraordinary career of one of the most prolific & multi-faceted songwriters of our time. It's wonderful! Everything is here, from the chilling "Watching the Detectives" & supersonic "Lipstick Vogue" of the early albums thru the jazz & country-tinged experiments of the late 80's up to his latest collaborations with the Brodsky Quartet & Burt Bacharach. There isn't a single song that tempts me to hit the "forward" button on my CD player. Curiously, Rhino has opted to put the material in a non-sequential order. Most greatest hits collections start with the earliest songs, working their way up to the latest. "The Very Best of..." was organized by someone who had their mind on creating an emotional mood rather than a history of the artist. Although normally I prefer the time-line approach, in this casse it works quite well. If you want to hear the developement of Costello's song-writing, Rhino has included original release dates in the credits so that you can sequence your own order. Other than song titles & lists of musicians, this is about all the information you will discover inside the jewel case. This is about the only weakness I can find to this package. Personally I would have preferred some type of liner notes included. If you only own 1 Elvis Costello album, make it "The Very Best of..." . I guarantee you won't regret it!
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3 of 6 people found the following review helpful:
Elvis Costello is great (his early stuff). This is a great disc with many of his best songs, but it is hard to imagine him in his early form not savaging a company like [amazon.com] for making the dumb mistake you all made. Will you ever catch it? I'll be watching.
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:
It's not hard to see why. Elvis Costello's music often reminds me of Jean-Luc Godard's earlier movies (which Kael also admired); romantic, skeptical, political, philosophical all at the same time. There's an intelligence to Costello's music and lyrics that has always lifted him above most other rock performers.
7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:
1. Provides an excellant cross section of Elvis' career As an introduction to Elvis or for the obsessed fan, this album is essential.
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Essential recordings: 
Based on 18 reviews.
The good times and the bad..., August 30, 2001
Truly the Essential Elvis!, June 23, 2001
