"Jesus Of Cool" by NICK LOWE [ex Brinsley Schwarz] – 1978 Debut Solo Album in the UK on Radar (called "Pure Pop For Now People" in the USA with different tracks on Epic) (February 2008 UK Proper Records Deluxe Edition Expanded CD Reissue – Vic Anesini Remaster) - A Review by Mark Barry...

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"…Pure Pop For Now People…"

Like Elvis Costello's "My Aim Is True", Joe Jackson's "Look Sharp!" and "The Boomtown Rats" self-titled debut album – Nick Lowe's brilliant 1978 debut "Jesus Of Cool" is the kind of record that not only doesn't date - but somehow gets cooler as the decades pass, ageing like good wine (a little like the dapper Rock 'n' Roll gent himself). 

Here are the Breaking Glasses, Bunches of Stiffs and They Called It Rock details…

UK released February 2008 – "Jesus Of Cool" by NICK LOWE is a Deluxe Extended Edition Single CD on Proper Records CHOSEN1 (Barcode 805520039994) and breaks down as follows (62:51 minutes):

1. Music For Money (Side 1)

2. I Love The Sound Of Breaking Glass

3. Little Hitler

4. Snake And Pop

5. Tonight

6. So It Goes (Side 2)

7. No Reason

8. 36 Inches High

9. Marie Provost

10. Nutted By Reality

11. Heart Of The City (Live)

Tracks 1 to 11 on this CD are his UK debut solo album "Jesus Of Cool" released March 1978 in the UK on Radar Records RAD 1. Note: "Heart Of The City" on the album is 'live' – the single version is the studio cut.

The LP was issued May 1978 in the USA as "Pure Pop For Now People" on Columbia Records JC 35329 with an entirely different running order. This 21-track CD with allow fans to sequence the US version using the following songs/numbers…

1. So It Goes [6] – Side 1

2. I Love The Sound Of Breaking Glass [2]

3. Tonight [5]

4. Marie Provost [9]

5. Heart Of The City [20]

6. Rollers Show [18]

7. They Called It Rock [14] - Side 2

8. No Reason [7]

9. Little Hitler [3]

10. Nutted By Reality [10]

11. 36 Inches High [8]

12. Music For Money [1]

BONUS TRACKS:

12. Shake That Rat – non-album track, A2 of the 4-track "Bowi EP" released May 1977 in the UK on Radar Records LAST 1 - see also 15 for A1, 9 for B1 and 16 for B2

13. I Love My Label – exclusive track on the UK Various Artists label sampler LP "A Bunch Of Stiffs" released April 1977 on Radar Records SEEZ 2

14. They Called It Rock – non-album track, B-side to his 3rd UK 7" single "I Love The Sound Of Breaking Glass" released February 1978 on Radar Records ADA 1

15. Born A Woman - non-album track, A1 of the 4-track "Bowi EP" released May 1977 in the UK on Radar Records LAST 1 - see also 12 for A2, 9 for B1 and 16 for B2

16. Endless Sleep – non-album track, B2 of the "Bowi EP" (see above). Also B-side to the October 1978 USA single for "I Love The Sound Of Breaking Glass" on Columbia 10844

17. Halfway To Paradise - non-album track, A-side to his 2nd UK 7" single "Halfway To Paradise" released May 1977 on Stiff Records BUY 2. A Billy Fury cover version – Goffin/King song.

18. Rollers Show – track on the USA LP version "Pure Pop For Now People" – see above

19. Cruel To Be Kind (Original Version) – non-album track, B-side to UK 7" single of "Little Hitler" released May 1978 on Radar Records ADA 12

20. Heart Of The City – non-album track, B-side to his debut UK 7" single "So It Goes" released August 1976 on Stiff Records BUY 1

21. I Don't Want The Night To End - non-album track, B-side to his 2nd UK 7" single "Halfway To Paradise" released May 1977 on Stiff Records BUY 2

The packaging is unique and gorgeous - a multi-flap card sleeve that eventually folds out to a cross shape of Nick Lowe with each of the individual flaps covered in the US artwork, memorabilia montages and colour photos (it looks brill when folded out). The oversized 12-page booklet has fantastic period memorabilia pictured - like buttons, "Jesus Of Cool" ties, Street Advert Placards and even the Master Room Acetate of "So It Goes". There’s also a witty and informative essay by WILL BIRCH on Lowe's departure from England's Brinsley Schwarz after four albums with modest success – the formation of Stiff and Radar – and the sheer heady musical experience of 1976 to 1978. But the really great news for fans is the Audio – VIC ANESINI Remasters done in New York – and they’re so damn good. And as outlined above – this impossibly cool reissue will allow American fans to sequence the "Pure Pop For Now People" version they bought in 1978 – arguably a better listen actually (much like The Clash debut which suffered the same fate of hugely different track runs).

His debut UK 45 "So It Goes" b/w "Heart Of The City" is one those fabulous Seventies singles that somehow eluded so many – both tracks are belters and Anesini's remaster of "Heart In The City" (Studio Version) in particular rocks. The Instrumental "Bowi EP" track "Shake That Rat" sounds just HUGE rattling your speakers with a gnawing power - it feels like Rockpile firing on all sixes. And of course there’s the rattling echoed guitar of "I Love The Sound Of Breaking Glass" – as cool as it gets. 

Album favourites for me include the very Rockpile sounding "Tonight" where they go all Everly Brothers and the creepy vibe of "36 Inches High" sounding like Elvis Costello getting mean on too many drugs. The remaster wallops The Jackson 5 opening of "Nutted By Reality" where Nick discusses Castro's unfortunate brush with genital torture (nice) - while the live cut of "Heart Of The City" should really have been the studio version that is one the great tracks of the period (Dr. Feelgood covered it on their 1991 set "Primo" with Lee Brilleaux giving it some big time Nick).

So there you have it – sexy, cool, nutting reality on the noggin (ouch) – in short a fabulous CD reissue.

"...Repent for He doth record…" - was one of the placards used in the "Jesus Of Cool" street campaigns around London in 1978. Thank God Nick Lowe has been sinning ever since...