As an encapsulation of the most vital period in Elvis Costello's career, THE FIRST TEN YEARS portrays of a rule-breaker who nevertheless had a deep respect for his musical roots. Even as he was defining New Wave in the late 1970s with "Watching the Detectives", "Pump it Up", and "Radio, Radio", Elvis was paying homage to the Byrds on "(The Angels Wanna Wear My) Red Shoes" and copping Spinners riffs on "Alison".