The Coward Brothers is a collaborative album by English musician Elvis Costello and American musician T Bone Burnett, released on 21 November 2024 through New West Records. It serves as the soundtrack to the duo's audio comedy (described as a "wireless drama" by Costello), entitled "The True Story of the Coward Brothers". Its plot sees Costello and Burnett, as Howard and Henry Coward, respectively, playing "a trans-Atlantic pair of con men who may or may not be blood relatives."
Background.
Costello and Burnett have a history of collaboration, dating back to the 1985 single "The People's Limousine", the first release to be credited to "The Coward Brothers". The Coward Brothers were also the credited producers of Costello's 1987 single "Blue Chair". Without using the "Coward Brothers" identity, Costello and Burnett also collaborated on the production of Costello's albums "King of America" (1986) and "Spike" (1989), and Burnett has produced Costello's albums "Secret, Profane & Sugarcane" (2009) and "National Ransom" (2010), as well as producing work by The New Basement Tapes which featured Costello as a member. Costello has also contributed to Burnett's albums as a co-songwriter of selected tracks.
The album was released in tandem with the radio play "The True Story of the Coward Brothers" on Audible. In addition to Burnett and Costello, the play features Christopher Guest, Rhea Seehorn, and Harry Shearer, among others.
Track listing.
Note: Writing credits refer to Burnett and Costello by their character names (Henry and Howard Coward, respectively). Christopher Guest is credited as "Christopher Guest-Coward".
Personnel.
Adapted from the album's liner notes: