National Ransom is the latest Elvis Costello gem, recorded in a total of eleven days at Sound Emporium, Nashville and Village Recorders, Los Angeles and was produced by T Bone Burnett and engineered and mixed by Michael Piersante at Electromagetic, Los Angeles.

All of these songs are newly composed by Costello with the exception of "I Lost You," co-written with Jim Lauderdale and "All These Strangers," for which Costello and T Bone Burnett collaborated on the lyrics. Costello and Burnett also provide the lyrics for "My Lovely Jezebel," a Leon Russell rock and roll tune. All members of the Imposters and Sugarcanes appear on the CD along with guests Vince Gill, Marc Ribot, Buddy Miller and Leon Russell.

1. National Ransom - 4:05

2. Jimmie Standing In The Rain - 4:15

3. Stations Of The Cross - 4:58

4. A Slow Drag With Josephine - 2:43

5. Five Small Words - 4:45

6. Church Underground - 5:02

7. You Hung The Moon - 3:55

8. Bullets For The New-Born King - 3:35

9. I Lost You - 2:56

10. Dr. Watson, I Presume - 3:41

11. One Bell Ringing - 3:37

12. The Spell That You Cast - 2:32

13. That's Not The Part Of Him You're Leaving - 4:43

14. My Lovely Jezebel - 2:31

15. All Those Strangers - 5:55

16. A Voice In The Dark - 3:34