The True Story of the Coward Brothers

by Elvis Costello (Narrator), T Bone Burnett (Narrator), Rhea Seehorn (Narrator)

IMPROBABLE AT FIRST!!!
PREPOSTEROUS TO THE LAST!!!
THESE ROCK AND ROLL CHARLATANS CONFOUND, CONFUSE
BUT ULTIMATELY CROON AND CHARM IN THE GREATEST STORY NEVER TOLD.

The True Story of The Coward Brothers follows two musical brothers – one English, one American, both the illegitimate sons of dubious parentage who may, as they claim, be "one and half-brothers" – perhaps a reference to the disparity in their height and relative talents.
In this satirical audio series directed by Christopher Guest (This Is Spinal Tap, Best in Show), Henry and Howard Coward are lightly grilled by radio host Sterling Lockhart (Harry Shearer; The Simpsons, Saturday Night Live) as they bitterly retrace the story of being duped out of their royalties and rightful place in pop history by their cutthroat manager who, among other things, persuaded them to fake their own deaths. Their sometimes poignant and heartrending story reveals an improbable love triangle involving their publisher's secretary, Phyliss Dandy (Rhea Seehorn; Better Call Saul, VEEP), as well as entertaining listeners with tales of their lost music, unsupportable claims of having written titles curiously adjacent to more famous songs, such as "A Lotta Money," "Tipsy Woman" and their failed attempt at Cold War topicality, "My Baby Just Whistles (Here Come the Missiles)."

This Audible Original features all-new music from The Coward Brothers and boasts an all-star cast which also includes Edward Hibbert (The Prestige, Earthworm Jim), Stephen Root (Barry, Office Space) and Kathreen Khavari (Avengers Assemble, Big Little Lies).

An epic tale of smash hits and broken dreams told in three acts, tune in, Dear Listener, to discover the inscrutable origins of the one and only: The Coward Brothers.

©2024 T Bone Burnett & Elvis Costello (P)2024 Audible Originals, LLC

Genres: Music, Fiction, Audiobook, Humor, Comedy

Audible Audio

Published November 21, 2024

About the author

Elvis Costello (born Declan Patrick MacManus) is an English musician and singer-songwriter of Irish descent. Costello came to prominence as an early participant in London's pub rock scene in the mid-1970s, and later became associated with the punk rock and New Wave musical genres, before establishing his own unique voice in the 1980s. Steeped in wordplay, the vocabulary of Costello's lyrics is broader than that of most popular songs, and his music has drawn on dozens of genres. Critic Stephen Thomas Erlewine wrote, "Costello, the pop encyclopedia, can reinvent the past in his own image".

Costello and Canadian jazz singer and pianist Diana Krall were married on December 6, 2003 at Elton John's estate outside London. Their first children together, twin sons Dexter Henry Lorcan and Frank Harlan James, were born December 6, 2006 in New York City.

Reviews

[Marvin · Rating 2 out of 5]

A self-indulgent mess that was written and performed by smart people -- but smart people who are far too convinced of their own genius.

Everyone involved surely had a great time working on this. But the 'story' they've concocted is fragmented, meandering and uninvolving; the characters hold no particular appeal; and while there are many songs, not a single one of them really takes hold. Yet at the same time, you can feel how much the performers think they're spinning gold from straw; this is an audio piece where even the smugness is audible. (And where the extremely mild laughs are few and far between.)

Were it not for the (limited) marquee values of the names involved, this would never have been picked up for distribution. And even fans of Elvis Costello, T-Bone Burnett, Christopher Guest or Harry Shearer will likely listen to this once, shrug, and return to listening to their other work.

Because this is really not very good at all.

[Nick H · Rating 3 out of 5]

Pleasant enough, but only sparsely funny. The mainly impressive thing is how many songs were created, though to be completely honest I only rarely found them clever or funny (or even to be good songs for more than a few bars). Either way though, an impressive project. [AUDIBLE]

たまに楽しい、後曲の数がすごい。けど曲はそんな面白くないと思った

[Ellen J. · Rating 3 out of 5]

While I love the music of Elvis Costello and T. Bone Burnett, I found the story was disjointed and rambling. There were times when snippets of songs were played and I was unable to decipher the lyrics regardless of how many times I replayed it. It fell short of expectations.

[Simon Sweetman · Rating 3 out of 5]

It only worked because of the genius involved from Costello and Burnett, paradoxically, it’s not the best showcase for their genius. But there’s enough talent, wry humour and charm to get this over the line. Just.

[Steve Crane · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's a strange little story but the performance and the sprinkling of music throughout is fun.

[Michael Conforti · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting read the book was about a band of two brothers that began with making hits but then fell apart.

[Tiffany Nicole · Rating 3 out of 5]

The story was ok but the music was great!

[Alexandria Carullo · Rating 1 out of 5]

I could hardly pay attention to the story. The songs were okay.

[Suzanne · Rating 2 out of 5]

Audible
19 dec 2024
Funny in parts …. There was probably a lot more I would have found funny …felt like you had to know a lot about music to get some of the humour?

[Steph Hall · Rating 3 out of 5]

A fun, quick and easy listen, some good music snippets from Elvis Costello. Not a patch on Spinal Tap, but would anything be?!

[Rhonda A. · Rating 2 out of 5]

Sorry, not for me.

[Marlo G · Rating 2 out of 5]

I gave it two stars for the kitschy music in the production but terrible story. Would not recommend.

[Ericka · Rating 2 out of 5]

Quick listen on audible! Glad it was included in my membership

[Rich Thornton · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Coward Brothers music and story is strange and awkward and funny. It’s well written and made me laugh and cringe, sometimes together.

[Amy Morris · Rating 2 out of 5]

Didn't get it. Not for me.

[Natalie Moore · Rating 1 out of 5]

I am not sure how this book wound up on my radar, but it’s terrible. I’m sure that they were trying to be funny but it really fell flat. Like nails on a chalkboard.

👎 👎 👎

Listened on Audible.

[Ronan Macewan · Rating 2 out of 5]

Very little wit, and what there is of it is served in quail proportions.

[Robbie Ferrero · Rating 3 out of 5]

The associated album is the best part... and honestly, one of Elvis Costello's best in recent years.

[Kristen Mirabal · Rating 2 out of 5]

Couldn't take the folksy narration and tapped out early.