Nick Lowe

A singer/songwriter of considerable grace and wit, Nick Lowe pioneered pub rock and punk, then settled into a dignified third act as an elegant crooner. Lowe started his career as the nominal leader of Brinsley Schwarz, a ragged collection of hippies that helped create the pub rock circuit of the early 1970s. Heavily influenced by the Band, the Brinsleys were at the forefront of a British back-to-basics rock & roll that eventually mutated into punk rock.

"Nick the Knife" is a 1982 album by Nick Lowe. The album was Lowe's third solo LP, and his first since the 1981 breakup of his band Rockpile. However, the record still has several Rockpile ties, as Lowe's former bandmates Billy Bremner and Terry Williams play on the album. In addition, Lowe does a slowed-down remake of the Rockpile song "Heart"; the original version can be found on the band's album Seconds of Pleasure sung by Bremner. "Nick the Knife" reached #50 on the Billboard 200, and #99 on the UK album charts. No singles from the album made the US or UK charts, although in Canada "Stick It Where The Sun Don't Shine" hit the top 40.

"Nick Lowe and His Cowboy Outfit" is a 1984 album by British singer-songwriter Nick Lowe. The record marked the official debut of Lowe's new band, the Cowboy Outfit (although all of the band members had appeared on Lowe's previous album, The Abominable Showman). "Nick Lowe and His Cowboy Outfit" incorporates more of a roots rock feel than Lowe's previous albums, including nods to Tex-Mex music ("Half a Boy and Half a Man"), 1950s guitar instrumentals ("Awesome"), and country music (via a cover of Faron Young's "Live Fast, Love Hard, Die Young"). Other notable tracks include the soul-influenced "L.A.F.S." - which was co-produced and arranged by Elvis Costello (a role reversal of sorts, as Lowe had produced Costello's first five albums).

"The Abominable Showman" is an album by British singer-songwriter Nick Lowe. It was released in 1983 and was Lowe's 4th solo album. The album was recorded at Rockfield Studios, Wales and Ampro Studio, London.

"The Rose of England" is an album by British singer-songwriter Nick Lowe, released in 1985. It is the second overall and last album by Lowe's band the Cowboy Outfit, credited as 'Nick Lowe and His Cowboy Outfit'. It contains three cover versions; "7 Nights to Rock" (originally by Moon Mullican), "I Knew the Bride" (originally by Dave Edmunds) and "Bo Bo Skediddle" (originally by Wayne Walker).

"Quiet Please… The New Best Of Nick Lowe" is the definitive career-spanning best of from the British pop genius that makes all other collections obsolete. This 49-track compendium documents the development of one of popular music s greatest song crafters, from his pub rock days in 'Brinsley Schwarz' and later 'Rockpile,' to his now legendary solo career. Healthy doses of material from 20 different albums ombine to make it clear why Lowe is credited by artists and critics alike with paving the way for punk as well as changing the face of pop music with albums like 'Jesus of Cool,' 'Labour of Lust' and 'At My Age.' A deluxe version of this two disc collection is also available, including a DVD of vintage original Lowe videos for tracks like 'I Love the Sound of Breaking Glass,' 'Cruel to Be Kind' and more as well as a full length solo concert filmed live in Belgium circa 2007.

"Party of One" is an album by English singer-songwriter Nick Lowe. Produced by Dave Edmunds, it was released in 1990 by Reprise Records and reissued with altered cover art and two bonus tracks in 1995 by Upstart Records. "Party of One" is one of only two Nick Lowe solo albums with no cover songs, as it is made up entirely of songs written or co-written by Lowe (the other album is 1982's "Nick the Knife").

Nick Lowe may be best known as the producer of the best of Elvis Costello's 70's & early 80's albums, but he has crafted some the smartest & wittiest music around. Lowe came out of the early 70's English pub-rock scene, playing in the genre's biggest group, Brinsley Swarz. After he left the band, he going solo career. This compilation album is sequenced in chronilogical order and some the later songs are weak, especially compared to the early stuff, but one cannot complain when you get 25 songs on a single CD. If you love Nick Lowe, this album is indepensible and if you are unfamiliar with him, it is more than worth checking out.