I'm ashamed to admit that I knew little to nothing of Nick until the recent reissue of Jesus of Cool. I shall be exploring further!
John
· 1 year ago
There are no bad Nick Lowe albums, just ones that aren't as good as other ones.
In the realm of extra curricular Nick activity, I'm surprised you didn't mention his work with then-wife Carlene Carter on Musical Notes - a superior album that featured Carter rocking out with Rockpile - and his Paul Carrack's one good album, One Good Reason, which featured the Abominable Showman crowd in high gear. Those are two great albums that add to any Nick Lowe shelf . . . or folder in your hard drive.
I always felt that Nick Lowe was beyond critical summation. I always heard, for instance, how Showman or Pink were lackluster, but never HEARD it, if you no what I mean. Lowe is so bereft of pretension in creating his music that I find them impervious to the presumption of critique. His music just is what it is. He's the Jesus of Cool and I do not question.
jefito
· 1 year ago
Are you sure you don't mean "Suburban Voodoo"? I'm pretty sure "One Good Reason" was produced by Chris Neil, and put together with help from the '80s London Studio Rats crowd -- guys like Wix.
And yeah, I left out plenty of Nick's extracurricular activities. The first time this guide posted, people complained that I didn't talk about Little Village. There's just too much to cover while maintaining readability.
John
· 1 year ago
Yep, Suburban Voodoo. One Good Reason was the horrible follow-up, you're right!
I forgot about Little Village, though, as I recall, Nick took a backseat in that project, singing once and just kinda being the bass player in a roots rock superband.
Russ
· 1 year ago
Party Of One doesn't have any cover songs, but it does have a co-writing credit with Simon Kirke of Bad Company and Free on one. I always wondered how that pairing came about.
David
· 1 year ago
Has anyone heard the compilation "The Wilderness Years", which covers the period right before "Jesus of Cool"? It came out in the early 1990s, and I believe it contains all of Lowe's "Bowi" EP, other singles and demos, and the totality of his Tartan Horde recordings (as opposed to the new "Jesus of Cool" reissue, which only has some as bonus tracks). Is it worthwhile to pay the extra $$$ to get this out-of-print CD used?
John
· 1 year ago
Oh, I have it, it's a great comp, well worth it if you have the bucks and are a big Nick fan.
jack
· 1 year ago
I love Nick Lowe. I had Labour of Lust when it came out, then (like the rest of America) pretty much lost touch with him. I was starting college when Party of One came out, and "What's Shaking on the Hill" seemed to capture the "outside looking in" feeling of being a freshman away from home and not knowing anyone.
And I always liked "All Men are Liars." How can you not love a song that contains the couplet:
Do you remember Rick Astley? He had a big fat hit, it was ghastly.
(A song that begged for a Rick Roll in your post, you know!)
Jeff Gee
· 1 year ago
This is especially appropriate this week, when you guys are in the middle of your Rock n Roll Hall of Fame. Pick your 5 faves from this Guide and I'll put them up against any five from any of the proposed inductees. Hey, is the version of "Cruel to Be Kind" here the one from "Labour of Lust?" Sounds less... drummy? Don't make me drag out my vinyl to check!
I couldn't open the files for "Switchboard Susan," "What's Shakin' on the Hill," "Honey Gun," or "Faithless Lover." And really, no Nick Lowe neophyte should be without "Susan" and "Hill."
jefito
· 1 year ago
Thanks for pointing out those busted links, Mr. Gee -- this guide originally ran back in the days before I tried to keep everything down to a two-mp3-per-album limit. You'll see that I didn't follow that standard for all Nick's records, but when re-posting this guide, I clipped out the ones you mentioned, erased the link code from the post...and then didn't save it. It should be updated now.
Jonny the friendly lawyer
· 1 year ago
Outstanding -- very well chosen from a great body of work. Looking forward to seeing Lowe (with Robyn Hitchcock opening!) at the El Rey in LA next month.
Thanks for a great guide.
(link to Man of a Fool not up)
jefito
· 1 year ago
Hey! Good to see you again, Jonny!
DwDunphy
· 1 year ago
This is the thing about Nick Lowe - his output really did parallel Elvis Costello's in that after resigning to himself that he wasn't going to be a hitmaker, his sophistication allowed him to make greater songs. Unfortunately, as everyone (myself included) went nuts for Mr. McManus' latest and greatest, we kinda lost touch with Lowe.
That said, I argue that "Cruel To Be Kind" is damn near perfect pop. It's hooks are dynamite and never become unwelcome, unlike a lot of the same from other bands of the time.
Jim
· 1 year ago
I've only heard Cruel, Breaking Glass and I Knew The Bride, so this was a treat to read (and download). Thanks, Jeff.
Clark
· 1 year ago
Not to toot my own horn once again, but well, here I go tooting my own horn once again: I wrote a thank you letter to Enterainment Weekly when they profiled NL recently and they used it! I think I remember you saying you saw it, Jeff.
Very nice guide. I'm glad you appreciate his later output. I think from the Impossible Bird on is his best stuff, especially Convincer.
I do want to take issue with you calling All Men Are Liars trifle though, I don't have much to say in rebuttal other than I just really like it; I think it's funny and catchy and the refrain is really good. I've only heard the live version that I recently got from maybe this site? It was an acoustic live show. Actually come to think of it, it may have been an NPR thing. Point is I think it's really good.
And for anyone that did not know, he is touring once again I guess in support of At My Age still. I'm broke as a crap but I'm going to do my damndest to see him since I missed him the first time.
Pete
· 1 year ago
Bravo! Saw Rockpile at the so-called Punk Woodstock called Heatwave in Toronto in 1980, picked up and loved Labour of Lust, then lost track of him as well, but as I fashioned myself a mod, always kept him on my radar. Caught back up with Dig My Mood, which fit my own more relaxed mode and mood, and now I see from your list I have many many gaps to fill in my love of Lowe.
All Comments
In the realm of extra curricular Nick activity, I'm surprised you didn't mention his work with then-wife Carlene Carter on Musical Notes - a superior album that featured Carter rocking out with Rockpile - and his Paul Carrack's one good album, One Good Reason, which featured the Abominable Showman crowd in high gear. Those are two great albums that add to any Nick Lowe shelf . . . or folder in your hard drive.
I always felt that Nick Lowe was beyond critical summation. I always heard, for instance, how Showman or Pink were lackluster, but never HEARD it, if you no what I mean. Lowe is so bereft of pretension in creating his music that I find them impervious to the presumption of critique. His music just is what it is. He's the Jesus of Cool and I do not question.
And yeah, I left out plenty of Nick's extracurricular activities. The first time this guide posted, people complained that I didn't talk about Little Village. There's just too much to cover while maintaining readability.
I forgot about Little Village, though, as I recall, Nick took a backseat in that project, singing once and just kinda being the bass player in a roots rock superband.
And I always liked "All Men are Liars." How can you not love a song that contains the couplet:
Do you remember Rick Astley?
He had a big fat hit, it was ghastly.
(A song that begged for a Rick Roll in your post, you know!)
I couldn't open the files for "Switchboard Susan," "What's Shakin' on the Hill," "Honey Gun," or "Faithless Lover." And really, no Nick Lowe neophyte should be without "Susan" and "Hill."
Thanks for a great guide.
(link to Man of a Fool not up)
That said, I argue that "Cruel To Be Kind" is damn near perfect pop. It's hooks are dynamite and never become unwelcome, unlike a lot of the same from other bands of the time.
Very nice guide. I'm glad you appreciate his later output. I think from the Impossible Bird on is his best stuff, especially Convincer.
I do want to take issue with you calling All Men Are Liars trifle though, I don't have much to say in rebuttal other than I just really like it; I think it's funny and catchy and the refrain is really good. I've only heard the live version that I recently got from maybe this site? It was an acoustic live show. Actually come to think of it, it may have been an NPR thing. Point is I think it's really good.
And for anyone that did not know, he is touring once again I guess in support of At My Age still. I'm broke as a crap but I'm going to do my damndest to see him since I missed him the first time.
Thanks much.