My bf worked in record stores and his expansive tastes eventually brought me a great bootleg of Edmunds & Lowe playing acoustic versions of Everly Bros. songs. Their regular releases were great but those below-the-radar tracks are a peak experience. The audio quality is excellent. They were in-studio and the combination of vocals - including harmonies and a bit of echo - and guitar work put the session over the top. I think some of it was eventually released.
It was the late seventies when bands would come out and treat the crowd with contempt and disdain. Aerosmith was the worst and Freddie Mercury was a total prick. But Springsteen, Cheap Trick, and The Cars were a great buncha guys. I saw Ted Nugent before he went nuts and he was a feather of a fellow I have no idea what was going on with the Stones.
The first time I saw Rockpile was a disappointing set opening for Van Morrison in Seattle, December 1978 (my friends & I were there for Nick, Dave & Co., not Van) - BUT THEN - the morning after the Van concert we got word that Rockpile was headlining in a Portland, OR venue known as The Earth Tavern that night, so we rented a car and made the trip. And boy, was it worth it - tiny club, we were leaning on the monitors 2 feet away from the band playing on a 2-foot high stage - and they were incredible, absolutely on fire! We got invited backstage by Billy Bremner after the show and spent 2 hours hanging with them. Nick made a pass at my girlfriend (I was honored) and they were all as cool and friendly as could be - that night remains one of the greatest rock & roll experiences of my life, and I've had plenty. I'm preparing to launch a Substack of my own next month, and will be describing the whole event in more detail down the road. . .
Saw them at Leeds Uni in 79. The Ramones, Clash, Jam, Gang of Four and Ian Dury had all played there that year but Rockpile is the concert I remember best; “we’re Rockpile, let’s do it!!” 😀😀
As a kid, Dave Edmunds was the first musician I really became a fan of, bought most of his tapes and records. Yet somehow never went down or understood the Rockpile and Nick Lowe path - I vaguely knew it was there just never connected it. Thank you for finally connecting it all these years later.
“(Wrong Again) Let’s Face It” as it shows the love out of Difford & Tilbrook (their song) to Edmunds (who produced “In Quintessence” on 1981’s East Side Story) - the Squeeze version is a banger and even more chaotic!
Excellent! Nick Lowe got me through high school. One of my favorite concert memories is seeing him at Carnegie Hall – just him and an acoustic guitar. You may know the bio of him by Will Birch (former drummer for The Records), which is a terrific book. Here’s my interview with the author, if you’re interested: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/new-books-in-music/id425448670?i=1000577888816
My bf worked in record stores and his expansive tastes eventually brought me a great bootleg of Edmunds & Lowe playing acoustic versions of Everly Bros. songs. Their regular releases were great but those below-the-radar tracks are a peak experience. The audio quality is excellent. They were in-studio and the combination of vocals - including harmonies and a bit of echo - and guitar work put the session over the top. I think some of it was eventually released.
Saw them open for Blondie. The whole show was awful.
Can't win every night, I suppose!
It was the late seventies when bands would come out and treat the crowd with contempt and disdain. Aerosmith was the worst and Freddie Mercury was a total prick. But Springsteen, Cheap Trick, and The Cars were a great buncha guys. I saw Ted Nugent before he went nuts and he was a feather of a fellow I have no idea what was going on with the Stones.
The first time I saw Rockpile was a disappointing set opening for Van Morrison in Seattle, December 1978 (my friends & I were there for Nick, Dave & Co., not Van) - BUT THEN - the morning after the Van concert we got word that Rockpile was headlining in a Portland, OR venue known as The Earth Tavern that night, so we rented a car and made the trip. And boy, was it worth it - tiny club, we were leaning on the monitors 2 feet away from the band playing on a 2-foot high stage - and they were incredible, absolutely on fire! We got invited backstage by Billy Bremner after the show and spent 2 hours hanging with them. Nick made a pass at my girlfriend (I was honored) and they were all as cool and friendly as could be - that night remains one of the greatest rock & roll experiences of my life, and I've had plenty. I'm preparing to launch a Substack of my own next month, and will be describing the whole event in more detail down the road. . .
Thanks for your post!
That's one incredible memory - color me green with envy!
Saw them at Leeds Uni in 79. The Ramones, Clash, Jam, Gang of Four and Ian Dury had all played there that year but Rockpile is the concert I remember best; “we’re Rockpile, let’s do it!!” 😀😀
Wow I love this post.
As a kid, Dave Edmunds was the first musician I really became a fan of, bought most of his tapes and records. Yet somehow never went down or understood the Rockpile and Nick Lowe path - I vaguely knew it was there just never connected it. Thank you for finally connecting it all these years later.
“(Wrong Again) Let’s Face It” as it shows the love out of Difford & Tilbrook (their song) to Edmunds (who produced “In Quintessence” on 1981’s East Side Story) - the Squeeze version is a banger and even more chaotic!
Excellent! Nick Lowe got me through high school. One of my favorite concert memories is seeing him at Carnegie Hall – just him and an acoustic guitar. You may know the bio of him by Will Birch (former drummer for The Records), which is a terrific book. Here’s my interview with the author, if you’re interested: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/new-books-in-music/id425448670?i=1000577888816
Will's book was a great help (as was Will himself) when I was writing the Hiatt book. it's indeed a great bio!
I saw them at the Orpheum Theatre in Boston on the tour for the Rockpile album. Good show.
I was at that show, too. November 22,1980. Moon Martin was the opening act; he was also great.