The 4 CD box, -The Doings-, is terrific. The first two discs have almost every track you need from his best period, the third disc has the choice cuts from his lesser albums and the fourth disc has great live stuff.
― Mr. Odd, Saturday, 30 June 2007 00:58 (sixteen years ago) link
So Christgau gives both '70s albums A's, then EVERY '80s album a B+ (besides an '89 best-of that gets an A-), then there's an A- in 1990 and then an apparent dropoff. (So basically, Nick became just another sincere roots guy, more or less, right? But wasn't being insincere what made him great at first?)
http://robertchristgau.com/get_artist.php?name=nick+lowe
― xhuxk, Saturday, 30 June 2007 01:15 (sixteen years ago) link
keep beating that drum
― bobby bedelia, Saturday, 30 June 2007 02:15 (sixteen years ago) link
He's never more sincere than when he's joking around. Dig My Mood was a real snooze.
― Alfred, Lord Sotosyn, Saturday, 30 June 2007 02:21 (sixteen years ago) link
the Brinsley Schwarz stuff is better than his early solo records anyway
― Johnny Hotcox, Saturday, 30 June 2007 16:27 (sixteen years ago) link
Classic for Kippington Lodge alone!! :-)
a quick cut&paste from Tapestry of Delights (for anyone wanting to know):
Personnel: BARRY LANDERMAN keyb'ds, vcls A NICK LOWE bs, vcls A B C BRINSLEY SCHWARZ gtr, vcls A B C PETER WHALE drms A B BOB ANDREWS keyb'ds, vcls A
CD: 1(-) KIPPINGTON LODGE '67-'69 (K 1P) 199? NB: (1) is a bootleg containing all their 45 cuts plus BBC session versions of Younger Girl and Shy Boy.
EP: 1 Rumours/Lady On A Bicycle/And She Cried/Shy Boy (EMI NUT 2894) 1978
45s: 1 Shy Boy/Lady On A Bicycle (Parlophone R 5645) 1967 2 Rumours/And She Cried (Parlophone R 5677) 1968 3 Tell Me A Story/Understand A Woman (Parlophone R 5717) 1968 4 Tomorrow Today/Turn Out The Light (Parlophone R 5750) 1968 5 In My Life/I Can See Her Face (Parlophone R 5776) 1969
A late sixties pop group from Kent who evolved into Brinsley Schwarz in the early seventies. Schwarz and Lowe had earlier played together in school bands prior to forming this Tunbridge Wells - based venture in 1965. Their most successful 45 was Shy Boy, a Tomorrow song written by Keith West, but they never did get any hits. Their final 45, In My Life was a Beatles' track. Landerman departed to Vanity Fare and was replaced by Andrews but in October 1969 with a change of style came a change of name to Brinsley Schwarz. Whale dropped out of the music business at this stage but the other three stayed on in the new and much hyped band.
Musically they dished up pretty straightforward pop and two of their better efforts - Lady On A Bicycle and Rumours were both produced by Mark Wirtz.
Compilation appearances include: Turn Out The Light on Justafixation (CD); Rumours and Lady On A Bicycle on Not Just Beat Music 1965-70 (LP), British Psychedelic Trip, Vol. 2 (LP) and Great British Psychedelic Trip, Vol. 3 (CD); I Can See Her Face on Psychedelia, Vol. 3 (LP), We Can Fly (CD), Hen's Teeth, Vol. 3 (CD) and In The Beginning (LP); Shy Boy on A Teenage Opera - The Original Soundtrack Recording (CD).
― Saxby D. Elder, Saturday, 30 June 2007 17:40 (sixteen years ago) link
I recently got Nervous On the Road/New Favourites. I was plesantly surprised, as I never really got into much pub rock before. He was a strong songwriter since the beginning.
― Fastnbulbous, Saturday, 30 June 2007 23:17 (sixteen years ago) link
The Brinsleys were fairly hit or miss, but they got better as they got more concise and moved away from country rock. ALL of the Kippington Lodge 7" tracks are on the "Hens' Teeth" compilation credited to Brinsley Schwarz, along with several singles BS recorded under pseudonyms. Worth looking for . . .
― deedeedeextrovert, Sunday, 1 July 2007 00:19 (sixteen years ago) link
yer all avoiding the main question: does the lex know who nick lowe is??
― gershy, Sunday, 1 July 2007 05:44 (sixteen years ago) link
Extremely doubtful.
― curmudgeon, Sunday, 1 July 2007 14:41 (sixteen years ago) link
So the lex probably won't be pushing the Jim Ford reissue.
― James Redd and the Blecchs, Sunday, 16 September 2007 05:22 (sixteen years ago) link
I was pretty miserable that one day in high school when future record company executive Micha3l Krump3r told me that Rockpile had broken up.
― James Redd and the Blecchs, Sunday, 16 September 2007 05:30 (sixteen years ago) link
I was pretty confused that one day after college when I turned on MTV and saw Terry Williams playing a Terry Bozzio-sized drum kit for Dire Straits.
― James Redd and the Blecchs, Sunday, 16 September 2007 05:36 (sixteen years ago) link
These young upstarts that I have up until now avoided called The Click Five do an okay version of "So It Goes." I never realized before that it sounds like "The 59st Street Bridge Song" and then like "Georgy Girl."
― James Redd and the Blecchs, Sunday, 16 September 2007 05:52 (sixteen years ago) link
I never really made the connection before but Nick was really channeling rockabilly and doo-wop on his first two records, which I suppose fits as aspect of the punk ethos of returning rock to it's primal period.
― Gerald McBoing-Boing, Thursday, 27 January 2011 23:49 (thirteen years ago) link
anyone buy the new comp?
― Rich Lolwry (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Thursday, 27 January 2011 23:53 (thirteen years ago) link
whoa just listening to him when I saw this. and again thinking that "I love the sound of breaking glass" sounds exactly like Phoenix, or at least the first couple of phoenix records
― Dominique, Thursday, 27 January 2011 23:58 (thirteen years ago) link
So you're saying I don't need Phoenix records when Nick's already done it so well? "Big Kick, Plain Scrap", goddamn the drums just rule...
― Gerald McBoing-Boing, Friday, 28 January 2011 00:48 (thirteen years ago) link
"...Breaking Glass" is one of the few in-jokes that works on its own terms. So silly!
― Rich Lolwry (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Friday, 28 January 2011 02:35 (thirteen years ago) link
otm re sounding like template for phoenix there.
― end aggro business now (Hunt3r), Friday, 28 January 2011 04:54 (thirteen years ago) link
Phoenix?
Funny, was just thinking last night about when I met him. We had a bit of a discussion about "Nutted by Reality", re the "Castrated Castro" bit.
― Mark G, Friday, 28 January 2011 09:40 (thirteen years ago) link
recent research reveals that i like brinsley schwarz better than solo nick - silver pistol LP is classic
― communist kickball (m coleman), Friday, 28 January 2011 10:17 (thirteen years ago) link
Many of the songs on Pure Pop/Jesus of Cool are take away from other songs. "Music for Money" is a rip of 10cc's "Art For Art's Sake". "So it Goes" takes the verses from Steely Dan's "Reelin' in the Years". "Nutted by Reality" is very similar to "I Want You Back" (at least, the bass line is). There are a few more examples mentioned upthread. I think this was kind of the point of the album and I can't deny how great it turned out. His later releases are kind of naff. Nick the Knife is great. Abominable Showman has some good songs...all the other albums up to Party of One are baaaarf
― frogbs, Friday, 28 January 2011 15:37 (thirteen years ago) link
"No Reason" had bit(s) from "All along the watchtower"
― Mark G, Friday, 28 January 2011 15:41 (thirteen years ago) link
Labour of Lust to be released in deluxe fashion by Yep Roc Records on March 15.
― Jazzbo, Friday, 28 January 2011 15:45 (thirteen years ago) link
"Nutted by Reality" is very similar to "I Want You Back" (at least, the bass line is).
― Never Make Your Moog Too Soon (James Redd and the Blecchs), Friday, 28 January 2011 15:51 (thirteen years ago) link
Damn stingy extras on the LoL reissue. Just the one b-side? Pfft!
― Gerald McBoing-Boing, Friday, 28 January 2011 18:29 (thirteen years ago) link
"Endless Gray Ribbon"? "Basing Street"?
― Never Make Your Moog Too Soon (James Redd and the Blecchs), Friday, 28 January 2011 19:07 (thirteen years ago) link
Yeah, and they've called it a "deluxe" edition!
― Mark G, Saturday, 29 January 2011 00:15 (thirteen years ago) link
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b0l3QWUXVho
― Roadside Prisunic (James Redd and the Blecchs), Thursday, 6 December 2012 01:52 (eleven years ago) link
How is the box set? Is there anything critical missing?
― Gerald McBoing-Boing, Thursday, 6 December 2012 03:12 (eleven years ago) link
Going to see him again tonight. Anyone know who's been opening for him on this tour? Hope he plays this one — my fav.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dUHWh810L0M
― Jazzbo, Saturday, 17 August 2013 14:00 (ten years ago) link
Never mind. Looks like it will be Kim Richey. Was hoping for Bill Kirchen like last time. He was awesome.
― Jazzbo, Saturday, 17 August 2013 14:04 (ten years ago) link
He did play "Half a Boy and Half a Man" last night and didn't even bother dedicating it to the POTUS.
I know he's past 70 but the tempos were a little slow for my taste, even w/ Los Straitjackets.
― ice cream social justice (Dr Morbius), Sunday, 6 August 2017 14:52 (six years ago) link
I was hoping that he and/or the band would cut loose on "I Knew the Bride" but I didn't mind the stateliness overall.
― Elvis Telecom, Sunday, 6 August 2017 17:48 (six years ago) link
Love stately Nick Lowe. Perfect songs.
― Eazy, Sunday, 6 August 2017 19:00 (six years ago) link
mea culpa, he aint 70 yet
― ice cream social justice (Dr Morbius), Monday, 7 August 2017 03:03 (six years ago) link
Yeah, he's just been grey/white headed for 30+ years.
― to fly across the city and find Aerosmith's car (C. Grisso/McCain), Monday, 7 August 2017 04:16 (six years ago) link
Think the last time I saw him was a decade ago at The Supper Club
― Barkis Garvey (James Redd and the Blecchs), Monday, 7 August 2017 04:30 (six years ago) link
It was the tour with Dan Penn and Spooner Oldham opening, so make that two decades. Time wounds all heels.
― Barkis Garvey (James Redd and the Blecchs), Monday, 7 August 2017 04:47 (six years ago) link
Dud.
Pub-rock cobblers.
― more Allegro-like (Turrican), Monday, 7 August 2017 06:14 (six years ago) link
Weird comment.
Anyway, nice new interview here:
http://variety.com/2017/music/news/nick-lowe-talks-peace-love-and-understanding-johnny-cash-1202481424/
― heaven parker (anagram), Monday, 7 August 2017 09:54 (six years ago) link
― Elvis Telecom, Sunday, August 6, 2017
A friend who saw him a few years back grumbled that he didn't rock out at all. I guess he's moved on from that.
― curmudgeon, Tuesday, 8 August 2017 15:44 (six years ago) link
He's been moved on from that for decades now.
― Josh in Chicago, Tuesday, 8 August 2017 15:45 (six years ago) link
Hasn't cut loose on "I Knew The Bride" since about 1978 sadly.
― everything, Tuesday, 8 August 2017 18:10 (six years ago) link
At least he didn't go the route of making alt-country children's music, like some.
― Barkis Garvey (James Redd and the Blecchs), Tuesday, 8 August 2017 18:24 (six years ago) link
Really want to read the Will Birch bio.
― Irae Louvin (James Redd and the Blecchs), Saturday, 16 November 2019 04:29 (four years ago) link
Last time he cut loose on stage was probably when he was alongside Elvis Costello.
― Mark G, Saturday, 16 November 2019 18:04 (four years ago) link
Happy Birthday!
― Mardi Gras Mambo Sun (James Redd and the Blecchs), Thursday, 24 March 2022 19:12 (two years ago) link
love
― three of the doctor's valuable bats are now dead (broom air), Friday, 25 March 2022 15:48 (two years ago) link
It's funny, the first time I saw Elvis was also at the Beacon back in 2011, and that was an amazing 'best of' show - two and a half hours long, there were a handful of surprise covers (Prince's "Purple Rain," the Beatles' "And Your Bird Can Sing," the Rolling Stones' "Out of Time," Rockpile/Nick Lowe's "Heart of the City" and since it was Dylan's birthday a solo acoustic "License to Kill") but it was mostly his own songs. Only two came after 1986 - "Veronica" and "I Lost You" (with surprise guest Jim Lauderdale). This time was very different.
― birdistheword, Thursday, 13 July 2023 19:58 (nine months ago) link
That windfall from The Bodyguard was big, but I'm certain it went a LOT further thanks to his modest living.
I remember him saying in an interview circa Dig My Mood wherein he said he'd spent it all by buying some nice shirts, eating some extravagant meals, paying his band what they were worth, self-financing the recording of The Impossible Bird, and taxes.
― an icon of a worried-looking, long-haired, bespectacled man (C. Grisso/McCain), Thursday, 13 July 2023 20:25 (nine months ago) link
In video clips I saw of a recent gig Nick Lowe slowed everything down including rockers like “I Knew the Bride.” It was ok but I wanted circa 79 energy
― curmudgeon, Thursday, 13 July 2023 21:19 (nine months ago) link
Yeah
― The Lunatics (Have Taken Over the Elektra) (James Redd and the Blecchs), Thursday, 13 July 2023 22:06 (nine months ago) link
I can’t find it at the moment but several years ago there was an article about him where he basically said he wasn’t into hard, fast rock n’ roll anymore and that it was a product of simply aging and maturing into a different phase of his life. To drive the point home, he’s at a show watching someone else and the act plays “I Know the Bride.” So I was actually surprised when he did those old songs when I saw him soon after, but he’s definitely settled into a mid tempo groove. Works great with “Without Love” and “When I Write the Book” though. Would love a Rockpile reunion but even if they wanted to, I don’t think it can happen due to age and health. Edmunds is definitely retired.
― birdistheword, Thursday, 13 July 2023 22:45 (nine months ago) link
Fun one from last week:
When you play a Nick Lowe song on the Fenway organ and then find out that Nick Lowe WAS AT THE GAME pic.twitter.com/ZxLGNCJs0B— Josh Kantor (@jtkantor) July 7, 2023
― underwater as a compliment (Eazy), Thursday, 13 July 2023 22:58 (nine months ago) link