Album Review #15 - Nick Lowe "Labour of Lust" (1979)
Album Review #15
Artist: Nick
Lowe
Album: Labour
of Lust
Year of Release:
1979
Grade: 4 /
5
Band Members
Nick Lowe – vocals, bass
Dave Edmunds – guitar, backing vocals
Billy Bremner - guitar, backing vocals
Terry Williams – drums
Huey Lewis – harmonica
Bob Andrews – Oberheim
Elvis Costello – backing vocals
Bruce Thomas – bass
Pete Thomas - drums
Background
Nick Lowe first started in the band Brinsley Schwarz
(actually the name of a member of the band) before splitting up in 1975. Dave Edmunds produced one of their later
albums which led to the formation of the band Rockpile. Due to contract issues with different record
labels, Rockpile became a backing band for Lowe and for Edmunds. Lowe had a quite a successful career as a
performer, writer, and producer. His
tendency to lean towards the pop/rock sound complemented Edmunds’ rockabilly
sound. This album is a Rockpile album in
all but name.
He also married Johnny Cash’s daughter Carlene
Carter. He produced albums for Elvis
Costello including writing one of Costello’s biggest hits – “(What’s So Funny
Bout) Peace, Love & Understanding”.
Track Listing
1.
“Cruel To Be Kind” (Nick Lowe, Ian Gomm)
1.
“Cracking Up” (Lowe)
2.
“Big Kick, Plain Scrap!” (Lowe)
3.
“American Squirm” (Lowe)
4.
“You Make Me” (Lowe)
5.
“Skin Deep” (Lowe)
6.
“Switchboard Susan” (Mickey Jupp)
7.
“Dose Of You” (Lowe)
8.
“Without Love” (Lowe)
9.
“Born Fighter” (Lowe)
10. “Love
So Fine” (Lowe, Dave Edmunds, Billy Bremner, Terry Williams)
Review
“Cruel To Be Kind” is Lowe’s biggest US hit. The song itself was inspired by a line of Shakespeare. Lowe didn’t think much of the song at
first. It is about the singer’s exasperation
at his lover’s not taking his feelings into consideration. The video is great – it features Lowe’s and
Carlene Carter’s actual wedding (I guess you can deduct the expenses on taxes)
and when shooting the video ran a little late, Lowe was actually late to the
ceremony. I really like the song and it’s
poppy vibe.
“Big Kick, Plain Scrap” is just an ok song. It’s about a singer and his girlfriend and
how much nicer she is towards him when she’s on drugs. Not the cheeriest of subjects. The melody is just sort of bland.
“American Squirm” is the next song. It was not included on the UK version. I’m not really sure what it is about but it
comes across as the singer trying to get one over on an American. An inferiority complex perhaps. It is a catchy tune.
The next cut is “You Make Me”. This is another one of those songs that does
nothing for me. It is just a bland vanilla
ballad. It is a very simplistic sounding
song.
“Skin Deep” is a direct counter to the previous cut. It is catchy and has a great little melody to
it. It is about a relationship that is
only physical to the girl but the male singer wants it to be more.
“Switchboard Susan” is a fantastic song. It’s about a guy who falls in love with a
telephone operator. It has a great
melody and loaded with double meanings.
“Dose Of You” is an underrated song. It has a nice beat and melody. It has an uplifting song that reminds me of
some Huey Lewis songs (although Huey’s stuff is several years down the road but
he did play on this album).
“Without Love” is another excellent cut on this
album. It’s about the human desire to
love and to beloved. It also explores
the feeling of missing those things.
Despite the topic, it is an upbeat song.
It has almost some country leaning sounds.
“Born Fighter” is a song about fighting for what
you believe in or want. It is a really
good song and definitely shows the Edmunds influence.
“Love So Fine” is probably the most heavy sounding
song and almost punkish. It is punk
meets rockabilly. For me, the jury is
still out on this song. Sometimes it’s
ok and other times I don’t like it.
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