Elvis Costello Drops Unreleased Version of 'I Turn Around' From 49th Anniversary Box Set

Elvis Costello is digging deep into his vaults and giving fans a rare peek at his early creative process. The veteran rocker has officially released a previously unheard original version of his track "I Turn Around," offering a fresh perspective on his foundational era. The newly surfaced cut is part of a massive new reissue celebrating his iconic 1977 debut record, *My Aim Is True*. But rather than waiting for the standard golden milestone, the singer-songwriter decided to unleash the collection a year ahead of schedule for a very specific reason.

Most legacy artists patiently wait five decades before rolling out giant retrospective box sets. Costello, however, has never been one to follow standard industry rules. When discussing the timeline for the project, he revealed that waiting around for a 50th anniversary felt completely preposterous to him. According to the musician, the mere concept of waiting for the half-century mark actually made his "teeth itch." Rather than suffering through another year of anticipation, he opted to celebrate the 49-year milestone instead, bringing decades of vault tracks out into the light. The resulting five-CD box set is an absolute goldmine for diehard listeners. It features a staggering total of 104 tracks, giving an exhaustive look at the era that launched his legendary career.

The highlight of the new collection is just how much unheard material it contains. Out of the 104 tracks included in the package, a total of 52 songs are previously unreleased, offering hours of fresh audio for music historians and casual listeners alike. Before rolling out the original version of "I Turn Around," Costello teased the expanded album by sharing several alternate renditions of his classic 1977 breakout single, "Watching The Detectives." The newly unveiled track gives yet another glimpse into the alternate takes and raw recordings that shaped his debut LP. With dozens of unreleased gems still waiting in the set, the project stands as one of the most comprehensive archival deep dives of Costello's storied discography.

“ Costello teased the expanded album by sharing several alternate renditions of his classic 1977 breakout single, ”