Professional ratings
Aggregate scores
Source	Rating
Metacritic	71/100
Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic
Blender
Entertainment Weekly	B+
The Guardian
Los Angeles Times
Mojo
Pitchfork Media	6.8/10
Q
Rolling Stone
Uncut

The Delivery Man is the 21st studio album by Elvis Costello, released on Lost Highway Records, B0002593-02. It was recorded with the Imposters at Sweet Tea Studio in Oxford, Mississippi. It peaked at No. 40 on the Billboard 200.

The album had its genesis in a conceptual story apparently written for Johnny Cash. Costello himself states:

The album features guest vocals by Lucinda Williams and Emmylou Harris. "Monkey to Man" derived from a 1950s rhythm and blues hit "The Monkey" by Dave Bartholomew, and a song written by Costello and his then-wife Cait O'Riordan, "The Judgement," had been previously recorded by Solomon Burke on his 2002 release Don't Give Up on Me. The vinyl and United Kingdom compact disc pressings of the album included an additional track, "She's Pulling Out the Pin." The album was issued the same day as Il Sogno.

Shortly after its release, Lost Highway issued a deluxe edition of the album, including a bonus disc containing seven tracks from the Clarksdale Sessions ten-inch vinyl record, a collection of songs recorded live at Delta Recording in Clarksdale, Mississippi. The Clarksdale Sessions, subtitled "Delivery Man Companion," contained new versions of tracks from the proper album as well as an unreleased Costello original "In Another Room," and covers of the Bartholomew original "The Monkey" and "Dark End of the Street." Tom Waits has named it one of his favourite albums.

All tracks written by Elvis Costello unless otherwise indicated.

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Wikipedia