Costello maniacs will already own the bulk of this record [Taking Liberties]; for the rest, this is almost entirely first-run….

If you've followed Costello, you pretty much know this album already. Suffice to say, this is prime stuff—as good as any of his preplanned albums, and certainly more consistent than Get Happy!!'s 20 maybes. Far from being basement tapes or a "History of," Taking Liberties provides further proof (if any were needed) of Costello's talent. Get it!

Ira Robbins, "Album Reviews: 'Taking Liberties'," in Trouser Press (copyright © 1980 by Trans-Oceanic Trouser Press, Inc.), Vol. 7, No. 10, November, 1980, p. 42.