
The latest major artist to take the digital plunge with a Net music company, Elvis Costello is now selling twelve albums as MP3 downloads on music retail site Emusic.com.
Albums include his debut "My Aim Is True" (1977), "This Year's Model" (1978), ''Armed Forces'' (1979), "Get Happy!!" (1980), "Trust" (1981), ''Almost Blue'' (1981), "Imperial Bedroom" (1982), ''Punch The Clock'' (1983), ''Goodbye Cruel World ''(1984), ''The Very Best Of Elvis Costello & The Attractions'' (1985), "King of America" (1986) and "Blood & Chocolate" (1986). The music, which can only be purchased as complete albums, is available now.
The albums were part of the Demon label's catalog, which Ryko had licensed to sell and distribute in the U.S. When that deal expired, rights to the music reverted back to Costello, enabling him to sell the albums on Emusic. The two parties will split revenue 50/50, typical of Emusic's deals with other artists.
On May 5 and 6 at St. Anne's Theater in Brooklyn, Costello plans to accompany Jazz Passengers saxophonist and songwriter Roy Nathanson for performances of material from Nathanson's album "Fire at Keaton's Bar and Grill" (Six Degrees Records), which comes out on March 14. The jazz/pop album will tell the story of a neighborhood bar and a fire that may or may not have destroyed it. Costello is the singing storyteller, and Deborah Harry plays the bartender.