Elvis Costello: Don't Buy My Expensive Box Set

If you have an Elvis Costello fan on your holiday shopping list, the singer/songwriter suggests you avoid buying him/her Costello's newest box set -- it's too expensive.

The Return of the Spectacular Spinning Songbook, a box set that includes a CD, DVD, 10 vinyl and 40-page book, is retailing for about $200 or more in presales, before its Dec. 6 release. The price tag, though, is a bit too much for Costello to bear, saying he is unable to recommend this lovely item to you as the price appears to be either a misprint or a satire.

All our attempts to have this number revised have been fruitless but rather than detain you with tedious arguments about morality, panache and book-keeping - when there are really bigger fish to filet these days.

Costello: Buy Louis Armstrong Box Set, Instead

The post goes on to suggest fans buy a Louis Armstrong box set instead.

If you should really want to buy something special for your loved one at this time of seasonal giving, we can whole-heartedly recommend, Ambassador Of Jazz -- a cute little imitation suitcase, covered in travel stickers and embossed with the name Satchmo but more importantly containing TEN re-mastered albums by one of the most beautiful and loving revolutionaries who ever lived - Louis Armstrong, Costello's Web site said, adding, Frankly, the music is vastly superior.

The troubadour goes on to suggest true fans who want the material wait.

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.

What unconventional means could he be referring to? Well, the title of the post is Steal This Record.