2 1/2 Years

Infobox Album
Name = 2½ Years
Type = Box set
Artist = Elvis Costello


Released = October 12 1993
Recorded = 1977-1979
Genre = Rock
Length = 173:13
Label = Demon/Rykodisc
Producer = Elvis Costello, Nick Lowe
Reviews = *Allmusic rating|4.5|5 [http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:kbd0yl78xp9b link]
Last album = "The Juliet Letters" (1993)
This album = "2½ Years" (1993)
Next album = "Live at the El Mocambo" (1993)

"2½ Years" is a 1993 box set by Elvis Costello. The Rykodisc Costello reissues (1993-1995) was ultimately to include his eleven studio albums (each with bonus tracks) released from 1977 to 1991 on Columbia (in the US) and Stiff Records, Radar Records, F-Beat Records and Demon Records (in the UK) plus a reissue of the G.B.H. soundtrack, the Live at the El Mocambo album and The Very Best of Elvis Costello and The Attractions 1977-86, a greatest hits collection.

This career-spanning reissue series was the second of its kind by Rykodisc, which had just finished up the David Bowie catalog. In 2001, Rhino Records would launch another Costello reissue program, taking a different approach than Rykodisc (see Elvis Costello main page).

"2½ Years" contained the first three albums (expanded) plus an official release of the often bootlegged Live at the El Mocambo.

In the UK, The Rykodisc reissues were released under the imprint of Demon Records.

Track listing

All songs written by Elvis Costello unless otherwise indicated.

Disc One (My Aim Is True)

# "Welcome to the Working Week" – 1:22
# "Miracle Man" – 3:31
# "No Dancing" – 2:39
# "Blame It on Cain" – 2:49
# "Alison" – 3:21
# "Sneaky Feelings" – 2:09
# "(The Angels Wanna Wear My) Red Shoes" – 2:47
# "Less Than Zero" – 3:15
# "Mystery Dance" – 1:38
# "Pay It Back" – 2:33
# "I'm Not Angry" – 2:57
# "Waiting for the End of the World" – 3:22
# "Watching the Detectives" – 3:45
# "Radio Sweetheart" – 2:25
# "Stranger in the House" – 3:01
# "Imagination Is a Powerful Deceiver" – 3:38
# "Mystery Dance" – 2:13
# "Cheap Reward" – 2:15
# "Jump Up" – 2:06
# "Wave a White Flag" – 1:53
# "Blame It on Cain" – 3:30
# "Poison Moon" – 1:53

Disc Two (This Year's Model)

# "No Action" – 1:58
# "This Year's Girl" – 3:17
# "The Beat" – 3:45
# "Pump It Up" – 3:14
# "Little Triggers" – 2:40
# "You Belong to Me" – 2:22
# "Hand in Hand" – 2:33
# "(I Don't Want to Go to) Chelsea" – 3:07
# "Lip Service" – 2:36
# "Living in Paradise" – 3:52
# "Lipstick Vogue" – 3:29
# "Night Rally" – 2:41
# "Radio, Radio" – 3:05
# "Big Tears" – 3:09
# "Crawling to the USA" – 2:53
# "Running Out of Angels" – 2:02
# "Green Shirt" – 2:20
# "Big Boys" – 3:00

Disc Three (Armed Forces)

# "Accidents Will Happen" – 3:00
# "Senior Service" – 2:17
# "Oliver's Army" – 2:58
# "Big Boys" – 2:54
# "Green Shirt" – 2:42
# "Party Girl" – 3:20
# "Goon Squad" – 3:14
# "Busy Bodies" – 3:33
# "Sunday's Best" – 3:22
# "Moods for Moderns" – 2:48
# "Chemistry Class" – 2:55
# "Two Little Hitlers" – 3:10
# "(What's So Funny 'Bout) Peace, Love and Understanding? (Nick Lowe) – 3:31
# "My Funny Valentine (Richard Rodgers, Lorenz Hart), Rodgers – 1:28
# "Tiny Steps" – 2:42
# "Clean Money" – 1:57
# "Talking in the Dark" – 1:56
# "Wednesday Week" – 2:01
# "Accidents Will Happen" (Live) – 3:06
# "Alison" (Live) – 3:06
# "Watching the Detectives" (Live) – 6:08

=Disc Four (Live at the El Mocambo)=

# "Mystery Dance" (Live) – 2:19
# "Waiting for the End of the World" (Live) – 3:52
# "Welcome to the Working Week" (Live) – 1:19
# "Less Than Zero" (Live) – 4:08
# "The Beat" (Live) – 3:33
# "Lip Service" (Live) – 2:26
# "(I Don't Want to Go to) Chelsea " (Live) – 3:56
# "Little Triggers" (Live) – 2:47
# "Radio, Radio" (Live) – 2:33
# "Lipstick Vogue" (Live) – 4:46
# "Watching the Detectives" (Live) – 5:48
# "Miracle Man/Band Introduction" (Live) – 4:07
# "You Belong to Me" (Live) – 2:32
# "Pump It Up" (Live) – 4:42