Taking Liberties is a compilation album by the English singer-songwriter 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, and also features three previously unreleased recordings.
The album 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".
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.
Critical reception Record World said that the inclusion of previously unreleased material made Taking Liberties "the ideal way to complete any Elvis collection." Billboard praised the presence of Costello's backing band The Attractions on this release, saying that they were "always economical and just to the point." Cashbox called Taking Liberties "better than most artists' greatest hits packages."
Track listing
Personnel 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 YearChartPosition1980US Billboard Top LPs & Tape28
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