Elvis Costello Says, Please Don’t Buy My Record

Elvis Costello has a new collection of music coming out.  It looks truly amazing. It’s described as a limited edition (only 1500 copies printed)  3-disc (CD, DVD, 10″ vinyl EP) live box set, recorded over a 2-night stand at The Wiltern in Los Angeles on May 11 and 12, 2011. Each set is autographed by Elvis Costello and includes a 40-page hardcover book packed with candid photos, a tour diary of Costello’s musings from each tour stop, a 20″ x 30″ concert tour poster and a limited edition postcard.  And it’s been offered for anywhere from $200 to $300.

And Costello has something very interesting to say about the December 6 release of this spectacular set– PLEASE DON’T BUY IT.  Elviscostello.com posted the following request:

Unfortunately, we at www.elviscostello.com find ourselves unable to recommend this lovely item to you as the price appears to be either a misprint or a satire.

All our attempts to have this number revised have been fruitless but rather than detain you with tedious arguments about morality, panache and book-keeping – when there are really bigger fish to filet these days – we are taking the following unusual step.

If you should really want to buy something special for your loved one at this time of seasonal giving, we can whole-heartedly recommend, “Ambassador Of Jazz” – a cute little imitation suitcase, covered in travel stickers and embossed with the name “Satchmo” but more importantly containing TEN re-mastered albums by one of the most beautiful and loving revolutionaries who ever lived – Louis Armstrong.

The release on the website also promises that you will be able to find the music offered in the collection elsewhere.

If on the other hand you should still want to hear and view the component parts of the above mentioned elaborate hoax, then those items will be available separately at a more affordable price in the New Year, assuming that you have not already obtained them by more unconventional means.

What do you think of this unusual move?

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