Kojak Variety (Dlx)

Throughout his phenomenal, almost 30-year career, Elvis Costello has proved himself one of the most versatile and inventive stars in the pop music firmament. He first rose to fame as one of punk rock's breakthrough talents then went on to release innovative albums interpreting a truly diverse range of genres. Costello-originally Liverpool's own Declan McManus-has made an indelible mark on the pop music songbook, bringing unfettered passion and profound lyrical weight to his richly creative stylistic adventures. These three titles continue Rhino's Deluxe Edition restoration of his extraordinary catalogue.

Songs he wishes he wrote. A mixed bag, both in genre and quality of performance, but Kojak Variety is often convincing. Unsurprisingly, its best moments come on ballads. Costello's take on the Supremes nugget "Remove This Doubt" is as apocalyptic as anything he's laid down since "Riot Act" on 1980's Get Happy!!, and Dylan's "I Threw It All Away" and the Randy Newman obscurity "I've Been Wrong Before" are stunners in the Big El's hands, too. --Rickey Wright