Elvis Costello

Records

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  The Sweetest Punch

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  Released

  December 1999

  Label

  Decca

  Buy CD

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  • Amazon UK

  • Tracks
  • Liner Notes
  • Personnel

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  Tracks

  1. • Listen
       • Queue
     The Sweetest Punch
  2. • Listen
       • Queue
     • Lyrics
     Toledo
  3. • Listen
       • Queue
     Such Unlikely Lovers
  4. • Listen
       • Queue
     This House Is Empty Now
  5. • Listen
       • Queue
     • Lyrics
     Painted From Memory
  6. • Listen
       • Queue
     What's Her Name Today?
  7. • Listen
       • Queue
     In The Darkest Place
  8. • Listen
       • Queue
     Vamp Dolce
  9. • Listen
       • Queue
     My Thief
  10. • Listen
        • Queue
      • Lyrics
      I Still Have That Other Girl
  11. • Listen
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      Painted From Memory (reprise)
  12. • Listen
        • Queue
      The Long Division
  13. • Listen
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      Tears At The Birthday Party
  14. • Listen
        • Queue
      I Still Have That Other Girl (reprise)
  15. • Listen
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      God Give Me Strength

  Liner Notes

  THE SWEETEST PUNCH
  
  The new songs of Elvis Costello and Burt Bacharash
  arranged by Bill Frisell
  
  Performed by brian blade, don byron, billy drewes, curtis fowlkes,
  bill frisell, viktor krauss, ron miles
  
  Almost as soon as they had finished writing, I received some piano scores and a demo tape with Elvis singing and Burt playing the piano. What a thrill and honor it was to hear these twelve beautiful new tunes before anyone else on the planet. I was then left on my own to decide how to arrange them.
  
  This recording was done in New York while Burt and Elvis were working in Los Angeles on Painted From Memory. None of us heard what the others were doing until we all finished. I can’t imagine this ever happening again – a truly once-in-a-lifetime experience.
  
  This project could never have happened if it weren’t for a long chain of people working together. There are too many to thank and I’m scared I’ll leave out half of them – but to give you some idea of what was going on here – there’s Elvis and Burt for writing the music, all the musicians, Lee Townsend, Joe Ferla, Judy Clapp, Chuck Mitchell, Noel Grey and everyone at Verve and Decca, Bob Hurwitz, David Bither and everyone at Nonesuch, Louise Spier, and lots of other people. This was a pleasure from beginning to end. Thanks to all these folks.
  
  BILL FRISELL
  
  It’s hard to believe that Bill Frisell began arranging these tunes just a few days after the ink was dry on the last of our original manuscripts. In fact, much of The Sweetest Punch was recorded while Burt and I were still completing Painted From Memory. I didn’t dare listen to these interpretations until our record was safely delivered to the factory. My curiosity quickly overcame me.
  
  
  
  I want to thank Bill for listening so imaginatively to both the words and the music. He has distilled the mood and feeling of these songs through the voices of this extraordinary ensemble and his own playing. Thanks also to Lee and all the production team at Verve and Decca, and to Cassandra for her lovely reading of “painted From Memory” and for having the good humour to venture into our duet.
  
  ELVIS COSTELLO
  

  Personnel

  Burt Bacharach Performer
  Brian Blade Percussion, Drums
  Don Byron Clarinet, Clarinet (Bass)
  Elvis Costello Vocals
  Billy Drewes Sax (Alto)
  Curtis Fowlkes Trombone
  Bill Frisell Guitar (Acoustic), Arranger, Guitar (Electric)
  Viktor Krauss Bass
  Ron Miles Trumpet
  Lee Townsend Producer
  Cassandra Wilson Vocals, Performer
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  

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