Friday Night Jukebox, Vol. LXVIII--Nick Lowe: Cruel to Be Kind

Not that anyone other than me is counting, but we have another first this week on Friday Night Jukebox:  the first song to borrow a line from Shakespeare (Hamlet, no less) for both its title and its chorus ("I must be cruel only to be kind/Thus bad begins and worse remains behind.").

My, my, my--the things we learn from music.

Nick Lowe may be the least famous great songwriter and producer in the history of pop music--in addition to "Cruel to Be Kind" he also wrote one of Elvis Costello's seminal songs, "(What's So Funny 'Bout) Peace, Love, and Understanding" as well as produced Costello's first five albums, two albums for Graham Parker, and has somehow managed, despite his lack of fame, to have a career that started in 1969 and is still going strong today.  Lowe was also a member of the vastly influential group Rockpile (few people have heard of them, they didn't last long, but they did some really special rockabilly/power pop music in their time) which would later have a considerable impact on the 80's New Wave movement.

Released in 1979 (hey--I would have still been a young man then...) on his Labour of Lust LP (itself quite a nice piece of work and well worth a listen), "Cruel to Be Kind" would go on to become Lowe's only hit single stateside (#12 with a bullet!) on the Billboard Hot 100 and only one of two in his native U.K.  His backing band for the album, was, oddly enough, his Rockpile bandmates (Lowe returned the favor on two of Dave Edmunds'--he of "From Small Things (Big Things One Day Come)" fame--solo LPs) and it shows in the crispness of the playing and the musical arrangements.

The song itself is an absolute gem of power pop music--one of those magical moments that make listening to music ever so worthwhile.  Like many a Brit before him, Lowe has a way with self-deprecating humor as well as planting his tongue firmly in his cheek.  For the most part, "Cruel to Be Kind" is a look into our mysterious attractions to the opposite sex, and it's sometimes dark side.  But the song is never maudlin--Lowe's vocals are understated but always bouncy, the guitars jangle throughout, and there's whip smart drumming (which, for whatever reason, I only noticed recently) that really holds the entire song together, from the rat-a-tat beginning through the ever so catchy chorus.  And speaking of the chorus (segues are for amateurs...), the song closes with it being sang again and again (as noted many times before, a big emaycee fave) with Lowe's vocals fluctuating between love and madness throughout.

Trust me on this--I've been listening to this song for 36 years and never once has it gotten old.

Rap Sheet:  "Well I do my best to understand dear/But you still mystify and I want to know why..."

Enjoy (Note: the bride in this video is actually Carlene Carter, Lowe's one time wife and daughter of June Carter Cash and step-daughter of the Man in Black--fun fact!):

Peace,
emaycee