Why is it that certain British pop artists have been criminally
ignored in the States? I’ve complained so much about XTC not being
bigger over here (and will be talking about them again really
soon). Now, I’m upset that Nick Lowe didn’t become a megastar.
Oh, it’s not that he hadn’t earned attention in this country.
His work with Rockpile, featuring Dave Edmunds, was pretty well
known, even if they weren’t huge stars. But it was his 1979 album
Labour Of Lust, an album which could have easily been called
a Rockpile album (they were the backing band), that gave Lowe his
biggest success, and his only top 40 hits with “Cruel To Be Kind”.
It also is, to put it mildly, a
goddamn great record
.
“Cruel To Be Kind” is the ultimate description of a pop song
that one could want: a decent melody, intelligent lyrics, and a
chorus that is infectious. Lowe’s happy-go-lucky attitude seems to
ooze from his vocals, and this song is one I constantly find myself
going back to without getting tired of it. Sadly, this would be the
only time that Lowe would see the charts from this high of a
position.
But mixed in with all the humor (or is that “humour”?) of some
songs (“American Squirm,” “Born Fighter”) is a seriousness that
Lowe doesn’t just brush off. “Crackin’ Up” reaffirms the more glum
feeling with the repetition of the lyric, “I don’t think that’s
funny no more.” And the gentle take Lowe gives to “You Make Me” is
a pleasant surprise on this album, one that might just throw you
for a loop after the bubbly pop bounciness of “American Squirm” and
right before another pop wonder, “Skin Deep”.
But the musicianship on
Labour Of Lust is also a wonder. Lowe’s bass work is
surprisingly complex, as can be heard on the choruses of “Born
Fighter”. Edmunds proves that he could be one of the ’70s and ’80s
most underrated guitarists. Just check out the solo on “Cruel To Be
Kind” for proof of this.
Sure, one or two songs don’t hold up as well, but Lowe and
company, for the most part, have crafted an album that should have
been a smash hit. Unfortunately, fate would not be as kind. Lowe
went on to work with Rockpile until their implosion in 1981, and
wouldn’t follow up
Labour Of Lust until 1982’s
Nick The Knife. But why didn’t this album just burn up the
charts? Only two things I can think of for this: disco and punk.
Damn shame… had this album been released just two years later, it
could have capitalized on the birth of MTV. (As it was, the video
for “Cruel To Be Kind” still got airplay, though I’ll admit it’s
been years since I saw it, and wouldn’t mind seeing it again.)
If you really want to know what a pop album sounds like, put
away the Milli Vanilli sludge, hie yourself to Best Buy, and grab
Labour Of Lust. (The record, last time I checked, is now
available on Demon Records.) It’s a quick listen, but a mandatory
one which will open your eyes to a whole new world.
