Elvis Costello Announced New Box Set “The Complete Armed Forces”

His Iconic Album Is Getting A Reissue

Elvis Costello has curated a box set – a reissue of his 1979 “The Complete Armed Forces” LP. This massive collection will feature demos, B-sides, outtakes, alternate versions, and more than 20 previously unreleased live recordings.

Out on November 6, it will also contain handwritten lyrics, rare images, memorabilia, and new liner notes from Costello. Spread across nine records, it has three 12″ LPs, three 10″ LPs and three 7″ singles. Aside from the original album, the set includes four live recordings – ‘Live at Hollywood High & Elsewhere 1978’, ‘Europe ’79 – Live at Pinkpop’, ‘Riot at the Regent – Live in Sydney ’78’, and ‘Christmas in the Dominion – Live 24th December ’78’.

According to Costello, “Most of this record was written in hotel rooms or on a tour bus, scribbled in a notebook which rarely left my side or failing this, from fragments and phrases scrawled on paper cocktail napkins or hotel notepaper.”

The Complete Armed Forces Tracklist

Armed Forces 12” LP

SIDE A
1. Accidents Will Happen
2. Senior Service
3. Oliver’s Army
4. Big Boys
5. Green Shirt
6. Party Girl
SIDE B
1. Goon Squad
2. Busy Bodies
3. Sunday’s Best
4. Moods for Moderns
5. Chemistry Class
6. Two Little Hitlers
7. (What’s So Funny ‘Bout) Peace, Love & Understanding?

Live at Hollywood High & Elsewhere 1978 12” LP

SIDE A
1. Accidents Will Happen
2. Mystery Dance
3. Goon Squad
4. Party Girl
5. Stranger in the House
SIDE B
1. Alison
2. Lipstick Vogue
3. Watching the Detectives
4. You Belong to Me
5. Chemistry Class (Live at the Warner Theatre, Washington D.C.)

Europe ‘79 – Live At Pinkpop 12” LP

SIDE A
1. Goon Squad
2. B-Movie
3. Green Shirt
4. (I Don’t Want to Go to) Chelsea
5. Opportunity
6. So Young
7. High Fidelity
SIDE B
1. Lipstick Vogue
2. Watching the Detectives
3. Big Boys
4. Pump It Up
5. You Belong To Me
6. (What’s So Funny ‘Bout) Peace, Love & Understanding?

Sketches for Emotional Fascism 10″ LP

SIDE A
1. Clean Money
2. Talking in the Dark
3. Wednesday Week
4. Tiny Steps
SIDE B
1. Crawling to the U.S.A.
2. Big Boys (Alternate Version)
3. Green Shirt (Demo Version)
4. My Funny Valentine

Riot At The Regent – Live In Sydney ’78 10” LP

SIDE A
1. Oliver’s Army
2. Waiting for the End of the World
3. Big Boys
SIDE B
1. This Year’s Girl
2. You Belong to Me
3. Pump It Up

Christmas In The Dominion – Live 24th December ’78 10” LP

SIDE A
1. (The Angels Wanna Wear My) Red Shoes
2. No Dancing
SIDE B
1. I Stand Accused
2. (What’s So Funny ‘Bout) Peace, Love & Understanding?

“Oliver’s Army” 7′′

SIDE A
1. Oliver’s Army
Side B
1. Big Boys (Demo)

“Accidents Will Happen” 7”

SIDE A
1. Accidents Will Happen
Side B
1. Busy Bodies (Alternate)

Nick Lowe & His Sound – “American Squirm” 7′′

Side A
1. American Squirm
Side B
2. (What’s So Funny ‘Bout) Peace, Love & Understanding?