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]
| 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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Background
editCostello 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
editAdapted from the album's liner notes:[6]
- Elvis Costello (as Howard Coward) – vocals, acoustic and electric guitar, upright piano, organ, tambourine, bass guitar, drums, Moog synthesizer, drum machine
- T Bone Burnett (as Henry Coward) – vocals, electric guitar, six-string bass guitar, electric guitar, sounds, whistles
- Christopher Guest (as Christopher Guest-Coward) – vocals, acoustic guitar, "missiles"
- Colin Linden – electric sitar, electric guitar, slide Dobro
- Dennis Crouch – double bass
- Russell Pahl – pedal steel guitar
- Jay Bellerose – drums and percussion
- Paul Kowert – arco bass
- Diana Krall (as Jean Coward) – upright piano
- "Peter Coward" – military drum
- "Dexter Coward" – gunshots
- "Concepta Collins" – vocals
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.