Steal This Book, er, Box Set!

Elvis Costello goes out on a limb (of marketing panache).

By Fred "Abbie" Hoffman

Somewhere at this very moment an enterprising Elvis Costello fan is prepping a cache of FLAC files for upload.

RollingStone.com reports that with Costello's mega-expensive ($203.00), limited edition (just 1500 copies) The Return of the Spectacular Spinning Songbook  set to drop via Hip-O on Dec. 6, Costello himself is suggesting to fans that instead of buying that collection they opt, instead, for the less pricier - and in Costello's words, "vastly superior" - Louis Armstrong box Ambassador of Jazz. In a blog post at ElvisCostello.com, the musician, writing as "The Right Reverend Jimmy Quickly," bemoans the high ticket price "as either a misprint or a satire."

"If you should really want to buy something special for your loved one at this time of seasonal giving," writes Costello, "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. The box should be available for under one hundred and fifty American dollars and includes a number of other tricks and treats. Frankly, the music is vastly superior."

Rolling Stone notes that Costello "isn't the first artist to advocate illegal downloads of his music. Artists like System of a Down and Kid Rock have publicly encouraged piracy of their music over settling for pricey distribution routes, but Costello's move has surfaced as an unexpected and deliberate snub to his label. Many have said, though, that the move has become a sort of reverse-psychology promotion for the set in spite of the singer's dismissal."

Decide for yourself. At any rate, word has it that some or all of the parts of the Costello box are slated to be released separately next year. Meanwhile, though, The Return of the Spectacular Spinning Songbook [Super Deluxe Edition] [1 CD + 1 DVD + 10" Vinyl EP] is up for pre-order at Amazon.com. Gift wrap is available.