Armed Forces Box Set

"Armed Forces" is the 3rd studio album from Elvis Costello & The Attractions. Originally released January 1979 and produced by Nick Lowe. Key songs were “(What’s So Funny ‘Bout) Peace, Love & Understanding?”, “Accidents Will Happen”, “Oliver’s Army” and “Green Shirt”. Costello was 23 years old when he wrote and recorded the music for the album. After the previous Ryko and Rhino reissues, we now have the complete "Armed Forces".

This fortcoming super deluxe edition was personally curated by Elvis Costello. The box fully embraces Barney Bubbles’ epic package art and features 9 pieces of vinyl, 7 custom notebooks containing updated liner notes from Costello, nearly 10,000 words total, and his handwritten lyrics from the era. The album receives a brand new remaster from the original production master tapes with the sonic fidelity matching the original 1979 UK pressing. Along with selections from the Hollywood High show, there are 3 more concerts, 23 never released live songs, including the full Pink Pop 1979 set and highlights from the notorious Riot At The Regent concert and the December 24th, 1978, Dominion Theatre. The set includes the vintage grenade and gun poster and the 4 original postcards of each band member. Costello commissioned acclaimed artist Todd Alcott to recreate pulp novel covers of to represent songs from "Armed Forces" featuring Costello as the star of the cover in precarious situations.

Universal Music, November 6th, 2020.