The Coward Brothers (album)
| The Coward Brothers | ||||
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| Soundtrack album by Elvis Costello and T Bone Burnett (as The Coward Brothers) | ||||
| Released | 21 November 2024 | |||
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| Genre | Rock[1] | |||
| Length | 57:27 | |||
| Label | New West | |||
| Producer |
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| Elvis Costello chronology | ||||
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| T Bone Burnett chronology | ||||
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| Singles from The Coward Brothers | ||||
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The Coward Brothers is a collaborative album by English musician Elvis Costello and American musician T Bone Burnett, released on 21 November 2024 through New West Records. It serves as the soundtrack to the duo's audio comedy (described as a "wireless drama" by Costello), entitled The True Story of the Coward Brothers.[2] Its plot sees Costello and Burnett, as Howard and Henry Coward, respectively, playing "a trans-Atlantic pair of con men who may or may not be blood relatives."[1]
Background
[edit]Costello and Burnett have a history of collaboration, dating back to the 1985 single "The People's Limousine", the first release to be credited to "The Coward Brothers".[3] The duo also utilized the name for production of Costello's album King of America (1986).[3] Burnett has also produced Costello's albums Secret, Profane & Sugarcane (2009) and National Ransom (2010),[4] and contributed to the production of Spike (1989).[5]
The album was released in tandem with the radio play The True Story of the Coward Brothers on Audible. In addition to Burnett and Costello, the play features Christopher Guest, Rhea Seehorn, and Harry Shearer, among others.[6]
Track listing
[edit]| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Always" | 2:26 | |
| 2. | "Like Licorice" | Costello | 1:58 |
| 3. | "My Baby Just Squeals (You Heel)" | Costello | 3:08 |
| 4. | "The Devil's Wife" |
| 4:43 |
| 5. | "Tipsy Woman" | Costello | 4:26 |
| 6. | "My Baby Just Purrs (You're Mine, Not Hers)" | Costello | 2:32 |
| 7. | "My Baby Just Whistles (Here Comes the Missiles)" | Costello | 1:50 |
| 8. | "World Serious" |
| 3:00 |
| 9. | "Early Shirley" | Costello | 2:34 |
| 10. | "Yesteryear Is Near" | Costello | 1:43 |
| 11. | "Birkenhead Girl" | Costello | 3:16 |
| 12. | "Smoke-Ring Angel" |
| 1:55 |
| 13. | "Wooden Woman" |
| 2:33 |
| 14. | "(I Don't Want Your) Lyndon Johnson" | Costello | 2:24 |
| 15. | "Lotta Money" |
| 4:34 |
| 16. | "Pure Bubblegum" | Costello | 3:29 |
| 17. | "Cathy Come Home" | Costello | 3:11 |
| 18. | "Bygones" | Burnett | 1:41 |
| 19. | "Row Me Once" |
| 2:41 |
| 20. | "Clown Around Town" | Costello | 3:22 |
| Total length: | 57:27 | ||
Note: Writing credits refer to Burnett and Costello by their character names (Henry and Howard Coward, respectively). Christopher Guest is credited as "Christopher Guest-Coward".
Personnel
[edit]Adapted from the album's liner notes:[6]
Musicians
[edit]- Elvis Costello (as Howard Coward) – vocals (all tracks), acoustic guitar (2, 6, 9, 19), upright piano (2, 10, 15, 19), organ (2), electric guitar (3–7, 11, 12, 14, 20), sounds (4), electric bass (5, 7, 10, 11, 14, 16), tambourine (6, 7, 10, 11, 15), drums (7, 10, 11, 15), whistle (7), bass drum (9), handclaps (14); drum machine, Moog synthesizer (16); grand piano (17); congas, percussion (19)
- T Bone Burnett (as Henry Coward) – vocals (tracks 1, 4, 5, 7, 8, 10–13, 15, 17–19), electric guitar (1, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 18, 20), electric bass (1, 2, 8), six-string bass (3, 6, 9, 12, 13, 15, 17, 19, 20), electric sitar (5)
- Christopher Guest (as Christopher Guest-Coward) – "missiles" (track 7), vocals (9, 15, 19), acoustic guitar (12, 15, 19)
- Colin Linden – electric sitar (track 1), electric guitar (8), slide Dobro (18)
- Dennis Crouch – double bass (tracks 8, 18)
- Russell Pahl – pedal steel (8)
- Jay Bellerose – drums, percussion (tracks 4, 8, 18)
- Paul Kowert – arco bass (track 1)
- Diana Krall (as Jean Coward) – upright piano (track 2), grand piano (3)
- "Peter Coward" – military drum (track 17)
- "Dexter Coward" – gunshots (track 17)
- "Concepta Collins" – heels (track 3)
Technical
[edit]- Elvis Costello (as Howard Coward) – production
- T Bone Burnett (as Henry Coward) – production
- Rachael Moore – mixing, recording
- Michael Piersante – mixing, recording
- Gavin Larssen – mastering
- Reuben Cohen – matsering
- Jeff Powell – vinyl mastering
- Billy Theriot – additional engineering
- Miek Stankiewicz – additional engineering
- Collin Bryson – engineering assistance
- Austin Brown – engineering assistance
- Karl Wingate – engineering assistance
- Eddie Roberts – engineering assistance
- Ivy Skoff – production coordination
Artwork
[edit]- Drew Christie – illustrations
- Tom Bejgrowicz – design, layout
References
[edit]- ^ a b Breihan, Tom (8 October 2024). "Elvis Costello & T Bone Burnett Reunite For The Coward Brothers Musical Comedy Podcast & Album". Stereogum. Retrieved 30 November 2024.
- ^ "Elvis Costello & T Bone Burnett Reunite as "The Coward Brothers" for New Audible and Album Coming This Fall". Elvis Costello. 8 October 2024. Retrieved 30 November 2024.
- ^ a b Molloy, Laura (10 October 2024). "Elvis Costello and T Bone reunite as The Coward Brothers for new album and Audible project". NME. Retrieved 30 November 2024.
- ^ "Elvis Costello, "National Ransom"". Billboard. 15 October 2010. Retrieved 30 November 2024.
- ^ Wild, David (9 March 1989). "Spike". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 30 November 2024.
- ^ a b Burnett, T Bone; Costello, Elvis (21 November 2024). The Coward Brothers (liner notes). New West Records.