The River in Reverse

The River in Reverse is a collaboration album by Elvis Costello and Allen Toussaint, released in 2006. It received a Grammy nomination for Best Pop Vocal Album.

The River in Reverse
Studio album by Elvis Costello and Allen Toussaint
Released	6 June 2006
Recorded	27 November – 10 December 2005
Genre	R&B jazz soul
Length	53:01
Label	Verve Forecast
Producer	Joe Henry
Elvis Costello chronology
My Flame Burns Blue (2006) The River in Reverse (2006) Momofuku (2008)
Allen Toussaint chronology
I Believe to My Soul (2005) The River in Reverse (2006) The Bright Mississippi (2009)

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic	link
Being There	link
Music Box	link
Pitchfork	6.1/10 link
Rolling Stone	link

Track listing

All songs written by Allen Toussaint unless otherwise indicated.

1. "On Your Way Down" – 4:54
2. "Nearer to You" – 3:32
3. "Tears, Tears and More Tears" – 3:30
4. "The Sharpest Thorn" (Elvis Costello, Toussaint) – 4:16
5. "Who’s Gonna Help Brother Get Further?" – 5:04
6. "The River in Reverse" (Costello) – 4:32
7. "Freedom for the Stallion" – 2:58
8. "Broken Promise Land" (Costello, Toussaint) – 4:34
9. "Ascension Day" (Roy "Professor Longhair" Byrd, Costello, Toussaint) – 2:57
10. "International Echo" (Costello, Toussaint) – 4:58
11. "All These Things" – 4:07
12. "Wonder Woman" – 3:08
13. "Six-Fingered Man" (Costello, Toussaint) – 4:31
14. "The Greatest Love" – 3:47 (Japanese CD bonus track)
15. "Where Is the Love" (Costello, Toussaint) – 3:54 (iTunes bonus track)

Personnel

• Elvis Costello – acoustic and electric guitars, Hammond organ, tambourine, vocals, tremolo
• Allen Toussaint – electric piano, vocals and backing vocals, horn arrangements
• Sam Williams – trombone
• Carl Blouin – baritone saxophone
• Amadee Castenell – soprano saxophone, tenor saxophone
• Brian Cayolle – baritone saxophone
• Anthony "AB" Brown – guitar
• Davey Faragher – bass guitar, backing vocals
• Steve Nieve – piano, Hammond organ, clavinet, farfisa organ
• Pete Thomas – drums, percussion
• Joe Henry – producer

Charts

Chart (2006)	Peak position
Australian Albums (ARIA)[1]	111
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Flanders)[2]	15
Dutch Albums (Album Top 100)[3]	61
Italian Albums (FIMI)[4]	96
Norwegian Albums (VG-lista)[5]	31
Swedish Albums (Sverigetopplistan)[6]	40
UK Albums (OCC)[7]	98
US Billboard 200[8]	103
US Top Jazz Albums (Billboard)[9]	2

References

1. "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.
2. "Ultratop.be – Elvis Costello & Allen Toussaint – The River in Reverse" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved 8 September 2020.
3. "Dutchcharts.nl – Elvis Costello & Allen Toussaint – The River in Reverse" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved 8 September 2020.
4. "Italiancharts.com – Elvis Costello & Allen Toussaint – The River in Reverse". Hung Medien. Retrieved 8 September 2020.
5. "Norwegiancharts.com – Elvis Costello & Allen Toussaint – The River in Reverse". Hung Medien. Retrieved 8 September 2020.
6. "Swedishcharts.com – Elvis Costello & Allen Toussaint – The River in Reverse". Hung Medien. Retrieved 8 September 2020.
7. "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 8 September 2020.
8. "Elvis Costello Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved 8 September 2020.
9. "Elvis Costello Chart History (Top Jazz Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved 8 September 2020.

External links

• The River in Reverse at Discogs (list of releases)