"Labour Of Lust" by NICK LOWE – Second Studio Album from June 1979 featuring Dave Edmunds, Billy Bremner and Terry Williams (all of Rockpile) with Guests Elvis Costello, Pete Thomas (of The Attractions), Huey Lewis (of Clover and later The News) and songs by Mickey Jupp and Ian Gomm (March 2011 UK Proper 'Expanded Edition' CD Reissue – Vic Anesini Remaster) - A Review by Mark Barry...

"...In The Right Measure..."

Following on from his New Wave groovy debut album "Jesus Of Cool" in 1978 (called "Pure Pop For Now People" in the USA on Columbia Records) - the former Brinsley Schwarz Bassist and front man Nick Lowe and his band of Rock 'n' Roll reprobates (Rockpile) needed a follow-up - and preferably one with a big fat hit like "I Like The Sound Of Breaking Glass".

Back from a US tour where the support act foursome of Nick Lowe (Bass and Vocals), Dave Edmunds and Billy Bremner (Guitars and Vocals) and Terry Williams (Drums) regularly slaughtered the crowd for mainliners - Lowe and his ageless 32-year-old all-singing all-dancing rockers spent the next two months on the graveyard recording-shift alongside Dave Edmunds who was simultaneously putting down Swan Song's "Repeat When Necessary" LP in the same place (Eden Studio in Chiswick, West London).

An arm-twisted Nick was then directed back by Columbia's A&R executive Gregg Geller to an old 1974 Brinsley Schwarz tune called "You've Gotta Be Cruel To Be Kind". The song was recorded after the final "New Favourites..." LP sessions as the group was winding down (it first appeared on a 1988 compilation LP in Britain) and Geller felt Cruel and its incessantly catchy chorus had the chops to be a radio-friendly winner in the USA. With Rockpile in tow, Lowe recorded the shifty little brute with a yawn only to find that Geller’s A&R instinct was very much on the dollar when the song launched the "Labour Of Lust" LP – especially Stateside. 

His second studio LP came in June 1979, the Columbia 3-11018 single following in July, and helped by a quirky promo video featuring Nick and Carlene Carter’s wedding and its superb UK-LP-only B-side "Endless Grey Ribbon" enticing American collectors, the "Cruel To Be Kind" single and video combined to push sales on the chipper album - eventually seeing it climb to a very healthy No. 12 LP spot in America (no mean feat in those days). Released in his native Blighty in September 1979, the Radar ADA 43 single did the same, ramming the well-received Radar LP up the charts – also to a No. 12 high.

As Geller's liner notes wittily imply on Page 9 of the booklet - Nick's been singing Cruel To Be Kind (in the right measure) ever since. Which brings us to this hugely likeable reissue – details first…

UK released 15 March 2011 - "Labour Of Lust" by NICK LOWE on Proper Records PRPCD077 (Barcode 805520030779) is an ‘Expanded Edition’ CD Reissue and Remaster with One Bonus Track. It will allow fans to sequence both the UK and US LP configurations and plays out as follows (39:03 minutes):

1. Cruel To Be Kind

2. Cracking Up

3. Big Kick, Plain Scrap

4. American Squirm

5. Born Fighter

6. You Make Me

7. Skin Deep

8. Switchboard Susan

9. Endless Grey Ribbon

10. Without Love

11. Dose Of You

12. Love So Fine

BONUS TRACK:

13. Basing Street

Released June 1979 in the UK on Radar Records RAD 21 and also June 1979 in the USA on Columbia Records JC 36087 - the UK and US LPs both had eleven tracks each but with different configurations. The British variant had "Endless Grey Ribbon" as an exclusive (Track 2 on Side 2) whilst the US LP had that song replaced with "American Squirm" as their exclusive cut (Track 4, Side 1). All songs written by Nick Lowe, except "Cruel To Be Kind" which was a co-write with Ian Gomm, "Switchboard Susan" by Mickey Jupp (credited as "Switch Board Susan" in the USA) and "Love So Fine" which is credited to the four in Rockpile – Nick Lowe, Dave Edmunds, Billy Bremner and Terry Williams.

To sequence the UK LP from this CD use the following tracks:

Side 1: Tracks 1, 2, 3, 5, 6 and 7

Side 2: Tracks 8, 9, 10, 11 and 12

To sequence the US LP use:

Side 1: Tracks 1, 2, 3, 4, 6 and 7

Side 2: Tracks 8, 11, 10, 5 and 12

The three SINGLES around the album were:

UK - "American Squirm" b/w "What's So Funny 'bout (Peace, Love And Understanding)"

October 1978 on Radar Records ADA 26

The B-side is an Elvis Costello song credited to Nick Lowe and His Sound, but it's actually Elvis Costello and The Attractions and is unfortunately not on this CD. "American Squirm" wasn't released as a 45 in the USA - is on the US LP only.

UK - "Cracking Up" b/w "Basing Street"

June 1979 on Radar Records ADA 34 - B-side was non-album and is the 'bonus track' on this CD

US - "Switch Board Susan" b/w "Basing Street"

October 1979 on Columbia 1-11131 - "Switchboard Susan" was the A-side in the USA instead of "Cracking Up"

UK - "Cruel To Be Kind" b/w "Endless Grey Ribbon"

September 1979 on Radar Records ADA 43

June 1979 USA on Columbia 3-11018 with same songs

US fans would not have had the B-side as it only appeared on the UK LP

You get a gatefold card-sleeve; the Barney Bubbles cover artwork on a picture CD, a 12-Page booklet with new liner notes from Canvey Island/Pub Rock aficionado WILL BIRCH with added notes from Columbia's then A&R guy GREGG GELLER. In-between are repro photos of very cool period memorabilia like the 'I Made An AMERICAN SQUIRM' button, the Survival Kit promo pack, Radar Records track promo trinkets, the "Cruel To Be Kind" UK 7" picture sleeve, a billboard add for the album, US tour shots, unreleased proof artwork for Barney Bubbles sleeves and loads more. The read is witty, informative and more than tinged with the huge affection Lowe, Rockpile and the album are remembered with. Tasty.

But best of all is a Remaster by Columbia Records Audio Engineer supremo VIC ANESINI - a man who has twiddled the knobs on The Byrds, Nilsson, Santana, Elvis Presley, The Jayhawks, Stevie Ray Vaughan and oodles more. I mention this because the album was always a low-fi audio affair to me and in truth it generally remains that way. But Anesini has done a clean transfer and the oomph the tracks so desperately needed is in evidence - even if it isn't as much as you would have hoped for (Anesini also did the "Jesus Of Cool" album reissue for Proper Records).

Co-written with fellow Pub Rocker Ian Gomm, the album opens on the knock me back down winner that is "Cruel To Be Kind" and Terry Williams' drum kit is suddenly Everly Brothers clear as the band kicks in. When asked to contribute to a tune to the "Labour Of Love: The Music Of Nick Lowe" 2001 CD compilation, none other than the sorely missed Tom Petty and his Heartbreakers did "Cracking Up" – and from the I don’t think its funny anymore lyrics – you can so hear why. I love the Dave Edmunds doubled-vocals on the chorus. And again the Bass and Drums of the drugs song "Big Kick, Plain Scrap" is indeed kicking and not monkeying around (great remaster, even on the flanged vocals). Edmunds again adds so much to "Born Fighter" on the vocal and guitar front, as does Huey Lewis (of The News) on loan from Clover giving it some mean Harmonica.

The US album had "American Squirm" slotted in on Side 1 and it must have felt weird (or thrilling) to have a Brit say "I made an American squirm and it felt so right…” The song also featured Elvis Costello on Vocals and Pete Thomas of The Attractions on Drums. A sort of dry run for "Basing Street", the almost hurting quiet in "You Make Me" features Nick strumming a barely perceptible acoustic – love making our hero weak and confused (a good excuse really). Things go back to beat city with the catchy-as-a-cold "Skin Deep" where Nick is belly to belly but unfortunately not eye to eye (love that guitar work from Edmunds, subtle and effective). Other cool ones come in the shape of the Rockabilly swinging "Without Love" (all by himself in the heartbreak sea) and the final slice of Rockpile chugging in "Love So Fine" – a track I always felt would have been a far better single than "American Squirm". And I must rant and rave about the B-side "Basing Street" – a bare bones acoustic tale of ugly inner London misery that used to slay me every time I flipped the single. I played this sucker to death, the half spoken lyrics, the sort of Johnny Cash unplugged feel, the tale of a cut homeless 17 year old, something about its eerie loneliness used to affect me and to hear it now so clean and clear is frankly even a little jarring.

"Each time I see her, I can't wait to see her again…" – Nick Lowe sang on the lyrically clever "Love So Fine". I suspect so many of us have felt the same about his first two albums and this Remaster only hammers home our initial faith. A gentleman and a scholar and that's just the left leg. Fab stuff and then some…

"Ducks Deluxe/Taxi To The Terminal Zone" by DUCKS DELUXE - 1974 and 1975 UK Albums on RCA Victor Records featuring Sean Tyla (January 2002 UK Beat Goes On Records (BGO) Compilation - 2LPs onto 2CDs - Remasters) - A Review by Mark Barry...

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"...We Sang The Songs We Loved..."

Ah Pub Rock - I was a devotee and truth be told - still am.

Sean Tyla's wonderful and fondly remembered DUCKS DELUXE signed to RCA Records in 1973 and promptly pumped out two Seventies Rock 'n' Roll/Pub Rock albums one year apart - the superb and criminally overlooked "Ducks Deluxe" debut in February 1974 followed the next year in February 1975 by the Dave Edmunds Produced "Taxi To The Terminal Zone" - a title taken from a lyric in Chuck Berry's 1964 classic "Promised Land" - a song Edmunds had covered himself back in 1972 on his Regal Zonophone LP "Rockpile". And that's where this wicked little British Beat Goes On twofer CD set comes swaggering in. Here are the boppin' beers and barstools...

UK released January 2002 - "Ducks Deluxe/Taxi To The Terminal Zone" by DUCKS DELUXE on Beat Goes On BGOCD 539 (Barcode 5017261205391) offers 2 albums Remastered onto 2CDs and plays out as follows:

Disc 1 "Ducks Deluxe" - 44:24 minutes:

1. Coast To Coast [Side 1]

2. Nervous Breakdown

3. Daddy Put The Bomp

4. I Got You

5. Please, Please, Please

6. Fireball

7. Don't Mind Rocking Tonite [Side 2]

8. Hearts On My Sleeve

9. Falling For That Woman

10. West Coast Trucking Board

11. Too Hot To Handle

12. It's All Over Now

Tracks 1 to 12 are their debut album "Ducks Deluxe" - released February 1974 in the UK and USA on RCA Victor LPL1 5008. Produced by DAVE BLOXHAM - it didn't chart. Tracks 1 and 5 written by Nick Garvey, Tracks 3, 6, 9, 10 and 11 written by Sean Tyla, Tracks 4 and 8 written by Martin Belmont with Track 7 co-written by Martin Belmont and Nick Garvey – Track 2 is an Eddie Cochran cover version while Track 11 is a cover of a Valentino's 1964 single written by Bobby Womack.

Disc 2 - "Taxi To The Terminal Zone" - 38:10 minutes:

1. Cherry Pie [Side 1]

2. It Doesn't Matter Tonite

3. I'm Crying

4. Love's Melody

5. Teenage Head

6. Rio Grande [Side 2]

7. My My Music

8. Rainy Night In Kilburn

9. Woman Of The Man

10. Paris 9

Tracks 1 to 10 are their second studio album "Taxi To The Terminal Zone" - released February 1975 in the UK on RCA Records SF 8402. Produced by DAVE EDMUNDS (he also plays Pedal Steel Guitar on "Rio Grande" and Rhythm Guitar on "Paris 9") - it didn't chart. Tracks 2, 6, 9 and 10 written by Sean Tyla, Track 1 co-written by Martin Belmont and Sean Tyla, Tracks 3 and 7 written by Nick Garvey, Track 4 written by Andrew McMasters and Track 5 is a Flamin' Groovies cover version.

DUCKS DELUXE was:

SEAN TYLA - Lead Vocals, Rhythm and Wah Wah Guitar and Keyboards

MARTIN BELMONT - Lead Guitar and Lead Vocals

NICK GARVEY - Bass Guitar and Lead Vocals

TIM ROPER - Drums and Backing Vocals

ANDREW McMASTER - Keyboards and Vocals for the "Taxi To The Terminal Zone" LP only

The 8-page inlay may look like a slight affair but with liner notes from original band member MARTIN BELMONT illuminated the history of almost every song - it's actually a hugely informative read. There’s a black and white photo of the four-piece band beneath the text and see-through CD trays – but not a lot else. As with so many of these early BGO releases - there is no mastering credits but with the material licensed from BMG - I'm suspecting these are quality ANDREW THOMPSON Remasters because the audio on this is Ace. The Dave Edmunds Produced second LP in particular sounds fabulous (the plaintive ballad "I'm Crying" for instance) - done at his own Rockfield Studios in Wales in late 1974.

The "Ducks Deluxe" self-titled debut is a winner I return to again and again - the kind of album you play to death - side after side. It even gets better as the years-pass and the grey hairs accumulate while the grey matter dissipates. A count-in asks if the kids are ready to Rock 'n' Roll in "Coast To Coast" - a snotty number that is a huge fave amongst fans. It was an obvious kick-ass single so RCA rush-released Nick Garvey's punky rocker in November 1973 (RCA 2438) with the non-album "Bring Back That Packard Car" on the flip-side. Damn shame someone didn't think to include that rarity as a Bonus Track here. There follows a truly cool version of Eddie Cochran's "Nervous Breakdown" - another show-stopper and one the blessed Eddie would surely have approved of. The bare but utterly brilliant "Daddy Put The Bomp" is the kind of simplistic tune about Rock 'n' Roll that eats its way into your heart - Texas and Swamps and Ladies and Eddie singing "Summertime Blues" again. Belmont admits to a Stax Records obsession in the decidedly Otis-sounding "I Got You". He rightly acknowledges the horn section 'The Sons Of The Jungle' who were George Larnyah on Tenor Sax, Peter Van Der Puij on Baritone Sax and Eddie Quansah on Trumpet - they play also on "Falling For That Woman" and are also on the Toots and The Maytals classic "Funky Kingston". Side 1 comes bopping to a finish with the 1964 Beatles strum of "Please, Please, Please" and probably their most popular raver - "Fireball" - Belmont revealing that the chordal guitar is probably based on "Sweet Jane" from the Velvet's 1970 "Loaded" album.

Side 2 opens with another snotty roar - the manic "Don't Mind Rocking Tonite" - another American homage that also features Bob Andrews of Brinsley Schwarz on keyboards (he also contributes the same to "West Coast Trucking Board" and "Too Hot To Handle"). Belmont gives short shift to his own "Hearts On My Sleeve" but I like its Rockpile feel. A cigarette being lit opens the second big ballad - the slow and soulful "Falling For That Woman" - the kind of great Soul-Rock song you want a band to play in a pub with a just few pints taken and the emotions oiled enough to flow like a river as the singer digs in - recalling his foolish fall for a lady that return the compliment. I love this song and the Remaster is great. The side comes to an end with three goodies - the very Band-sounding "West Texas Trucking Board" where Bob Andrews anchors the story-song with a superb swirling organ sound. It's followed by the slightly out-of-place clavinet-funk of "Too Hot To Handle" where Ducks Deluxe have been listening to too much Ace and not absorbing Paul Carrack's knack for Soul properly. But it ends on a high - a cover of the 1964 Valentino's classic "It's All Over". Written by Bobby Womack - it is of course more closely associated with The Rolling Stones who sort of made it their own. Great album, great finish...

I can still remember the sting of LP number 2 - somehow it felt flat compared to the debut - lack of good song. It's actually hard to nail down why it doesn't quite lift off - but being Ducks Deluxe - there are plenty of moments well worth owning. Nick Garvey used to roadie equipment for the American Rock 'n' Roll ravers The Flamin' Groovies so DD's cover of their "Teenage Head" was a perfect fit. Tyla does his best Bob Dylan Texas Outlaw voice for "Rio Grande" aided and abetted by Edmunds who plays a mean Pedal Steel behind that 'Blonde On Blonde' organ throughout (saddle up boys). At last we get what feels like some half decent Pub Rock in "My My Music" – the great piano boogie (Andrew McMaster) matching the lyrics about a band that rocks all night playing the music he wants to hear. Trivia fans should note that Wilco Johnson of Dr. Feelgood is apparently amidst the hand-clappers – not that you'd recognise it! Belmont doesn't rate his ballad "Rainy Night In Kilburn" but I actually like the music – with a different vocalist it might have lifted off better. McMaster's lone contribution "Love's Melody" is insanely catchy - predating by a good two to three years the New Wave sound of '77 and '78 that would dominate literally hundreds of English 45s in those explosively creative years.

Both Nick Garvey and Andy McMaster would jump ship after album number two failed - leaving to form The Motors who would go on to have a huge hit with "Airport" in June 1978 on Virgin Records. The band hired in Mick Groome on Bass to replace the lost boys and recorded one final Four-Track EP called "Jumping" for the French label Sky Dog in 1975 - and again a damn shame it wasn't included here as obvious Bonus Tracks material on Disc 2 when there was plenty of room. Tyla would of course form Tyla's Gang and pump out more Rock 'n' Roll/Punky tunes – often providing winners for Dr. Feelgood (check out the Tyla retrospective "Pool Hall Punks: The Complete Recordings 1976-1978" on Esoteric Recordings from August 2016) - while the Ducks Deluxe sound legacy would lead on to Elvis Costello and The Attractions, Graham Parker and The Rumour and the Nick Lowe/Dave Edmunds vehicle Rockpile to name but a few.

For sure the second platter lets the side down somewhat as does the absence of Bonus Cuts on both CDs that would have lifted this release so high. But as I re-listen to "It Don't Matter Tonite" on "Taxi" and "Fireball" on "Ducks Deluxe" - I'm reminded of and transported back to sweaty heaving pubs and Dr. Feelgood and The Kursaal Flyers and Brinsley Schwarz and of course Ducks Deluxe.

And that's the kind of Teenage Nervous Breakdown I like. Thanks for the memories boys...

"Howlin Wind" by GRAHAM PARKER - April 1976 Debut Album on Mercury Records featuring Dave Edmunds, Brinsley Schwarz and Members of The Rumour (July 2001 UK Mercury 'Expanded Edition' CD Reissue in the '25th Anniversary Reissue' Series - Gary Moore Remaster) - A Review by Mark Barry...

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"...Put Them Right..."

It's 1975 and a young Graham Parker is bored to distraction feeding go-go juice to gas guzzlers on the forecourt of a London Petrol Station. He puts the smelly grubby nozzle back in its equally scuzzy slot for the last time, toddles off home, pens a few caustic tunes in his bedsit about love, drugs and emotional insanity - then sets off to gain instant fame and fortune (well fame anyway).

Like so many Rock Kids of a certain age who remember the advent of Punk and New Wave (and welcomed much of it) – it's always struck me as odd that genuine musical talent like say Nick Lowe and Graham Parker weren't and aren't utterly huge? I mean where’s the statue citizens of Chobham in Surrey for your musical son – eh?. I can remember when Parker's albums were simply three and four-pound fodder in every secondhand shop. Well maybe the 2001 Remasters of his blistering 70ts catalogue can put pay to that short sightedness for good because his 1976 debut is a total winner you need in your life. Here are the Soul Shoes in your face (please don't let the Fuzz in)...

UK released July 2001 – "Howlin Wind" by GRAHAM PARKER (and THE RUMOUR) on Mercury 548 667-2 (Barcode 731454866729) is an 'Expanded Edition' CD Remaster with one Bonus Track and plays out as follows (45:11 minutes):

1. White Honey [Side 1]

2. Nothing's Gonna Pull Us Apart

3. Silly Thing

4. Gypsy Blood

5. Between You And Me

6. Back To Schooldays

7. Soul Shoes [Side 2]

8. Lady Doctor

9. You've Got To Be Kidding

10. Howlin' Wind

11. Not if It Pleases Me

12. Don't Ask Me No Questions

Tracks 1 to 12 are his debut LP "Howlin Wind" – released April 1976 in the UK on Vertigo 6360 129 and in the USA on Mercury SRM-1 1095

BONUS TRACK:

13. I’m Gonna Use It Now – non-album B-side of "Silly Thing" issued as his debut UK 7” single in March 1976 on Mercury 6059 135

GRAHAM PARKER – Lead Vocals, Acoustic Guitar and Rhythm Guitar on "Howlin' Wind"

THE RUMOUR was:

BRINSLEY SCHWARZ – Guitar, Hammond Organ, Tenor Saxes and Backing Vocals

BOB ANDREWS – Lowrey And Hammond Organ, Piano and backing Vocals

MARTIN BELMONT – Guitar and backing Vocals

ANDREW BODNAR - Bass

STEVE GOULDING – Drums and backing Vocals

GUESTS:

ED DEAN – Slide Guitar on "Soul Shoes"

DAVE EDMUNDS – Rockabilly Guitar on "Back To Schooldays"

NOEL BROWN – Dobro Guitar on "Not If It Pleases Me" and Slide Guitar on "Back To Schooldays"

STEWART LYNAS – Alto Sax on "Lady Doctor" and Arranged All Brass

HERSHALL HOLDER – Trumpet

DAVE CONNERS – First Tenor Sax

BRINSLEY SCHWARZ – Second Tenor Sax

DANNY ELLIS – Trombone

JOHN (VISCOUNT) EARLE – Baritone Sax

The '25th Anniversary Reissues' sticker on the CD jewel case promises 'Bonus Tracks, New Sleeve Notes & Expanded Artwork'. Once you open the decidedly skimpy three-way foldout inlay – you know that Universal has gone all ASDA budget range on our Graham. There are new paragraphs from the great man alongside some history of the album by NIGEL WILLIAMSON and one lone bonus track as you can see above. It's good but hardly great – and surely there were outtakes to be had after all these years? But all that budget-priced gripe goes out the boozer window when you hear the muscle and clarity of the Remaster by GARY MOORE... 

There are tracks on "Howlin Wind" that have needed a bit of 'oomph' for years – "Soul Shoes", "Back To Schooldays" and the sadly lovely "Between Me And You" jump to mind. But the improvement is all over. The brilliant build of instruments in the acidic "Not If It Pleases Me" comes at you with incredible power (a forgotten nugget methinks). The perky opener "White Honey" sounds really fantastic (for a song about cocaine that is) and should have been the album's lead-off single instead of Vertigo's choice of the weaker but safer "Silly Thing". The acoustic beginning to "Gypsy Blood" is warm to these tired lugs and when the Rumour do kick in – the whole soundstage has real power without being overly bombastic (gorgeous acoustic playing in this song by Parker). I'm jumping around the room like a snotty brat with a day pass to Rowntrees as the brilliant and rebellious bopper "Back To Schooldays" fills my room – Dave Edmunds giving it some wicked Rockabilly Guitar just when the song needs it. Parker's vocals naturally suit the choppy-angry New Wave rhythms of "Don't Ask Me Questions" – but then like all great songwriters – he floors you with real emotion and pathos. Disguised behind the almost sing-along Eagles rhythm of "Between You And Me" is a razor blade – a song about love and bitter loss. I’ve loved this poison-berry of a melody for four decades now and like much of this brilliant album – still feels fresh and vital in 2016.

In his typically self-deprecating liner notes - Graham Parker reckons that his "Howlin Wind" LP 'was the best album released in the UK in 1976' outside of all that commercial singles chart fodder. On the evidence presented here – the angry Pump Attendant may indeed have a point. Brilliant...