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The True Story of The Coward Brothers

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The True Story of The Coward Brothers

Written by: Elvis Costello
Narrated by: T Bone Burnett, Elvis Costello, Rhea Seehorn, Edward Hibbert, Stephen Root, Kathreen Khavari
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About this listen

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 to 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 reveal 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.

"A music mockumentary for the ages

Music obsessives and comedy fanatics will both find something to love in The True Story of the Coward Brothers, a wholly original audio mockumentary written by new-wave legend Elvis Costello and starring Costello and fellow music icon T Bone Burnett as the titular brothers. A rocking, rollicking listen, The True Story of the Coward Brothers opens on a dispatch from Your Name Here, a radio show hosted by Sterling Lockhart (an exquisitely stoic Harry Shearer), as Henry and Howard Coward regale listeners with the inside story of how their merciless band manager swindled their fortune and ruined their shot at fame. Madcap storytelling and catchy, brilliantly produced mock-pop earworms abound. And the cherry on top? This gem is directed by Christopher Guest, the filmmaker hailed for mockumentaries such as Best in Show and This Is Spinal Tap." —Alanna M.

©2024 T Bone Burnett and Elvis Costello (P)2024 Audible Originals, LLC.
Comedy & Humor Music Witty Heartfelt
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What listeners say about The True Story of The Coward Brothers

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highly recommend

I am so grateful to have heard this story. Life as it is really experienced, with love, dedication, betrayal, heartbreak and Truth. Rock On to all the members of cast and crew. Thank-you for the intimate look at two souls who put themselves out there and gave their tremendous talents. My heart hears you.

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Fantastic

All voices are very easy to listen to, the story is amusing, and the music is great - wish it was WAY longer

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Sound Quality

Fun and brief. Good entertainment. Music was very listenable and comedy really worked well. Good job!

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    2 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars
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    1 out of 5 stars

Painfully boring

In a desperate effort to be funny, this outdated, camp radio drama is stuffed with lazy cliches, heavy-handed puns, and predictable storylines. The overwrought voice acting doesn’t help, nor do the occasional sprinklings of misogyny.
In episode two some of the dialogue is, thankfully, interrupted by increasingly long musical interludes, but they fail to safe the day.
I’m throwing the towel. One of the very rare occasions I won’t finish an audiobook.

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