National Ransom
| Untitled | |
|---|---|
| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |   [1] |
| The A.V. Club | B+[2] |
| Boom Boom Pop! |  [3] |
| Consequence of Sound | [4] |
| Mojo | [5] |
| PopMatters |   [6] |
| Rolling Stone | [7] |
| Slant Magazine | [8] |
| Spin | [9] |
National Ransom is the 2010 studio album by Elvis Costello. It was recorded in Nashville and Los Angeles with American songwriter and producer T Bone Burnett, and was released on 25 October 2010 (2 November in the US) on the Hear Music label.[10] The album was received positively, earning a score of 79/100 on the review aggregate website Metacritic.
Featured musicians include Costello's recent backing bands The Imposters and The Sugarcanes, while the album also includes guest appearances by Vince Gill, Marc Ribot, Buddy Miller and Leon Russell.
The cover art is by Maakies creator Tony Millionaire.
Track listing
All tracks are written by Elvis Costello, except where noted
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "National Ransom" | 4:05 | |
| 2. | "Jimmie Standing in the Rain" | 4:15 | |
| 3. | "Stations of the Cross" | 4:58 | |
| 4. | "A Slow Drag with Josephine" | 2:43 | |
| 5. | "Five Small Words" | 4:45 | |
| 6. | "Church Underground" | 5:02 | |
| 7. | "You Hung the Moon" | 3:55 | |
| 8. | "Bullets for the New-Born King" | 3:35 | |
| 9. | "I Lost You" |
| 2:56 |
| 10. | "Dr. Watson, I Presume" | 3:41 | |
| 11. | "One Bell Ringing" | 3:37 | |
| 12. | "The Spell That You Cast" | 2:32 | |
| 13. | "That's Not the Part of Him You're Leaving" | 4:43 | |
| 14. | "My Lovely Jezebel" |
| 2:31 |
| 15. | "All These Strangers" |
| 5:53 |
| 16. | "A Voice in the Dark" | 3:34 | |
| 17. | "I Hope" (iTunes/Japan CD bonus track) |
| 3:33 |
National Ransack EP
Originally a digital download was given away with orders for the album. The EP was later released separately on 10-inch vinyl.
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Poor Borrowed Dress" |
| 2:32 |
| 2. | "Condemned Man" | 4:18 | |
| 3. | "Big Boys Cry" | Eddy Raven | 3:45 |
| 4. | "I Don't Want to Go Home" | 3:00 |
Personnel
- Dennis Crouch - double bass
- Davey Faragher - electric bass [Fender Precision]
- Pete Thomas - drums
- Marc Ribot - electric guitar, acoustic guitar, banjo
- Buddy Miller - harmony vocals [vocal harmonies]
- Jerry Douglas - lap steel guitar
- Mike Compton - mandolin, harmony vocals
- Vince Gill - harmony vocals
- Jim Lauderdale - harmony vocals
- Steve Nieve - organ [Vox Continental], organ [Hammond], Celesta [Celeste]
- T Bone Burnett - piano [reverse piano], electric guitar [Gretsch Black Falcon]
- Jeff Taylor - piano, accordion
- Stuart Duncan - violin [electric], zither [Wald-Zither], viola [electric]
- Dave Eggar - cello
- Darrell Leonard - trumpet, flugelhorn
- George Bohanon - trombone
- Ira Nepus - trombone
- Tom Peterson - baritone saxophone, bass clarinet
- Maurice Spears - bass trombone
- Andrew Duckles - viola
- Matt Funes - viola
- Caroline Campbell - violin
- Lucia Micarelli - violin
- Neel Hammond - violin
- Radu Pieptea - violin
- Bruce Dukov - violin, concertmaster
- Mike Piersante - shaker
- Elvis Costello - acoustic guitar [Gibson L-00 (1947)], electric Guitar [Fender Telecaster (1952)], bass guitar [Ampeg AEB-1], piano [reverse piano], organ [Farfisa], lead vocals, harmony vocals, whistling
References
- ^ Stephen Thomas Erlewine (2 November 2010). "National Ransom - Elvis Costello | Songs, Reviews, Credits, Awards". AllMusic. Retrieved 9 May 2014.
- ^ Murray, Noel (2 November 2010). "Elvis Costello: National Ransom · Music Review · The A.V. Club". Avclub.com. Retrieved 9 May 2014.
- ^ "Elvis Costello "National Ransom" Review". Boom Boom Pop!. 5 November 2010. Retrieved 9 May 2014.
- ^ Melis, Matt (3 November 2010). "Elvis Costello – National Ransom | Album Reviews". Consequence of Sound. Retrieved 9 May 2014.
- ^ Sutcliffe, Phil (November 2010). "A Changing Man: Elvis Costello National Ransom". Mojo. p. 103.
- ^ Tebo, Daniel. "Elvis Costello: National Ransom". PopMatters. Retrieved 9 May 2014.
- ^ Will Hermes (1 November 2010). "National Ransom | Album Reviews". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 9 May 2014.
- ^ "Elvis Costello: National Ransom | Music Review". Slant Magazine. Retrieved 9 May 2014.
- ^ Wood, Mikael. "Elvis Costello, 'National Ransom' Review". Spin.com. Retrieved 9 May 2014.
- ^ "Elvis Costello and The Roots - Wise Up Ghost". Elviscostello.com. Retrieved 9 May 2014.