Goldmine, 1995-09-01
by Carlo Wolff

    Like David Bowie's "Pinups" and Annie Lennox's "Medusa", "Kojak Variety"
is a collection of cover tunes, most of them obscure. They span a Screamin' Jay
Hawkins novelty (that's an original twist) called "Strange"; Howlin' Wolf"s
"Hidden Charms", done all jazzy with nifty brushwork by Attractions drummer
Pete Thomas; a surprisingly raucous, faithful take on Little Richard's "Bama
Lama Bama Loo"; and a rhythm 'n' blues recasting of the Louvin Brothers'
country ballad, "Must You Throw Dirt In My Face." 
    Gorgeously produced by Costello and longtime associate Kevin Killen, "Kojak"
is clearly a holding action designed to relieve Costello of coming up with
new material as strong as that on 1994's "Brutal Youth". Originally set for
a 1991 release, it features such Costello stalwarts as guitarists James
Burton (he's supernaturally funky on Little Willie John's "Leave My Kitten 
Alone," which also was recorded by the Beatles) and Marc Ribot (he goes 
wonderfully "outside" on such tunes as the Hawkins track and Randy Newman's 
"I've Been Wrong Before").
    The tunes are not a reclamation project or a vanity affair. On the
contrary, they're original renditions of songs that Costello would clearly 
like to assert as critical to the modern canon. Check out how Jerry Scheff's
keyboards lend a Procul Harum cast to "I Threw It All Away," a Dylan tune
that's usually given a wispy treatment. Listen to how Costello blackens Mose
Allison's classic blues, "Everybody's Crying Mercy," stepping razorlike over
Ribot's dainty, barbed guitar.
    The album suggests that Costello is coming ever more into his own as a
singer, whether it's the Dylan soundalike stylings of "Strange," the sweet
romanticism of the Newman song or the tender, burred stylings of Ray Davies'
"Days."
    This may not be a major part of the Costello canon, but it's suprisingly
unified and unfailingly intelligent. Consistantly listenable, its repertoire
refreshing and eclectic, "Kojak Variety" is a hell of a keeper for a throwaway.