Cruel to Be Kind

Last updated

"Cruel to Be Kind"
Cruel to Be Kind.jpg
Cover of the 1979 UK single
Single by Nick Lowe
from the album Labour of Lust
B-side "Endless Grey Ribbon"
Released17 August 1979 (1979-08-17) (UK) [1]
Genre
Length3:31
Label
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s) Lowe
Nick Lowe singles chronology
"Cracking Up"
(1979)		"Cruel to Be Kind"
(1979)		"Switch Board Susan"
(1979)
Official video
"Cruel to Be Kind" on YouTube

"Cruel to Be Kind" is a song co-written by Nick Lowe and his former bandmate Ian Gomm while the pair were in Brinsley Schwarz. The song only appeared as the 1978 B-side of "Little Hitler" until Columbia Records convinced Lowe to rerecord it as a potential solo single. Musically, the song was inspired by "The Love I Lost" by Harold Melvin & the Blue Notes, an influence reflected in more recent performances of the song. [4]

Contents

Released as a single in 1979, the song peaked at number 12 on the charts of Australia, Canada, the UK and the US. [5] [4] In the US, where it is one of Lowe's most well-known works, it remains his only single to hit the top 40, whereas in the UK "I Love the Sound of Breaking Glass" remains his biggest hit, having reached number 7 a year earlier. [6] The song was accompanied by a music video featuring Lowe's marriage to Carlene Carter.

Background

"Cruel to Be Kind" was originally written by Nick Lowe and Ian Gomm while in Brinsley Schwarz, having been recorded as a demo during the band's final years. [4] The song was to appear on It's All Over Now, which was intended to be the band's final studio album but was never released; this version of "Cruel to Be Kind" ultimately did not surface until 1978, when it appeared as a B-side of Lowe's single "Little Hitler". [7] Lowe stated, "I wrote that when I was with a band, Brinsley Schwarz, that I was with from the early '70s to about the mid-'70s. ... We recorded it on a demo, it never came out, and when I signed to Columbia Records the A&R man [Gregg Geller] there at the time suggested I record it again. And I didn't think it would do anything, but he kind of bullied me into it." [8] Lowe recorded the song with his band Rockpile; he recalled, "I said, 'Boys, I'm sorry, I've got this song which I've been told we've got to record, and it goes like this.' They grumbled a bit about it." [9] [4]

Musically, the song was originally closer to a soul style. Lowe later said, “Initially... the inspiration was a song I loved by Harold Melvin & the Blue Notes called, 'The Love I Lost', and the bass line was the same... we loved that Philly disco stuff from the 70's, The O'Jays, all that stuff, we loved that... I can't really remember much about recording it. It was just another tune that we did, you know, and I sent it over to New York to Gregg and said, Uhh, will this do?'" [10] In more recent live versions, Lowe has performed the song closer to "The Love I Lost"; he explained, "How I do it now sounds quite different. In fact, it was on the radio the other day and I was quite amazed how differently I do it now". [11]

"Cruel to Be Kind" proved to be Lowe's most successful American single. [4] Lowe reflected on this, "When I had my couple of hits, I sort of felt like I was ticking a box more than, 'Great, I'm off now on a chart-topping career.' I felt that in order to do what I wanted to do, I had to do certain things, and one of them was to have a hit in my own right. At least one. I managed two or three, if you take in Europe. But in the United States, where it really matters, I had one hit and people still remember it, and it's a pretty good little song, you know?" [11] Lowe continues to perform the song live and still looks favorably upon the song, saying, "I really love it. It cheers people up. ... If they're good songs, they really will stand the test of time". [11]

Release history

The song was originally written and recorded for the final Brinsley Schwarz album, It’s All Over Now, which was never officially released.

This version was eventually issued as the non-album B-side of Lowe's "Little Hitler" single, culled from his first solo album in 1978, Jesus of Cool (retitled Pure Pop for Now People in the US). This is now known as the "original version", as compiled on Lowe's 1999 box set The Doings: The Solo Years and the 2008 expanded reissue of Jesus of Cool, as well as a bootleg entitled It's All Over Now, based on the unreleased album of the same title.

The song was then re-recorded with Rockpile and appeared on Lowe's second album Labour of Lust in 1979. It was released as a single on the Radar Records label in the UK and Columbia Records in the United States, charting at number 12 in both countries. [4] The cover art was done by Antoinette Laumer Sales, while the cover photograph of Nick Lowe was by Greg Irvine.

The single was backed with the non-album Lowe solo song "Endless Grey Ribbon", which Lowe had originally composed for fellow Rockpile member Dave Edmunds, as referred to in the ITV documentary Born Fighters. Lowe included the Labour of Lust version of the song on both the 1984 12" single of "Half a Boy and Half a Man", from his album Nick Lowe and his Cowboy Outfit, as well as the EP version of his single "All Men Are Liars", from 1990's Party of One. It also appears on the 2010 "soundtrack" album "inspired" by the 2006 motion picture The Ant Bully . Live versions of the song appear on Lowe's 1998 EP "You Inspire Me", from his Dig My Mood album, and on the 2004 live album Untouched Takeaway.

The Labour of Lust version of "Cruel to Be Kind" has been included on many compilations of Nick Lowe's work, including 1985's 16 All Time Lowes, 1990's Basher: The Best of Nick Lowe, 1999's The Doings: The Solo Years, 2002's Anthology and 2009's Quiet Please... The New Best of Nick Lowe. It has also been included on many various artists compilations of hits of the 1970s, such as Poptopia! 70's Power Pop Classics.

Music video

The video for "Cruel to be Kind" was the 67th video to air on MTV and is a combination of actual footage of Lowe's wedding to Carlene Carter, [12] with a humorous re-enactment of the wedding, featuring Carter as herself, Dave Edmunds as their limo driver, [12] Terry Williams as the photographer, Billy Bremner as the baker, and Jake Riviera (Nick's manager at the time) as the best man. The wedding took place on August 18, 1979, at the Tropicana Motel in West Hollywood. All family stayed there for the wedding and reception (also featured in the video). Filming for the video took so long that Lowe was actually late to the wedding.

Chart performance

See also

Related Research Articles

Brinsley Schwarz were a 1970s English pub rock band, named after their guitarist Brinsley Schwarz. With Nick Lowe on bass and vocals, keyboardist Bob Andrews and drummer Billy Rankin, the band evolved from the 1960s pop band Kippington Lodge. They were later augmented by Ian Gomm on guitar and vocals.

<i>Silver Pistol</i> 1972 studio album by Brinsley Schwarz

Silver Pistol is an album by Brinsley Schwarz, released in 1972. It was the first album to include Ian Gomm.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nick Lowe</span> British singer, songwriter and producer (born 1949)

Nicholas Drain Lowe is an English singer-songwriter, musician and producer. A noted figure in pub rock, power pop and new wave, Lowe has recorded a string of well-reviewed solo albums. Along with being a vocalist, Lowe plays guitar, bass guitar, piano and harmonica.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dave Edmunds</span> Welsh musician

David William Edmunds is a Welsh singer-songwriter, guitarist and record producer. Although he is mainly associated with pub rock and new wave, having many hits in the 1970s and early 1980s, his natural leaning has always been towards 1950s-style rock and roll and rockabilly.

Love Sculpture were a Welsh blues rock band that was active from 1966 to 1970, led by Dave Edmunds, with bassist John David and drummer Rob "Congo" Jones.

<i>Labour of Lust</i> 1979 studio album by Nick Lowe

Labour of Lust is an album by British singer-songwriter Nick Lowe. Produced by Lowe, it was released in 1979 by Radar Records in the UK and Columbia Records in the US. It was recorded and released at the same time as Dave Edmunds' Repeat When Necessary and features the same Rockpile personnel. It led off with "Cruel to Be Kind," Lowe's only major US hit.

Terrence Williams is a Welsh rock drummer. During the 1970s and early 1980s Williams was drummer with Dave Edmunds / Rockpile and Man. Rockpile split in 1981 and Williams joined Dire Straits from 1982 until 1988.

<i>Jesus of Cool</i> 1978 studio album by Nick Lowe

Jesus of Cool is the solo debut album by British singer-songwriter Nick Lowe. Produced by Lowe, it was released in March 1978 by Radar Records in the UK.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">(What's So Funny 'Bout) Peace, Love, and Understanding</span> 1974 single by Brinsley Schwarz

"(What's So Funny 'Bout) Peace, Love, and Understanding" is a 1974 song written by English singer/songwriter Nick Lowe. Initially released by Lowe with his band Brinsley Schwarz on their 1974 album The New Favourites of... Brinsley Schwarz, the song was released as a single and did not chart.

<i>The New Favourites of... Brinsley Schwarz</i> 1974 studio album by Brinsley Schwarz

The New Favourites of... Brinsley Schwarz is the final studio album by Brinsley Schwarz, released in 1974, produced by Dave Edmunds.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rockpile</span> British rock and roll band

Rockpile were a British rock and roll group of the late 1970s and early 1980s, noted for their strong pub rock, rockabilly and power pop influences, and as a foundational influence on new wave. The band consisted of Dave Edmunds, Nick Lowe, Billy Bremner and Terry Williams (drums).

Ian Robert Gomm is a British singer-songwriter, who was the rhythm guitarist for Brinsley Schwarz from 1970 to 1974. He was named "Best Rhythm Guitarist" by NME in 1971.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Billy Bremner (musician)</span> Musical artist

William Murray Bremner is a Scottish guitarist, best known for his work in the band Rockpile and on many of Nick Lowe and Dave Edmunds' albums. He has also played with The Pretenders, Shakin' Stevens, Carlene Carter and The Coal Porters, as well as issuing four solo albums.

<i>Nick the Knife</i> 1982 studio album by Nick Lowe

Nick the Knife is the third solo album by Nick Lowe, released in 1982 and his first since the 1981 breakup of his band Rockpile.

<i>Quiet Please... The New Best of Nick Lowe</i> 2009 greatest hits album by Nick Lowe

Quiet Please... The New Best of Nick Lowe is a 49-track career-spanning collection of songs written by British songwriter Nick Lowe. As well as his solo work, it also features many of his collaborations with the likes of Rockpile, Brinsley Schwarz, Paul Carrack and Little Village. The compilation was released by Proper Records in the UK and Europe and by Yep Roc in the US. The collection was compiled by Gregg Geller.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">So It Goes (song)</span> 1976 single by Nick Lowe

"So It Goes" is a song written and recorded by Nick Lowe in 1976. The single was Nick Lowe’s solo debut following his departure from Brinsley Schwarz, and was the first single released on Stiff Records.

"Switchboard Susan" is a song written by Mickey Jupp and recorded by Nick Lowe for his 1979 album, Labour of Lust. The song was produced by Lowe.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">I Knew the Bride</span> 1985 single by Nick Lowe

"I Knew the Bride (When She Used to Rock 'n' Roll)" is a song written by Nick Lowe and first popularized by Dave Edmunds. It was released on Edmunds's 1977 album Get It and a year later in a live version by Nick Lowe's Last Chicken in the Shop on Live Stiffs Live.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Girls Talk (Elvis Costello song)</span> 1979 new wave song

"Girls Talk" is a new wave song written by Elvis Costello and first recorded by Dave Edmunds in 1978. Costello gave an early version of the song to Edmunds, who reworked the song and released it on his album Repeat When Necessary. Edmunds' version peaked at number four on the UK Singles Chart and number 12 in Ireland, becoming one of Edmunds' most successful career singles.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nick Lowe discography</span>

Nick Lowe is an English singer-songwriter, musician, and producer. His discography consists of 14 studio albums, 1 live album, 3 EPs, 23 singles, and 6 compilations. In addition, he has been a performer and producer on numerous albums by other artists.

References

  1. ↑ "Nick Lowe – Cruel to be Kind".
  2. ↑ Mason, Stewart. Nick Lowe – Cruel to Be Kind at AllMusic. Retrieved 17 October 2015.
  3. 1 2 Billboard Staff (19 October 2023). "The 500 Best Pop Songs: Staff List". Billboard . Retrieved 19 February 2024. An ode to tough love and heartache, but with a driving soul-pop rhythm...Heath Ledger's Patrick surprises Julia Stiles' Kat at prom with...an even jumpier version of Lowe's power pop gem.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Watkins, Jack (15 February 2021). "How we made: Nick Lowe on Cruel to Be Kind". The Guardian . Retrieved 7 March 2022.
  5. ↑ "Nick Lowe, "Cruel to be Kind" Chart Positions". Archived from the original on 28 March 2014. Retrieved 2 December 2016.
  6. ↑ "Nick Lowe, "I Love the Sound of Breaking Glass" Chart Position" . Retrieved 2 December 2016.
  7. ↑ Staunton, Terry. "It's All Over Now". Record Collector. Retrieved 17 August 2023.
  8. ↑ "The Daily Cut: Nick Lowe "Cruel to Be Kind"". 98.5 WNCX. CBS. Archived from the original on 26 March 2017. Retrieved 25 March 2017.
  9. ↑ Leas, Ryan (14 September 2021). "We've Got A File On You: Nick Lowe". Stereogum. Retrieved 5 October 2021.
  10. ↑ "Speakeasy: Nick Lowe" (Interview). Front and Center Entertainment.
  11. 1 2 3 gq.com (31 October 2011). "The Survivors: Nick Lowe". GQ. Retrieved 13 March 2019.
  12. 1 2 Binelli, Mark (29 November 2018). "St. Nick: The Long, Strange and Wonderful Career of Nick Lowe". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 13 March 2019.
  13. ↑ Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (illustrated ed.). St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. p. 182. ISBN   0-646-11917-6.
  14. ↑ "Image : RPM Weekly - Library and Archives Canada". Bac-lac.gc.ca. 17 July 2013. Retrieved 14 October 2016.
  15. ↑ "The Irish Charts - All there is to know > Search results for 'Nick Lowe' (from irishcharts.ie)". Fireball Media, via Imgur.com. Retrieved 9 December 2019.
  16. ↑ "Nick Lowe – Cruel to Be Kind". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved 9 December 2019.
  17. ↑ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 9 December 2019.
  18. ↑ "Billboard > Nick Lowe Chart History > Hot 100". Billboard . Retrieved 9 December 2019.
  19. ↑ "Cash Box Top 100 10/20/79".
  20. ↑ "Kent Music Report No 288 – 31 December 1979 > National Top 100 Singles for 1979". Kent Music Report, via Imgur.com. Retrieved 9 December 2019.
  21. ↑ "Item Display - RPM - Library and Archives Canada". Collectionscanada.gc.ca. Archived from the original on 17 August 2016. Retrieved 14 October 2016.
  22. ↑ Whitburn, Joel (1999). Pop Annual. Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin: Record Research Inc. ISBN   0-89820-142-X.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.