Imperial Bedroom

Untitled

Imperial Bedroom is a 1982 album by Elvis Costello and the Attractions. It was the first Costello album not produced by Nick Lowe, the production duties handled by erstwhile Beatles engineer Geoff Emerick. "I wanted to try a few things in the studio that I suspected would quickly exhaust Nick's patience," as Costello put it in the liner notes to the 1994 Rykodisc reissue.

It was voted as the best album of the year in The Village Voice Pazz & Jop critics poll. In 1998 readers of Q magazine named it the 96th greatest album ever.

"Imperial Bedroom" is also the title song from this album, although it was cut from the original release and only included on the expanded reissue editions.

Track listing

Note: The Rykodisc version has the original tracks and bonus tracks on one CD. The Rhino version has two CDs with the original tracks on the first CD.

All songs written by Costello unless otherwise indicated.

1. "Beyond Belief" – 2:34
2. "Tears Before Bedtime" – 3:02
3. "Shabby Doll" – 4:48
4. "The Long Honeymoon" – 4:15
5. "Man Out of Time" – 5:26
6. "Almost Blue" – 2:50
7. "...And in Every Home" – 3:23
8. "The Loved Ones" – 2:48
9. "Human Hands" – 2:43
10. "Kid About It" – 2:45
11. "Little Savage" – 2:37
12. "Boy with a Problem" (Costello/Chris Difford) – 2:12
13. "Pidgin English" – 3:58
14. "You Little Fool" – 3:11
15. "Town Cryer" – 4:16

Bonus Tracks (1994 Rykodisc)

1. "From Head to Toe" (Robinson) – 2:34 produced by Elvis Costello
2. "The World of Broken Hearts" (Shuman/Pomus) – 3:01 produced by Elvis Costello
3. "Night Time" (Chambers) – 2:52 produced by Elvis Costello
4. "Really Mystified" Crane/Gustafson) – 2:03 produced by Elvis Costello
5. "I Turn Around" – 2:09 produced by Elvis Costello
6. "Seconds of Pleasure [Version 2 of The Invisible Man]" – 3:43 produced by Elvis Costello
7. "The Stamping Ground" – 3:09 produced by Elvis Costello
8. "Shabby Doll (Early Version)" – 4:18 produced by Elvis Costello
9. "Imperial Bedroom" – 2:47 produced by Elvis Costello

Bonus Disk (2002 Rhino)

1. "The Land of Give and Take (Early Version of Beyond Belief)" – 3:05
2. "Tears Before Bedtime (Alternate Version)" – 3:03
3. "Man Out of Time (Alternate Version)" – 3:43
4. "Human Hands (Early Version)" – 2:44
5. "Kid About It (Alternate Version)" – 3:18
6. "Little Savage (Alternate Version)" – 3:07
7. "You Little Fool (Alternate Version)" – 2:59
8. "Town Cryer (Fast Version)" – 2:15
9. "Little Goody Two Shoes (Alternate Version)" – 3:10
10. "The Town Where Time Stood Still (Alternate Version)" –
11. "...And in Every Home (Rehearsal)" – 3:12
12. "I Turn Around" – 2:09
13. "From Head to Toe" (Robinson) – 2:34
14. "The World of Broken Hearts" (Shuman/Pomus) – 3:01
15. "Night Time" (Chambers) – 2:52
16. "Really Mystified" Crane/Gustafson) – 2:03
17. "The Stamping Ground" – 3:09
18. "Shabby Doll (Demo Version) – 4:18
19. "Man Out of Time (Demo Version)" – 3:27
20. "You Little Fool (Demo Version)" – 3:11
21. "Town Cryer (Demo Version)" – 3:03
22. "Seconds of Pleasure (Demo Version)" – 3:19
23. "Imperial Bedroom" – 2:47

Personnel

• Elvis Costello – vocals, guitar
• Steve Nieve – piano, organ, orchestrations
• Bruce Thomas – bass
• Pete Thomas – drums

Charts

Album

Year	Chart	Position
1982	Pop Albums	30

External links

• "Masterpiece?" - essay by Connor Ratliff