The Right Spectacle: The Very Best Of Elvis Costello

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Title: The Right Spectacle: The Very Best Of Elvis Costello – The Videos

Region: One

Genre: Music Video Compilation

Feature length: 90 minutes

Extras: Audio And Text Commentary By Elvis Costello, Archived Television Performances Selected By Elvis Costello And A Booklet With Notes By Elvis Costello Regarding These Selections

Languages: English Stereo Sound

Subtitles: English Subtitles

Packaging: Keep Case

Chapter Stops: 27

Sound: Stereo Sound

Year of DVD Release: 2005

Home Video Distributor: Rhino Home Video

MPAA Rating: Not Rated

Reviewer: Mark A. Rivera

Growing up there were a lot of songs either sung by Elvis Costello or covered by another performer that I didn’t even know were by Costello himself. I have an older brother and like any young sibling with an older brother or sister, I tended to gravitate toward certain things my brother liked because he made it seem cool. Unfortunately my brother was not a big fan of Elvis Costello so I did not really grow to appreciate Elvis Costello’s work until I was in college. Looking back at his career through this music video retrospect I can see more than ever just how much of an influence he had on the early New Wave music scene though Costello actually crosses musical genres to such an extent that I think it is easiest to classify him as rock and roll plain in simple. The genre that was New Wave in the late 1970s and early 1980s developed into many forms and labels through the last twenty years that have included the terms New Music, College Music, and Alternative Music to name a few. This DVD includes 27 tracks in chronological order beginning in 1977 and concluding in 1994.It’s interesting to watch the evolution from the mid 1970s when music videos were actually shot on video and often were simple performances shot on an empty stage or in a studio through the development of concept music videos during the height of the classic MTV era. The set includes six Warner Brothers videos that have never been made commercially available before and each video features an optional audio commentary and English Subtitles text that can be enabled and disabled separately from each other. So if you want to enjoy hearing the music, but want to know what Mr. Costello has to say about it, you can simply enable the subtitles and read while you watch and listen. Costello’s comments are sometimes humorous and a bit brief, but I’d rather have a few comments that mean something rather than someone rambling on constantly.

My personal favorites are his early music videos because I think even with Costello lip-synching and the whole band pretending to play; there is a raw energy and immediacy to the videotaped performances that sometimes the concept videos shot on film lack. Recommended videos to check out include the songs “(I Don’t Want To Go To) Chelsea”, “Radio Radio”, “(What’s So Funny ‘Bout) Peace, Love And Understanding”, “”Pump It Up”, “Clubland”, “Everyday I Write The Book”, “Let Them All Talk”, “”Don’t Let Me Be Misunderstood”, “Veronica”, and “The Other Side Of Summer.” There are also archived TV appearances personally selected by Elvis Costello from his very first television performance in 1977 to a performance in Sweden in 1983. Within The DVD keep case is a booklet with liner notes regarding the various television performances written by Elvis Costello himself so for fans of his music, he really gives a lot of personal insight that other artists often pass over. The performances, which are often more than one or two songs, include the UK programs “So It Goes” (6:32), “Revolver” (6:07), “What’s In” (3:06), “The Tube” (19:03), the Netherlands’ “Countdown” (14:27) and “Pink Pop Festival” (10:48) and recorded in Sweden “Mandagsboren” (8:25).

The interactive menus are very well rendered and easy to navigate. This is a great value for any fan of Elvis Costello. “The Right Spectacle: The Very Best Of Elvis Costello – The Videos” is available on DVD-Video now at retailers on and offline courtesy of Rhino Home Video.

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