Labour of Lust

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Labour of Lust
Studio album by Nick Lowe
Released	June 1979
Recorded	1979
Genre	Rock
Length	32:40
Label	Demon Records
Producer(s)	Nick Lowe
Professional reviews
All Music Guide link Robert Christgau (A) link Rolling Stone (not rated) link
Nick Lowe chronology
Jesus of Cool (1978)	Labour of Lust (1979)	Nick the Knife (1982)

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

It was a critically popular album, and consistent in a way that Jesus of Cool was not, but represented about as much creative growth one could expect from Lowe at the time. Clever lyrics, spare production (Lowe was known as Basher for good reason) and endless power pop hooks and muscular playing made it instantly listenable. Labour of Lust retains appeal because, despite its easily recognizable placement in time (1977–1980) and style, it is always an energizing listen.

The American version of this record had a slightly different track listing, with "Endless Grey Ribbon" being deleted and replaced by the UK single a-side, "American Squirm." The latter is notable for including members of Elvis Costello & The Attractions, namely Elvis on backing vocals, Bruce Thomas on bass and Pete Thomas on drums. Credited to "Nick Lowe and His Sound," the b-side of this single was Elvis & The Attractions' version of the Lowe-penned "(What's So Funny 'Bout) Peace, Love & Understanding?"

Released on CD by Demon/Fiend (EU) and Columbia (US and Canada) in 1990, it fell out of print quickly and is currently available only in (expensive) used CD stores and web sites.

Contents 1 Track listing 1.1 U.K. version 1.2 U.S. version 2 Personnel 2.1 Additional personnel 3 Charts

[edit] Track listing

[edit] U.K. version

All songs by Nick Lowe, except where noted.

1. "Cruel to be Kind" (Lowe, Ian Gomm) – 3:31
2. "Cracking Up" – 2:59
3. "Big Kick, Plain Scrap!" – 2:28
4. "Born Fighter" – 3:09
5. "You Make Me" – 1:53
6. "Skin Deep" - 3:12
7. "Switchboard Susan" (Mickey Jupp) – 3:50
8. "Endless Grey Ribbon" – 3:17
9. "Without Love" – 2:29
10. "Dose of You" – 2:21
11. "Love So Fine" (Lowe, Dave Edmunds, Billy Bremner, Terry Williams) – 3:52

[edit] U.S. version

All songs by Nick Lowe, except where noted.

1. "Cruel to be Kind" (Lowe, Ian Gomm) – 3:31
2. "Cracking Up" – 2:59
3. "Big Kick, Plain Scrap!" – 2:28
4. "American Squirm" - 2:29
5. "You Make Me" – 1:53
6. "Skin Deep" - 3:12
7. "Switchboard Susan" (Mickey Jupp) – 3:50
8. "Dose of You" – 2:21
9. "Without Love" – 2:29
10. "Born Fighter" – 3:09
11. "Love So Fine" (Lowe, Dave Edmunds, Billy Bremner, Terry Williams) – 3:52

[edit] Personnel

• Nick Lowe – bass and vocals
• Dave Edmunds – rhythm and solo guitars and backing vocals
• Billy Bremner – rhythm and solo guitars and backing vocals
• Terry Williams – drums

[edit] Additional personnel

• Huey Lewis – harmonica on "Born Fighter"
• Bob Andrews – Oberheim on "Endless Grey Ribbon"
• Elvis Costello - backing vocals on "American Squirm"
• Bruce Thomas - bass on "American Squirm"
• Pete Thomas - drums on "American Squirm"
• Roger Bechirian – Tape Engineer

[edit] Charts

Album

Year	Chart	Position
1979	Pop Albums	31

Single

Year	Song	Chart	Position
1979	"Cruel to be Kind"	Pop Singles	12