A new, expanded version of Elvis Costello’s 1986 album, King of America, includes a previously unreleased live version of the Waylon Jennings classic, “The Only Little Daddy That’ll Walk the Line.”
The box set, titled King of America & Other Realms includes 6-discs of additional material, including a January 27th, 1987 performance of the song at a sold-out Royal Albert Hall in London. And that isn’t the only cover Costello played that night. He also performed Buddy Holly’s “True Love Ways,” Ray Charles’ “What Would I Do Without You,” and Sonny Boy Williamson’s “Your Funeral and My Trial.”
Costello’s backing band that night was not The Attractions, but instead included guitarist James Burton and bassist Jerry Scheff from Elvis Presley’s TCB Band, drummer Jim Keltner, Benmont Tench from Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers on keyboards and T-Bone Wolk on accordion and mandolin. (Many of these musicians also played on the album as well.)
Costello’s version hews closely to the original, as Costello continued his exploration of American music, including folk and, in this instance, country.
King of America & Other Realms is available on November 1st.
