"…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).
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...
