| Out of Our Idiot | |
| Type: | Compilation album |
| Artist: | Elvis Costello |
| Cover: | File:Out of Our Idiot.jpg |
| Released: | 4 December 1987 |
| Recorded: | 1979–87 |
| Genre: | New wave, post-punk, alternative rock |
| Length: | 70:34 (CD) 56:50 (LP) |
| Label: | Demon |
| Producer: | Nick Lowe, Elvis Costello, Colin Fairley, the Mono-Kings, the Coward Brothers, Clive Langer, Alan Winstanley, Allen Toussaint, J. Henry "T-Bone" Burnett, Larry Hirsch |
| Prev Title: | Blood and Chocolate |
| Prev Year: | 1986 |
| Next Title: | Spike |
| Next Year: | 1989 |
Out of Our Idiot is a compilation album by English musician Elvis Costello, released in 1987 through Demon Records in the United Kingdom.[1] [2] It is composed of rare and previously unreleased Costello recordings dating back to 1979. It was only available as an import in the USA and other markets. The album was credited to "Various Artists" rather than to Costello because the tracks were recorded and credited under a variety of names, including the Costello Show, Elvis Costello and the Attractions, Elvis Costello and the Confederates, the Coward Brothers, Napoleon Dynamite, the Emotional Toothpaste and the MacManus Gang.[2] The songs featured a variety of collaborators, including Jimmy Cliff, Nick Lowe and T-Bone Burnett.[2]
The album consisted of previously released tracks and alternate versions of released tracks.[2] The one song that had never been released in any form prior to Out of Our Idiot was Costello with the Attractions' cover of "So Young". "Little Goody Two Shoes" was an early version of "Inch by Inch".[3]
All songs written by Elvis Costello, except as indicated.
CD version
Two versions of Out of Our Idiot were released: a 17-track vinyl LP and a 21-track CD. Tracks 6, 10, 18, and 19 on the CD were not included on the vinyl release. With the exception of "Little Goody Two Shoes", all of the tracks on Out of Our Idiot were later released as bonus tracks on individual albums when Costello's pre-1987 catalogue was re-released on CD on the Rykodisc and Rhino labels. An alternate version of "Little Goody Two Shoes" was included on the Imperial Bedroom bonus disc.