Appearing after the charming but mainly inessential Kojak Variety and the weird but frequently moving Bacharach collaboration Painted From Memory, North felt like a true window into Costello’s soul – a surprisingly convincing collection of original piano ballads, arranged in the manner of his onetime studio mate and profound influence Chet Baker. Tracks like “Fallen” and “When Did I Start Dreaming” are evidence of Costello’s unique capacity for seamlessly wedding timeless traditions to modern sentiments. Under-appreciated at the time of its release, there is a good chance that North will be regarded more favorably going forward.