In 1995, Elvis Costello followed the previous year’s Brutal Youth with his second album of covers. The first, 1981’s Almost Blue, was dedicated to country songs. Kojak Variety, on the other hand, was all over the map.
Costello recorded the album in Barbados, and introduced it like this in the original liner notes: “This is a record of some of my favourite songs performed with some of my favourite musicians.” And that pretty much sums up the laid-back vibe of the album. Its title comes from the name of a grocery store down the street from the recording studio in Barbados. It’s also the most memorable thing about the record.
OK, that’s not entirely fair. The truth is, I haven’t heard this album since the year it came out. I bought it at the time and gave it a few cursory listens before deciding I’d rather listen to Elvis Costello sing Elvis Costello songs. Sometime between now and then I sold the CD back so I’m pretty much flying blind.
A look at the tracklisting reveals some interesting choices, though. Songs by Randy Newman, Ray Davies and Burt Bacharach alongside tunes made popular by The Supremes, Little Richard and Screaming Jay Hawkins.
Today’s song is a lovely Bob Dylan track from his country album Nashville Skyline. Because I no longer own the original album, I’m featuring a live version of the song from Costello’s Sundance show Spectacle.
She said she would always stay
But I was cruel
I treated her like a fool
I threw it all away
Once I had mountains in the palm of my hand
And rivers that ran through ev’ry day
I must have been mad
I never knew what I had
Until I threw it all away
Love is all there is, it makes the world go ’round
Love and only love, it can’t be denied
No matter what you think about it
You just won’t be able to do without it
Take a tip from one who’s tried
So if you find someone that gives you all of her love
Take it to your heart, don’t let it stray
For one thing that’s certain
You will surely be a-hurtin’
If you throw it all away
Meet Me In Montauk 
I agree with you that, generally, I would rather hear EC do his own songs.
Okay, I am completely ignorant of this album’s existence!! As much as I am a fan of a brilliant songwriter performing his own songs, I have to admit that the quick song list you provide above (or artist list, I should say) has me clamoring to go find this collection.
When a songwriter has the impeccable taste of a Lovett or a Costello, his fans have almost an obligation to take that journey, to discover the songs that have influenced the musician. I suppose that happens anyway, in the songwriter’s original material, as those influences ought to be apparent anyway (just as you don’t have to watch the movies that inspired Tarantino to appreciate the touches in his own films that pay homage to those movies)
Hmmm…. I’ll have to listen to the album before I form a final opinion 🙂