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Costello’s stint with Warners started optimistically, with him being given close to a million dollars to make Spike, his
1989 debut for the label. Eight years later, however, the major had earmarked a paltry $1,000 promotional budget for a contract-fulfilling
compilation. His paymasters may have concluded that his albums had, in industry parlance, “underperformed”, though it’s interesting that the
record missing from this collection is – surprisingly, perhaps – one of the biggest sellers, the collaboration with The Brodsky Quartet on The
Juliet Letters.
Spike is a dizzying mishmash of styles, including Macca co-writes (Veronica), modern urban folk (Let Him Dangle, Tramp The Dirt Down) and eloquent balladry (Satellite, Baby Plays Around), though there’s arguably not enough focus to 1991’s overwrought Mighty Like A Rose. Costello reconnects with The Attractions and his angry beginnings on 1994’s aptly named Brutal Youth, sounding venomous and vitriolic on Kinder Murder, 13 Steps Lead Down and Sulky Girl.
The following year’s Kojak Variety, a set of covers recorded a few years previously with session men including Presley’s guitarist James Burton, leans towards the R&B of Costello’s childhood (Leave My Kitten Alone, Pouring Water On A Drowning Man) and benefits from a raucous “live” approach. 1986’s All This Useless Beauty flips the covers concept on its head, comprising songs Costello had originally written for other artists, such as Roger McGuinn (You Bowed Down) and Johnny Cash (Complicated Shadows).
Warners | 812297343 (5-CD)
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