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List Price: $19.98Amazon.com's Price: $17.99 You Save: $1.99 (10%)Prices subject to change.
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Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1
Audience Rating: NR (Not Rated)
Binding: DVD
EAN: 0603497040926
Format: Color, DVD-Video, NTSC
Label: Rhino / Wea
Manufacturer: Rhino / Wea
Number Of Items: 1
Publisher: Rhino / Wea
Region Code: 1
Release Date: September 27, 2005
Running Time: 99 minutes
Sales Rank: 52020
Studio: Rhino / Wea
Theatrical Release Date: September 27, 2005
Editorial Review:
Description:
This DVD, a unique collection of the visual works of Elvis Costello, boasts a grand total of 27 videos and includes material rarely seen since the original release of the singles they supported. From his first Radar Records single in 1978, 'I Don't Want To Go To (Chelsea),' to his final video for Warner Bros., '13 Steps Lead Down' (from 1994's Brutal Youth), this is a must purchase for all serious Elvis Costello enthusiasts and fans alike.
Amazon.com:
Elvis Costello is the guy who, in 2003, reissued a recording (Get Happy!!) containing no less than 50 tracks, including 30 that weren't on the original release. So it should come as no surprise that The Right Spectacle, a compilation of Costello videos spanning the years 1978 to 1994, is a similarly generous offering from an artist with one of the longest and most prolific resumes in contemporary pop music. And 'generous' is putting it mildly. There are 27 videos (arranged in chronological order), along with an additional 18 live performances, with a total running time of nearly three hours. Quantity alone won't cut it, of course, but there's a lot of quality material here, especially considering that by his own admission, making videos was never exactly a high priority for Costello and his band the Attractions. The early, geeky stuff is pretty primitive, but Costello is such a great songwriter that the sheer number of quality tunes overrides most quibbles one might have about the videos themselves. And there are some real gems along the rest of the way, like 'New Lace Sleeves,' filmed in elegant black & white; the surreal and emotionally raw 'I Wanna Be Loved'; and 'Veronica,' which brilliantly brings to life Costello's song about his grandmother's battle with Alzheimer's Disease. Every track includes Costello's wry, witty commentary (available as an audio track and/or as subtitles), filled with tales of bad fashion choices and drunken high jinks. Meanwhile, the 18 'TV archive selections' range from '77-'83, all of them live and of varying degrees of interest; Costello adds thousands more words about them in the accompanying booklet. All in all, Elvis Costello fans could hardly ask for more than this terrific collection. --Sam Graham
Customer Reviews
Average Rating: 
Rating:  - Historical/Hysterical
Get this DVD for two reasons: First and foremost, these videos run the gamut from early crude white-backdrop to the more sophisticated storyboards for Spike's breakthrough "Veronica." There are also the really inspired moments, like the nakedly emotional photo-booth session for "I Wanna be Loved" (the effect copped by U2 for their "Numb" video) and the strikingly original animation for Armed Forces' "Accidents Will Happen." Even where some of the albums were a bit duff, the videos are still superb. ... Read More
Rating: - Killer Commentary
The music is peerless, but as we all know, the videos themselves are hit and miss. There's a lot of early drunken clowning. But some of the later ones are sophisticated stunners. What makes this DVD classic is Elvis' commentary. It's similar to his Rhino liner notes - self effacing, dry, insightful and hilarious.
Rating:  - So Fabulous!! A ton of fun to watch and worth every penny!
Sure, the early videos are super-cheesy. They are, nonetheless, really fun to watch. And in case we've all forgotten how things used to be...ALL videos from 1978 look like that. The songs are still all great, as is much of the live footage. In particular, "Clowntime is Over" from a show called The Tube is mesmerizing.
But the thing that really sets this video collection apart is the excellent commentary by Elvis. The stories he tells about the videos are smart, funny--really interesting ... Read More
Rating: - The "Attractive" Elvis
This is Elvis at his best - It's all here from the quirky to the polished.
Rating:  - Some Things Are Better Heard Than Seen
I got suckered again by the typical Amazon 5 star "must have" reviews. Again I am disappointed to always take these blanket 5 star review's as the definitive word and not actually read what they say, just look at the 5 stars. Well here's a pretty honest review. I paid about 12 bucks for this, would I buy it again now that I saw it? Maybe, maybe not. As I write this I am listening to 200 or so of EC's songs playing on random so yes I really like Elvis's music after all these years from around 1979. The ... Read More
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