Elvis Costello Keeps Busy

Elvis Costello is completing work on two new albums for simultaneous release this fall.

He's now recording an album with The Imposters in Oxford, Miss., and Memphis, Tenn., for Lost Highway Records.

The other forthcoming recording, Il Sogno, was composed solely by Costello and is his first full-length orchestral work. It was recorded by the London Symphony Orchestra conducted by Michael Tilson-Thomas and will be released on Deutsche Grammophon. A bonus live disc from Costello's performance at the this summer's North Sea Jazz Festival in the Netherlands will also be included.

In addition to his recording duties, Costello is currently preparing for a three-concert series during this summer's prestigious Lincoln Center Festival 2004 in New York. The program (July 13, 15 and 17) will preview and premiere Costello's work this year in jazz, classical and pop music.

Costello is also involved in writing liner notes and selecting bonus material for the latest installment of Rhino Record's ongoing re-release of his catalog. Planned for August release are Almost Blue (1981), Goodbye Cruel World (1984) and Kojak Variety (1995). Each will come with an additional CD of unreleased material.

And finally, Costello recently signed a two-book deal with Simon & Schuster, with one book taking its cue from the styles, themes and characters found in a number of his lyrics, and the other a work of comic philosophy entitled How to Play the Guitar, Sing Loudly and Impress Girls... or Boys. The books will see release sometime next year.

Got news tips for Paste? Email news@pastemagazine.com.