Kojak Variety

This 1995 collection of covers proves two things: Costello can take on just about any genre, and he never makes obvious choices. The gleeful false start to a hot, rollicking version of Screamin’ Jay Hawkins’ “Strange” and his throat-shredding take on Little Richard’s “Bama Lama Bama Loo” show what a fine time he’s having. But he brings gravitas and a real sense of hurt to Bob Dylan’s “I Threw It All Away” and adds a few layers of melancholy to The Kinks’ nostalgic ballad “Days.”