National Ransom is the 2010 studio album by Elvis Costello. It was recorded in Nashville and Los Angeles with American songwriter and producer T Bone Burnett, and was released on 25 October 2010 (2 November in the US) on the Hear Music label.[10] The album was received positively, earning a score of 79/100 on the review aggregate website Metacritic.
National Ransom | ||||
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Studio album by | ||||
Released | 25 October 2010 | |||
Genre | Alternative country, roots rock | |||
Length | 62:33 | |||
Label | Hear Music/Universal | |||
Producer | T Bone Burnett | |||
Elvis Costello chronology | ||||
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Review scores | |
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Source | Rating |
AllMusic | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
The A.V. Club | B+[2] |
Boom Boom Pop! | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Consequence of Sound | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Mojo | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
PopMatters | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Rolling Stone | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Slant Magazine | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Spin | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Featured musicians include Costello's recent backing bands The Imposters and The Sugarcanes, while the album also includes guest appearances by Vince Gill, Marc Ribot, Buddy Miller, Jim Lauderdale and Leon Russell.
The cover art is by Maakies creator Tony Millionaire.
All tracks are written by Elvis Costello, except where noted.
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
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1. | "National Ransom" | 4:05 | |
2. | "Jimmie Standing in the Rain" | 4:15 | |
3. | "Stations of the Cross" | 4:58 | |
4. | "A Slow Drag with Josephine" | 2:43 | |
5. | "Five Small Words" | 4:45 | |
6. | "Church Underground" | 5:02 | |
7. | "You Hung the Moon" | 3:55 | |
8. | "Bullets for the New-Born King" | 3:35 | |
9. | "I Lost You" |
| 2:56 |
10. | "Dr. Watson, I Presume" | 3:41 | |
11. | "One Bell Ringing" | 3:37 | |
12. | "The Spell That You Cast" | 2:32 | |
13. | "That's Not the Part of Him You're Leaving" | 4:43 | |
14. | "My Lovely Jezebel" |
| 2:31 |
15. | "All These Strangers" |
| 5:53 |
16. | "A Voice in the Dark" | 3:34 | |
17. | "I Hope" (iTunes/Japan CD bonus track) |
| 3:33 |
Originally a digital download was given away with orders for the album. The EP was later released separately on 10-inch vinyl.
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
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1. | "Poor Borrowed Dress" |
| 2:32 |
2. | "Condemned Man" | 4:18 | |
3. | "Big Boys Cry" | Eddy Raven | 3:45 |
4. | "I Don't Want to Go Home" | 3:00 |
Chart (2010) | Peak position |
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Belgian Albums (Ultratop Flanders)[11] | 38 |
Japanese Albums (Oricon)[12] | 116 |
Spanish Albums (PROMUSICAE)[13] | 86 |
UK Albums (OCC)[14] | 71 |
US Billboard 200[15] | 39 |
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