year – only above Costello's second all-covers album Kojak Variety (1995) and Goodbye Cruel World (1984) – deeming it the first misstep of the artist's career, failed by Costello's handling of the material. Reissues Almost Blue was first released on CD through Columbia and Demon Records in January 1986. Its first extended reissue through Demon in the UK and Rykodisc in the US on CD came in May 1994, which came with a slew of bonus tracks, including outtakes and live recordings. Hinton finds this reissue "more satisfying" than the original album, particularly highlighting the live performances in Aberdeen as "possessing a snap and crackle" lacking on the studio recordings. He also lists the Royal Albert Hall performance of "I'm Your Toy" as "pull[ing] dimensions out of Costello's voice barely hinted at in the studio version: urgency, passion and danger." Almost Blue was again reissued by Rhino Records on 3August 2004 as a two-disc set with additional bonus tracks. The album was later remastered and reissued by UMe on 6November 2015. Track listing Side one "Why Don't You Love Me (Like You Used to Do)?" (Hank Williams) – 1:40 "Sweet Dreams" (Don Gibson) – 3:00 "Success" (Johnny Mullins) – 2:41 "I'm Your Toy" (Gram Parsons, Chris Ethridge) – 3:23 "Tonight the Bottle Let Me Down" (Merle Haggard) – 2:09 "Brown to Blue" (George Jones, Virginia Franks, "Country" Johnny Mathis) – 2:40 Side two "Good Year for the Roses" (Jerry Chesnut) – 3:10 "Sittin' and Thinkin" (Charlie Rich) – 3:02 "Color of the Blues" (Lawton Williams, George Jones) – 2:21 "Too Far Gone" (Billy Sherrill) – 3:28 "Honey Hush" (Lou Willie Turner) – 2:15 "How Much I've Lied" (Parsons, Pam Rifkin) — 2:55 Note: "I'm Your Toy" was originally recorded by the Flying Burrito Brothers as "Hot Burrito No. 1" (on their 1969 album The Gilded Palace of Sin). Personnel According to the LP liner notes: Elvis Costello – vocals, guitar Steve Nieve – piano, organ Bruce Thomas – bass Pete Thomas – drums Additional personnel John McFee – lead guitar, pedal steel guitar Tommy Millar – violin Nashville Edition – backing vocals Technical Billy Sherrill – producer Ron "Snake" Reynolds – engineer "Fast" Eddie Hudson – assistant engineer Keith Morris – photography Charts Weekly charts Certifications Notes References Sources External links 1981 albums Albums produced by Billy Sherrill Columbia Records albums Elvis Costello albums F-Beat Records albums Hip-O Records albums