Elvis Costello preps ‘King Of America & Other Realms’ 6-disc box set

Elvis Costello is releasing a deluxe edition of his 1986 solo album King of America on November 1 via UME (preorder). Titled King Of America & Other Realms, the six-disc Super Deluxe edition features a previously unreleased 1987 live concert recorded at the Royal Albert Hall in London, newly discovered “Red Bus demos,” and a collection of songs and collaborations from Costello’s recording adventures across the US, including unreleased demos, outtakes, and live recordings.

King of America was one of two album Costello released in 1986 (the other was Blood & Chocolate with The Attractions) and was the first of many collaborations with producer T-Bone Burnett. This box set “celebrates and explores the songwriter’s lifelong love, fascination, and influence of American music, spanning his many albums and inspired collaborations with some of the most celebrated musicians, songwriters and producers in this music, including his longtime creative partnership with T Bone Burnett.”

Among the 97 tracks on the Super Deluxe edition is a brand new version of the album’s opening song, “Brilliant Mistake,” that was recorded earlier this year in Cape Feare, NC. It also comes with a new 35-page essay by Costello that is augmented with illustrations and never-before-seen photos. Check out the Super Deluxe Edition tracklist and artwork, along with a remastered version of “Indoor Fireworks,” below.

There’s also a two-disc reissue that features a remastered edition of the original album with a second disc titled Le Roi Sans Sabot that includes solo demos from 1985 cut at London’s Red Bus studios, including version of “Brilliant Mistake” and “Blue Chair” with very different lyrics than what would end up on the album, as well as opening and closing themes credited to The Coward Brothers (Costello & Burnett) that were used on tours in 1984 and 1985. There’s also a single vinyl LP remaster of the original album.

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KING OF AMERICA & OTHER REALMS SUPER DELUXE EDITION TRACKLISTING

DISC 1 – KING OF AMERICA (2024 REMASTER)
1. Brilliant Mistake
2. Lovable
3. Our Little Angel
4. Don’t Let Me Be Misunderstood
5. Glitter Gulch
6. Indoor Fireworks
7. Little Palaces
8. I’ll Wear It Proudly
9. American Without Tears
10. Eisenhower Blues
11. Poisoned Rose
12. The Big Light
13. Jack Of All Parades
14. Suit Of Lights
15. Sleep Of The Just

DISC 2 – LE ROI SANS SABOTS
Demos, Outtakes & Other Realms
1. The People’s Limousine – The Coward Brothers
2. Next Time Round *
3. Deportee *
4. Brilliant Mistake (First Draft) *
5. Suffering Face
6. Poisoned Rose
7. Jack Of All Parades
8. Sleep Of The Just *
9. Blue Chair *
10. I Hope You’re Happy Now
11. I’ll Wear It Proudly
12. Indoor Fireworks
13. Having It All
14. Shoes Without Heels *
15. King Of Confidence
16. They’ll Never Take Her Love From Me – The Coward Brothers
17. American Without Tears No. 2 (Twilight Version)

DISC 3 – KINGS OF AMERICA LIVE AT THE ROYAL ALBERT HALL
Royal Albert Hall 27th January 1987
1. The Big Light *
2. Only Daddy That’ll Walk The Line *
3. Our Little Angel *
4. It Tears Me Up *
5. I’ll Wear It Proudly *
6. Lovable *
7. Riverboat *
8. Sally Sue Brown/36-22-36 *
9. American Without Tears *
10. Brilliant Mistake *
11. What Would I Do Without You *
12. Your Mind Is On Vacation /Your Funeral, My Trial *
13. Pouring Water On A Drowning Man *
14. Payday *
15. That’s How You Got Killed Before *
16. Sleep Of The Just *
17. True Love Ways *

DISC 4 – IL PRINCIPE DI NEW ORLEANS E LE MARCHESE DEL MISSISSIPPI
1. There’s A Story In Your Voice – with Lucinda Williams
2. Country Darkness
3. The Delivery Man
4. Nothing Clings Like Ivy
5. Heart Shaped Bruise – with Emmylou Harris (Live At The Hi-Tone, Memphis) **
6. Bedlam (Live At Montreal Jazz) **
7. Either Side Of The Same Town
8. Wonder Woman
9. In Another Room
10. The Monkey * – Rehearsal with Dave Bartholomew & The Dirty Dozen Brass Band
11. Monkey To Man
12. Deep Dark Truthful Mirror
13. Clown Strike (Live At Montreal Jazz) **
14. Who’s Gonna Help Brother Get Further?
15. The River In Reverse
16. The Greatest Love – from Treme *
17. Ascension Day

DISC 5 – EL PRÍNCIPE DEL PURGATORIO
1. Stations Of The Cross
2. Quick Like A Flash (Previously Unreleased) *
3. Sulphur To Sugarcane
4. Red Cotton
5. Lost On The River #12
6. A Slow Drag With Josephine
7. I Felt The Chill
8. Complicated Shadows (Cashbox Version)
9. She’s Pulling Out The Pin
10. Condemned Man (Demo) *
11. Hidden Shame
12. Red Wicked Wine – with Dr. Ralph Stanley
13. The Scarlet Tide – with Emmylou Harris, Gillian Welch & David Rawlings (Live at the Grand Ole Opry) *
14. One Bell Ringing
15. Bullets For The New Born King
16. All These Strangers
17. For More Tears (Demo) *
18. You Hung The Moon

DISC 6 – DER HERZOG DES RAMPENLICHT
1. Stella Hurt
2. Mr. Feathers
3. Under Lime
4. Jimmie Standing In The Rain
5. Down Among The Wines And Spirits
6. Dr. Watson, I Presume
7. Church Underground (Demo) *
8. A Voice In The Dark
9. April 5th – with Rosanne Cash & Kris Kristofferson
10. Indoor Fireworks (Memphis Magnetic Version) *
11. That’s Not The Part Of Him You’re Leaving – with Larkin Poe *
12. Brilliant Mistake/Boulevard Of Broken Dreams (Cape Fear Version) *
13. That Day Is Done – with The Fairfield Four

* previously unreleased
** first-ever audio release