Elvis Costello - Out Of Our Idiot (1987)

Following in the tradition of Taking Liberties and Ten Bloody Marys & Ten How's Your Fathers, Out of Our Idiot compiles 21 rarities Elvis Costello released during the early and mid-'80s, usually under pseudonyms. Many of these songs are collaborations -- "Seven Day Weekend" is a rollicking duet with Jimmy Cliff; Elvis sings "Baby It's You" with Nick Lowe; Costello and T-Bone Burnett form the Coward Brothers -- hence the album's billing as a "various-artists" record, which is indicative of its freewheeling, goofy humor. Even with a cover of Richard Thompson's harrowing "Withered and Died," Out of Our Idiot is pure fun, and it's not just for collectors. Costello's throwaways are frequently excellent, whether it's covers (Yoko Ono's "Walking on Thin Ice," Smokey Robinson's "From Head to Toe," "So Young"), genre exercises, jokes, or full-fledged songs. Most of the songs on Out of Our Idiot were later included as bonus tracks in the Demon/Rykodisc reissue series, but this remains the only place "Little Goody Two Shoes" (a working version of "Inch by Inch") is available. Besides, it's a great listen in its own right.