“I’m not as much a fan of my ironic, smartass material as other people are…when you’re young, it’s hard to sing the blues. Nobody believes you.”
Nick Lowe, 1998.
Here’s wishing a Happy 60th Birthday to Nick “Basher” Lowe. Even if you don’t know him by name1, you’ve probably heard the bands he’s produced—everyone from Elvis Costello to The Damned to Huey Lewis & the News—or you’ve hummed along with some of his most popular singles like “(What’s So Funny ‘Bout) Peace Love & Understanding” 2or “Cruel To Be Kind”.
He’s still cranking out stellar songs and—just last week—Yep Roc records released a two-disc Greatest Hits collection that’s been on heavy rotation in my apartment. Here’s a song to get you started, “When I Write The Book”.3
Check him out. There’s a reason he’s had a career longer than I’ve been alive. And yes, I named this Tumblr for one of his songs.
1 This may prevent us from being best friends. Love me, love Basher.
2 A song famously covered by Elvis Costello and infamously featured on the soundtrack to The Bodyguard. The story is that Nick couldn’t call himself a millionaire until that song found its way into a Whitney Houston movie. Note to self: Write songs for feature films, even the shitty ones.
3 Clicky clicky to download it via zShare.
