2½ Years

2+1⁄2 Years
2+1⁄2 Years
Box set by Elvis Costello
Released	12 October 1993
Recorded	1977–1979
Genres	Punk rock, pub rock, new wave
Length	173:13
Label	Demon/Rykodisc
Producers	Elvis Costello, Nick Lowe
Elvis Costello chronology

Professional ratings
Review scores
Source	Rating
Allmusic	^[1]
NME	8/10^[2]

2+1⁄2 Years is a box set by English musician Elvis Costello, released in 1993. It contained the expanded edition of Costello's first three albums (My Aim Is True, This Year's Model, and Armed Forces) plus an official release of the often bootlegged Live at the El Mocambo album.^[3]

The Costello reissues (1993–1995) of Rykodisc (US) and Demon Records (UK and Europe) would ultimately 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 (for the rest of the world) plus a reissue of the G.B.H. soundtrack, the Live at the El Mocambo album and greatest hits collection The Very Best of Elvis Costello and The Attractions 1977–86.

In 2001, Rhino Records would launch another Costello reissue program, taking a different approach than Rykodisc and Demon (see Elvis Costello main page). In 2007, Costello's 1977–86 catalogue was re-released by Hip-O Records, the reissue division of Costello's then current label, Universal Music.

Track listing

All tracks are written by Elvis Costello, unless otherwise indicated.

Disc one, *My Aim is True*
No.	Title	Length
1.	"Welcome to the Working Week"	1:22
2.	"Miracle Man"	3:28
3.	"No Dancing"	2:37
4.	"Blame It on Cain"	2:48
5.	"Alison"	3:21
6.	"Sneaky Feelings"	2:08
7.	"(The Angels Wanna Wear My) Red Shoes"	2:32
8.	"Less than Zero"	3:11
9.	"Mystery Dance"	1:35
10.	"Pay It Back"	2:32
11.	"I'm Not Angry"	2:57
12.	"Waiting for the End of the World"	3:22
13.	"Watching the Detectives"	3:45
14.	"Radio Sweetheart"	2:25
15.	"Stranger in the House"	3:01
16.	"Imagination (Is A Powerful Deceiver)"	3:38
17.	"Mystery Dance"	2:13
18.	"Cheap Reward"	2:15
19.	"Jump Up"	2:06
20.	"Wave a White Flag"	1:53
21.	"Blame it on Cain"	3:30
22.	"Poison Moon"	1:53

Disc two, *This Year's Model*
No.	Title	Length
1.	"No Action"	1:58
2.	"This Year's Girl"	3:17
3.	"The Beat"	3:45
4.	"Pump It Up"	3:14
5.	"Little Triggers"	2:40
6.	"You Belong to Me"	2:22
7.	"Hand in Hand"	2:33
8.	"(I Don't Want to Go to) Chelsea"	3:07
9.	"Lip Service"	2:36
10.	"Living in Paradise"	3:52
11.	"Lipstick Vogue"	3:29
12.	"Night Rally"	2:41
13.	"Radio Radio"	3:05
14.	"Big Tears" (Guitar – Mick Jones)	3:09
15.	"Crawling to the USA"	2:53
16.	"Running Out of Angels" (Demo)	2:02
17.	"Greenshirt" (Early version of "Green Shirt")	2:20
18.	"Big Boys" (Demo)	3:00
Total length:		52:03

Disc three, *Armed Forces*
No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
1.	"Accidents Will Happen"		3:00
2.	"Senior Service"		2:17
3.	"Oliver's Army"		2:58
4.	"Big Boys"		2:54
5.	"Green Shirt"		2:42
6.	"Party Girl"		3:20
7.	"Goon Squad"		3:14
8.	"Busy Bodies"		3:33
9.	"Sunday's Best"		3:22
10.	"Moods for Moderns"		2:48
11.	"Chemistry Class"		2:55
12.	"Two Little Hitlers"		3:18
13.	"(What's So Funny 'Bout) Peace, Love and Understanding?"	Nick Lowe	3:34
14.	"My Funny Valentine" (B-side to "Oliver's Army")	Rodgers and Hart	1:28
15.	"Tiny Steps"		2:42
16.	"Clean Money"		1:57
17.	"Talking in the Dark"		1:56
18.	"Wednesday Week"		2:01
19.	"Accidents Will Happen" (Live)		3:23
20.	"Alison" (Live)		3:06
21.	"Watching the Detectives" (Live)		6:08
Total length:			66:20

Disc four, *Live at the El Mocambo*
No.	Title	Length
1.	"Mystery Dance"	2:19
2.	"Waiting for the End of the World"	3:52
3.	"Welcome to the Working Week"	1:19
4.	"Less Than Zero"	4:08
5.	"The Beat"	3:33
6.	"Lip Service"	2:26
7.	"(I Don't Want to Go to) Chelsea"	3:56
8.	"Little Triggers"	2:47
9.	"Radio Radio"	2:33
10.	"Lipstick Vogue"	4:46
11.	"Watching the Detectives"	5:48
12.	"Miracle Man/Band Introduction"	4:07
13.	"You Belong to Me"	2:32
14.	"Pump It Up"	4:42
Total length:		48:48

Charts

Chart performance for *2½ Years*
Chart (1993)	Peak position
Australian Albums (ARIA)^[4]	193

References

↑ 2½ Years at AllMusic
↑ Staunton, Terry (30 October 1993). "Long Play: Playing with the Full Declan". New Musical Express. p. 31.
↑ Hilburn, Robert (19 December 1993). "Look Before Leaping at Expensive CD Sets". The Daily Gazette.
↑ "Elvis Costello ARIA Chart History (1988-2024)". ARIA. Retrieved 2 February 2025 – via Imgur.com. N.B. The High Point number in the NAT column represents the release's peak on the national chart.

[1] 2½ Years at AllMusic

[2] Staunton, Terry (30 October 1993). "Long Play: Playing with the Full Declan". New Musical Express. p. 31.

[3] Hilburn, Robert (19 December 1993). "Look Before Leaping at Expensive CD Sets". The Daily Gazette.

[ARIA_chart-4] "Elvis Costello ARIA Chart History (1988-2024)". ARIA. Retrieved 2 February 2025 – via Imgur.com. N.B. The High Point number in the NAT column represents the release's peak on the national chart.

[1]

[2]

[3]

[4]

Elvis Costello
Discography Songs The Imposters: Steve Nieve Pete Thomas Davey Faragher The Attractions: Steve Nieve Pete Thomas Bruce Thomas
Studio albums	My Aim Is True This Year's Model Armed Forces Get Happy!! Trust Almost Blue Imperial Bedroom Punch the Clock Goodbye Cruel World King of America Blood & Chocolate Spike Mighty Like a Rose The Juliet Letters Brutal Youth Kojak Variety All This Useless Beauty Painted from Memory When I Was Cruel North Il Sogno The Delivery Man The River in Reverse Momofuku Secret, Profane & Sugarcane National Ransom Wise Up Ghost Look Now Hey Clockface The Boy Named If
Live albums	Live at the El Mocambo Deep Dead Blue Costello & Nieve My Flame Burns Blue Live at Hollywood High
Compilations	Taking Liberties Ten Bloody Marys & Ten How's Your Fathers The Best of Elvis Costello – The Man The Best of Elvis Costello and the Attractions Out of Our Idiot Girls Girls Girls 2½ Years The Very Best of Elvis Costello and The Attractions 1977–86 Extreme Honey The Very Best of Elvis Costello Cruel Smile The Best of Elvis Costello: The First 10 Years The Songs of Bacharach & Costello
Singles	"Less Than Zero" "Alison" "(The Angels Wanna Wear My) Red Shoes" "Watching the Detectives" "(I Don't Want to Go to) Chelsea" "Pump It Up" "This Year's Girl" "Radio Radio" "(What's So Funny 'Bout) Peace, Love, and Understanding" "Oliver's Army" "Accidents Will Happen" "I Can't Stand Up for Falling Down" "High Fidelity" "New Amsterdam" "Clubland" "From a Whisper to a Scream" "Watch Your Step" "A Good Year for the Roses" "Sweet Dreams" "You Little Fool" "Man Out of Time" "Pills and Soap" "Everyday I Write the Book" "The Only Flame in Town" "Green Shirt" "Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood" "I Want You" "Blue Chair" "Veronica" "The Other Side of Summer" "Sulky Girl" "13 Steps Lead Down" "London's Brilliant Parade" "The Other End of the Telescope" "You Bowed Down" "She" "45" "Brilliant Mistake" "Complicated Shadows"
Other songs	"Welcome to the Working Week" "Lipstick Vogue" "Senior Service" "Stranger in the House" "Girls Talk" "Riot Act" "New Lace Sleeves" "Beyond Belief" "Almost Blue" "Shipbuilding" "Indoor Fireworks" "Jack of All Parades" "Suit of Lights" "I Hope You're Happy Now" "Next Time Round"
Collaborations	Terror & Magnificence The Sweetest Punch For the Stars Lost on the River: The New Basement Tapes The Resurrection of Rust The Coward Brothers
Scores	G.B.H. Jake's Progress A Face in the Crowd
Other works / related articles	Unfaithful Music & Disappearing Ink Live Stiffs Live Now Ain't the Time for Your Tears Bespoke Songs, Lost Dogs, Detours & Rendezvous