Elvis Costello - Secret, Profane & Sugarcane (2009)
Tracklist front / back album art covers
🌾 Elvis Costello – Secret, Profane & Sugarcane (2009)
Release Date: June 2, 2009
Label: Hear Music
Genre: Americana, Bluegrass, Folk
Length: 44:13
Producer: T Bone Burnett
🎵 Secret, Profane & Sugarcane is the twenty-fourth studio album by Elvis Costello. The album dives deep into Americana, bluegrass, and traditional folk, featuring acoustic instrumentation and storytelling that echoes classic American roots music.
Produced by legendary producer T Bone Burnett, the album features an impressive lineup of roots and bluegrass musicians, creating a warm, organic sound built around acoustic guitars, fiddles, mandolins, and upright bass.
📝 Tracklist
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“Down Among the Wines and Spirits”
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“Complicated Shadows”
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“I Felt the Chill”
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“My All Time Doll”
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“Hidden Shame”
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“She Handed Me a Mirror”
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“I Dreamed of My Old Lover”
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“How Deep Is the Red”
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“The Crooked Line”
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“Changing Partners”
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“Sulphur to Sugarcane”
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“Red Cotton”
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“The Spell That You Cast”
🎤 Album Credits
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Elvis Costello – Vocals, Acoustic Guitar
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Jim Lauderdale – Harmony Vocals
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Stuart Duncan – Fiddle
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Jerry Douglas – Dobro
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Mike Compton – Mandolin
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T Bone Burnett – Producer
🎶 The record features a traditional bluegrass-style ensemble, recorded with minimal studio effects to preserve a natural acoustic feel.
🌟 Most Popular Tracks
Several tracks became highlights among fans and critics:
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“Complicated Shadows” – One of the album’s most praised songs, with clever storytelling.
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“Sulphur to Sugarcane” – A playful, rhythmic roots track.
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“Down Among the Wines and Spirits” – Strong opening track with classic Americana vibe.
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“The Crooked Line” – Melodic acoustic storytelling.
💰 Commercial Performance & Legacy
💿 Secret, Profane & Sugarcane performed well among roots and Americana audiences:
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Debuted inside the Top 20 on the US Billboard 200
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Praised for its authentic bluegrass sound and strong songwriting
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Helped introduce Costello to Americana and folk festival audiences
Critics appreciated the album’s balance of humor, melancholy, and classic storytelling, hallmarks of Costello’s songwriting.
🎉 Fun Facts
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The album was recorded in just three days, capturing a spontaneous live-session atmosphere.
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Many of the musicians on the album are Grammy-winning bluegrass performers.
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Costello had written several songs years earlier, finally finding the right setting for them in this acoustic project.
🕵️ Trivia
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The collaboration between Costello and T Bone Burnett had been discussed for years before finally happening with this album.
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The album title reflects themes of love, temptation, and human contradictions.
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Critics compared the record’s style to classic Nashville and Appalachian folk traditions.
🤔 Did You Know?
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Elvis Costello’s real name is Declan Patrick MacManus.
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Costello had long admired American roots music, which inspired the bluegrass direction of this album.
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The project later led to more collaborations between Costello and Americana musicians and producers.
Elvis Costello Full Discography
Download Elvis Costello albums from Amazon Music
More Albums:
Elvis Costello - My Aim Is True (1977)
Elvis Costello - This Year's Model (1978)
Elvis Costello - Armed Forces (1979)
Elvis Costello - Get Happy!! (1980)
Elvis Costello - Imperial Bedroom (1982)
Elvis Costello - Goodbye Cruel World (1984)
Elvis Costello - Blood & Chocolate (1986)
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