| | 1. On Your Way Down
2. Nearer To You
3. Tears, Tears And More Tears
4. Sharpest Thorn, The
5. Who's Gonna Help Brother Get Further?
6. River In Reverse, The
7. Freedom Of The Stallion
8. Broken Promise Land
9. Ascension Day
10. International Echo
11. All These Things
12. Wonder Woman
13. Six-Fingered Man |
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Elvis Costello
The River In Reverse
2006 EC3
Release Date: Jun 06, 2006
Record Label: Verve Forecast
Personnel: Elvis Costello (vocals, guitar, acoustic guitar, Hammond b-3 organ, tambourine); Allen Toussaint (vocals, piano, Wurlitzer piano); The Crescent City Horns, The Imposters.
Throughout history, times of tribulation have given birth to strong artistic statements. So it is with THE RIVER IN REVERSE, the collaboration between Elvis Costello and New Orleans R&B legend Allen Toussaint. The two came together during benefit concerts for Toussaint's home town in the wake of the 2006 Hurricane Katrina disaster. One thing led to another, and before long the two legends were composing together and recording an album, forming a pop music mutual admiration society.
Though it's impossible not to hear many of the songs as responses to Katrina's aftermath, a number of them are Toussaint tunes that were first recorded years ago by Lee Dorsey and others. Joe Henry's production and Costello's vocals bring those tracks into the present day while still remaining reverent of their roots. Likewise, the new songs Costello and Toussaint wrote together bear a connection to classic soul but feel perfectly of their time, with a robust horn section and Toussaint's unmistakable piano giving them that indelible Crescent City stamp.
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