Rock Live! The performance originally aired on 19 May 2006. Reception "Alison" was released as a single in the United Kingdom with a B-side of "Welcome to the Working Week", and as two singles in the United States; one with a mono version of the same song on the B-side, the other with "Miracle Man". The US (and Canadian) single versions of "Alison" are unique in that it is remixed to add a string section. Record World called it "a stirring ballad" and said that "the strings add a dimension the song lacked in its original version and should help send it to the top." The single did not chart; as the album on which it was included did reach the top 40 on the album charts, the song did get airplay in the U.S. on album-oriented rock radio. In 2004, Rolling Stone ranked it No. 318 on their list of the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time and Entertainment Weekly voted it as one of Costello's top 10 greatest tunes. The Telegraph named it Costello's second greatest song only after "Oliver's Army", calling it "a wonderful song about unrequited love." Linda Ronstadt version Background Linda Ronstadt recorded a cover version of "Alison" for her studio album Living in the USA, in 1978, which sold over 2 million copies. Released as the disc's fourth single in the spring of 1979 on Asylum Records, it was produced by her longtime producer Peter Asher. Ronstadt's B-side to "Alison" was "Mohammed's Radio", also produced by Asher. Reception Ronstadt's version of "Alison" was a moderate hit, reaching number 30 in the U.S. on the Billboard adult contemporary chart. Her single also reached number 66 in the UK Singles chart. Years later, Costello joked that he might have been publicly derisive of Ronstadt's version, "but I didn't mind spending the money that she earned me". Costello donated royalties from Ronstadt's version to the African National Congress after she played at Sun City in South Africa. References 1970s ballads 1977 songs Elvis Costello songs Linda Ronstadt songs Rock ballads Songs written by Elvis Costello Song recordings produced by Nick Lowe Stiff Records singles Columbia Records singles Asylum Records singles