After a career full of colorful collaborators -- including Burt Bacharach, Paul McCartney, and Anne Sofie von Otter -- Elvis Costello goes it alone on When I Was Cruel. But his latest solo turn, it seems, was not Costello's decision. EW has obtained documents and demo tapes indicating that several unlikely partners-in-rhyme spent time in the studio with Costello, but ultimately opted to spike their dubious duets. Take a look at the following list of coulda-been contenders:
-- Thugged-out rappers NAS, NOREAGA, and MOBB DEEP on the street-savvy, bling-bling-bragging Punch the Glock
-- Tubby Italian tenor LUCIANO PAVAROTTI for a ''classical pop opera'' tentatively titled Blood & Chocolate & Sauteed Lamb in a Heavy Butter Sauce
-- Wheel-turner VANNA WHITE, who was to make a surprisingly funky cameo on the R&B-heavy Sajak Variety
-- AFROMAN and the Roots' ?UESTLOVE, as part of a guitar-picking ensemble album, Get Nappy!!
-- Tush-touting ''Dazzey Duks'' blasters DUICE, on the bass-heavy, Jeep-friendly All This Useless Booty
-- A one-off, star-studded charity single -- featuring EMINEM, LUTHER CAMPBELL, and a spirited spoken-word introduction by the OSBOURNES -- dubbed ''Sh**building''
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