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SALT LAKE CITY -- Singer Elvis Costello is asking his fans not to buy his new box set, but encourages them to buy a different record from another artist, or to simply steal his.
Costello's "The Return of The Spectacular Spinning Songbook" is set for release Tuesday December sixth, and he doesn't want fans buying it.
"Costello, in a note on his website this week, said the $202 price tag for what Amazon.com describes as a ‘super deluxe' package is ‘either a misprint or a satire,'" wrote Nola.com's Jerry McLeod.
Costello says he's proud of the album, but believes the price tag is non-sense.
"Costello acknowledged that it was a ‘beautifully designed compendium'. However, writing on his website, he told fans: ‘There was a time when the release of a new title by your favourite record artist was a cause for excitement and rejoicing but sadly no more,'" reported Anita Singh of The Telegraph.
Costello apologized for the price on his website, saying,"Unfortunately, we at www.elviscostello.com find ourselves unable to recommend this lovely item to you."
But, he did give an idea for those who are looking for a special gift for the music lover in the family.
"If you want to buy something special for your loved one at this time of seasonal giving, we suggest, Ambassador Of Jazz," Costello wrote on his website. "A cute little imitation suitcase containing 10 re-mastered albums by one of the most beautiful and loving revolutionaries who ever lived -- Louis Armstrong."
But if you're a die-hard Costello fan and must have the box set, Elvis himself gives a couple of alternatives to forking over $200 for his music in the blog post, "Steal This Record."
"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."
E-mail: jclyde@ksl.com
