Elvis Costello has announced an exciting new deluxe reissue titled King of America & Other Realms, a six-CD collection that expands on his 1986 classic King of America. Set for release on November 1, 2024, the box set not only includes a remastered version of the original album but also features demos, outtakes, and previously unreleased live recordings that span nearly four decades of Costello’s work. Pre-orders for the collection are available now.
King of America marked a departure from Costello’s earlier new-wave sound, as he embraced Americana and country influences, collaborating with legendary session musicians like Ray Brown and Earl Palmer. This deluxe edition explores those roots further by including material from albums such as Spike, National Ransom, and The Delivery Man, all recorded in the U.S. with producer T Bone Burnett. Highlights of the set include never-before-heard demos of “Brilliant Mistake” and “Blue Chair,” as well as live performances from his 1987 Royal Albert Hall concert, where he was backed by musicians like James Burton and Jerry Scheff.
The box set offers 97 tracks in total, with exclusive material such as the Lost on the River sessions (where Costello and collaborators set unreleased Bob Dylan lyrics to music) and rare live recordings featuring collaborations with icons like Emmylou Harris and Gillian Welch. Fans can also look forward to a remastered vinyl version of King of America, available in black and limited-edition gold.
Whether you’re a longtime fan or new to Elvis Costello’s Americana phase, King of America & Other Realms provides a rich, in-depth look at one of his most celebrated works. The box set also includes a 35-page essay written by Costello himself, offering personal insights into the recording process.
Elvis Costello, ‘King of America & Other Realms’ Deluxe Edition Track Listing:
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 Principe Del Purgatorio
1. “Stations Of The Cross”
2. “Quick Like A Flash” *
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