Taking Liberties

For other uses, see Taking liberties (disambiguation).

1980 compilation album by Elvis Costello

Taking Liberties

Compilation album by

Elvis Costello

Released| November 1980 (US)
Recorded| 1977–80
Genre| Punk rock, new wave
Length| 50:45
Label| Columbia
Producer| Elvis Costello, Nick Lowe
Elvis Costello chronology
| Get Happy!!
(1980)  | Taking Liberties
(1980)  | Ten Bloody Marys & Ten How's Your Fathers
(1980)

|
|

Taking Liberties is a compilation album by English singer-songwriter[1] Elvis Costello, consisting of tracks not previously released on his albums as released in the United States. It is largely made up of B-sides, but features three previously unreleased recordings. It was released only in the US and Canada; its track listing is very similar to that of the UK release Ten Bloody Marys & Ten How's Your Fathers. The differences are that on the latter, the tracks "Night Rally", "Sunday's Best" and "(I Don't Want to Go to) Chelsea" are replaced by "Watching the Detectives", "Radio, Radio" and "(What's So Funny 'Bout) Peace, Love, and Understanding".[2]

The sleeve note by Gregg Geller is very nearly a direct lift from the 1958 album A Gene Vincent Record Date, with Costello's name substituted for Vincent's, and song titles being substituted as appropriate.

The LP version features nostalgic Columbia labels. The legend on the Side One label reads "COSTELLO" instead of "COLUMBIA", in a similar fashion to This Year's Model.

Professional ratingsReview scores

Source| Rating
Allmusic| [3]
Billboard| (unrated)[4]
Encyclopedia of Popular Music| [5]
Robert Christgau| (B) link

## Track listing

[edit]

All songs written by Elvis Costello except as indicated.

Side one

1. "Clean Money" (previously unreleased) – 1:57
2. "Girls Talk" (B-side of "I Can't Stand Up For Falling Down", 1980) – 1:56
3. "Talking in the Dark" (A-side, 1978) – 1:56
4. "Radio Sweetheart" (B-side of "Less Than Zero", 1977) – 2:24
5. "Black and White World" (Demo version) (previously unreleased) – 1:51
6. "Big Tears" (B-side of "Pump It Up", 1978) – 3:10
7. "Just a Memory" (B-side of "New Amsterdam", 1980) – 2:14
8. "Night Rally" (from UK version of This Year's Model, 1978) – 2:41
9. "Stranger in the House" (A-side, 1978) – 3:01
10. "Clowntime Is Over" (Version 2) (B-side of "High Fidelity", 1980) – 3:44

Side two

1. "Getting Mighty Crowded" (Van McCoy) (B-side of "High Fidelity", 1980) – 2:05
2. "Hoover Factory" (previously unreleased) – 1:43
3. "Tiny Steps" (B-side of "Radio, Radio", 1978) – 2:42
4. "(I Don't Want to Go to) Chelsea" (from UK version of This Year's Model, 1978) – 3:07
5. "Dr Luther's Assistant" (B-side of "New Amsterdam", 1980) – 3:28
6. "Sunday's Best" (from UK version of Armed Forces, 1979) – 3:22
7. "Crawling to the U.S.A." (from soundtrack to Americathon, 1979) – 2:52
8. "Wednesday Week" (B-side of "Talking in the Dark", 1978) – 2:02
9. "My Funny Valentine" (Richard Rodgers, Lorenz Hart) (B-side of "Oliver's Army", 1979) – 1:25
10. "Ghost Train" (B-side of "New Amsterdam", 1980) – 3:05

## Personnel

[edit]

* Elvis Costello – vocals, guitar, keyboards; all instruments on "Black and White World", "Hoover Factory", "My Funny Valentine" and "Ghost Train"

The Attractions

* Steve Nieve – keyboards on all tracks except "Radio Sweetheart", "Black and White World", "Hoover Factory", "Dr. Luther's Assistant", "My Funny Valentine", "Ghost Train" and "Stranger in the House"
* Bruce Thomas – bass on all tracks except "Radio Sweetheart", "Black and White World", "Just A Memory", "Hoover Factory", "Dr. Luther's Assistant", "My Funny Valentine", "Ghost Train" and "Stranger in the House"
* Pete Thomas – drums on all tracks except "Radio Sweetheart", "Black and White World", "Just A Memory", "Hoover Factory", "My Funny Valentine", "Ghost Train" and "Stranger in the House"

Additional personnel

* Dave Edmunds – backing vocal on "Clean Money"
* John McFee (Clover) - guitar on "Radio Sweetheart" and "Stranger in the House"
* Nick Lowe \- bass on "Radio Sweetheart"
* Mickey Shine (Clover) - drums on "Radio Sweetheart" and "Stranger in the House"
* Mick Jones \- lead guitar on "Big Tears"
* Sean Hopper (Clover) – keyboards on "Stranger in the House"
* Johnny Ciambotti (Clover) – bass on "Stranger in the House"

## Charts

[edit]

Year  | Chart  | Position

|
|

1980  | US Billboard Top LPs & Tape[6] | 28

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "Elvis Costello | Songs, Wife, Albums, & Oliver's Army | Britannica". www.britannica.com. 27 April 2025. Retrieved 21 May 2025.
2. ^ Cohen, Debra Rae (11 December 1980). "Taking Liberties". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 31 July 2019.
3. ^ Deming, Mark. "Taking Liberties – Elvis Costello". AllMusic. Retrieved 5 July 2022.
4. ^ "Review: Elvis Costello – Taking Liberties" (PDF). Billboard. Vol. 85, no. 40\. 4 October 1980. p. 108\. ISSN 0006-2510. Retrieved 30 May 2020 - via American Radio History.
5. ^ Larkin, Colin (2011). "Costello, Elvis". The Encyclopedia of Popular Music (5th concise ed.). London: Omnibus Press. ISBN 978-0-85712-595-8.
6. ^ "Elvis Costello Chart History". Billboard. Archived from the original on 23 March 2022. Retrieved 19 March 2022.

## External links

[edit]

* Taking Liberties at Discogs (list of releases)

* v
* t
* e

Elvis Costello

* Discography

* The Imposters: Steve Nieve
* Pete Thomas
* Davey Faragher

* The Attractions: Steve Nieve
* Pete Thomas
* Bruce Thomas

Studio albums|

* My Aim Is True
* This Year's Model
* Armed Forces
* Get Happy!!
* Trust
* Almost Blue
* Imperial Bedroom
* Punch the Clock
* Goodbye Cruel World
* King of America
* Blood & Chocolate
* Spike
* Mighty Like a Rose
* The Juliet Letters
* Brutal Youth
* Kojak Variety
* All This Useless Beauty
* Painted from Memory
* When I Was Cruel
* North
* Il Sogno
* The Delivery Man
* The River in Reverse
* Momofuku
* Secret, Profane & Sugarcane
* National Ransom
* Wise Up Ghost
* Look Now
* Hey Clockface
* The Boy Named If

Live albums|

* Live at the El Mocambo
* Deep Dead Blue
* Costello & Nieve
* My Flame Burns Blue
* Live at Hollywood High

Compilations|

* Taking Liberties
* Ten Bloody Marys & Ten How's Your Fathers
* The Best of Elvis Costello and the Attractions
* The Man
* Out of Our Idiot
* Girls Girls Girls
* 2½ Years
* The Very Best of Elvis Costello and The Attractions 1977–86
* Extreme Honey
* Costello Album (bootleg)
* The Very Best of Elvis Costello
* Cruel Smile
* The Best of Elvis Costello: The First 10 Years
* The Songs of Bacharach & Costello

Singles|

* "Less Than Zero"
* "Alison"
* "(The Angels Wanna Wear My) Red Shoes"
* "Watching the Detectives"
* "(I Don't Want to Go to) Chelsea"
* "Pump It Up"
* "This Year's Girl"
* "Radio Radio"
* "(What's So Funny 'Bout) Peace, Love, and Understanding"
* "Oliver's Army"
* "Accidents Will Happen"
* "I Can't Stand Up for Falling Down"
* "High Fidelity"
* "New Amsterdam"
* "Clubland"
* "From a Whisper to a Scream"
* "Watch Your Step"
* "A Good Year for the Roses"
* "Sweet Dreams"
* "You Little Fool"
* "Man Out of Time"
* "Pills and Soap"
* "Everyday I Write the Book"
* "The Only Flame in Town"
* "Green Shirt"
* "Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood"
* "I Want You"
* "Blue Chair"
* "Veronica"
* "The Other Side of Summer"
* "Sulky Girl"
* "13 Steps Lead Down"
* "London's Brilliant Parade"
* "The Other End of the Telescope"
* "You Bowed Down"
* "She"
* "45"
* "Brilliant Mistake"
* "Complicated Shadows"

Other songs|

* "Welcome to the Working Week"
* "Lipstick Vogue"
* "Senior Service"
* "Stranger in the House"
* "Girls Talk"
* "Riot Act"
* "New Lace Sleeves"
* "Beyond Belief"
* "Almost Blue"
* "Shipbuilding"
* "Indoor Fireworks"
* "Jack of All Parades"
* "Suit of Lights"
* "I Hope You're Happy Now"
* "Next Time Round"

Collaborations|

* Terror & Magnificence
* The Sweetest Punch
* For the Stars
* Lost on the River: The New Basement Tapes
* The Resurrection of Rust

Scores|

* G.B.H.
* Jake's Progress
* A Face in the Crowd

Other works / related articles|

* Unfaithful Music & Disappearing Ink
* Live Stiffs Live
* Now Ain't the Time for Your Tears
* Bespoke Songs, Lost Dogs, Detours & Rendezvous

Authority control databases |

* MusicBrainz release group

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