Half a Boy and Half a Man

Last updated
"Half a Boy and Half a Man"
Half a Boy and Half a Man.jpg
Single by Nick Lowe
from the album Nick Lowe and His Cowboy Outfit
B-side "Awesome"
ReleasedJune 1984
Genre Rock and roll
Length2:52
Label F-Beat
Songwriter(s) Nick Lowe
Producer(s) Nick Lowe, Colin Fairley, Paul Riley
Nick Lowe singles chronology
"Wish You Were Here"
(1983)		"Half a Boy and Half a Man"
(1984)		"L.A.F.S."
(1984)
Music video
"Half a Boy and Half a Man" on YouTube

"Half a Boy and Half a Man" is a 1984 song written by Nick Lowe. It was first included in his album Nick Lowe and His Cowboy Outfit . [1] The song was then released as the lead single from the album in June 1984. [2] [3]

Contents

The song was his most successful since "Cruel to Be Kind." [4] It debuted at No. 77, and peaked at No. 53 on the UK singles chart, [5] and it reached No. 66 in Australia. [6] The single also peaked at number 110 on the Billboard Bubbling Under Hot 100 chart. [7] [8] A music video was made for the song. [9]

Critical reception

Cash Box writes that the song "is typical Nick: straight ahead, no-nonsense rock’n’roll slippin’ and a slidin’ around a set of pointedly sardonic lyrics." [2] AllMusic's Stewart Mason calls the song a "breathless opener to an ultimately disappointing album," and that "Half a Boy and Half a Man" is "arguably the best thing Nick Lowe wrote in the '80s." [10]

Chart performance

Weekly charts
Chart (1984)Peak

position

Australia (Kent Music Report) [6] 66
UK Singles (OCC) [5] 53
U.S. Billboard Bubbling Under Hot 100 [7] 110

Notable cover versions

References

  1. ↑ "Nick Lowe and His Cowboy Outfit - Nick Lowe | AllMusic". AllMusic .
  2. 1 2 "Feature Picks" (PDF). Cash Box . June 23, 1984. p. 7 – via World Radio History.
  3. ↑ "Points West" (PDF). Cash Box . June 30, 1984. p. 8 – via World Radio History.
  4. ↑ Sexton, Paul (June 16, 1984). "Lowe Life" (PDF). Record Mirror . p. 26 – via World Radio History.
  5. 1 2 "HALF A BOY HALF A MAN - NICK LOWE | Official Charts". Official Charts .
  6. 1 2 Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (illustrated ed.). St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. p. 309. ISBN   0-646-11917-6.
  7. 1 2 "Bubbling Under The Hot 100" (PDF). Billboard . August 4, 1984. p. 60 – via World Radio History.
  8. ↑ "US Hot 100 Bubbling Under". Top40weekly.
  9. ↑ "Video Music Programming" (PDF). Billboard . July 21, 1984. p. 26 – via World Radio History.
  10. ↑ Mason, Stewart. "Half a Boy and Half a Man Review by Stewart Mason". AllMusic .
  11. ↑ Nastos, Michael G. "Caught in the Act - Queen Ida & Her Zydeco Band | AllMusic". AllMusic .
  12. ↑ Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "Half a Boy/Half a Man - George Thorogood & the Destroyers | AllMusic". AllMusic .
  13. ↑ Thelen, Christopher. "George Thorogood And The Destroyers | Daily Vault". Daily Vault.
  14. ↑ Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "Live in '99 - George Thorogood & the Destroyers | AllMusic". AllMusic .
  15. ↑ Deming, Mark. "What's So Funny About Peace Love and Los Straitjackets - Los Straitjackets | AllMusic". AllMusic .
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