I liked the idea of Rockpile more than I liked the actual band. After seeing them live, I’ve had the lasting impression that all their songs kinda sounded the same, and of a time, and now, rather dated.
Ever heard Rockpile?
One of the few "Super Groups" whom I myself consider super. Dave Edmunds is my favorite Rock ’n’ Roller of the 1970’s and 80’s, and a great record producer (amongst his best is Shake Some Action by The Flamin’ Groovies). The other members were bassist/singer/songwriter Nick Lowe (previously in the UK band Brinsley Schwarz, producer of Elvis Costello’s debut album, and member of another Super Group---Little Village, comprised of himself, John Hiatt, Ry Cooder, and Jim Keltner. Their lone album is not very good.), guitarist/singer Billy Bremner (for a short time guitarist in The Pretenders), and Terry Williams (previously drummer in the UK band Man, later in Dire Straits).
They released only one album under the band’s name (1980’s Seconds Of Pleasure, on F Beat Records in the UK, Columbia Records in the USA), and it’s a great one. But they also serve as the band on a number of Dave and Nick’s solo albums, as well as on Carlene Carter’s (she and Nick were married for awhile).
Here’s a live clip of them performing a Mickey Jupp song:
https://youtu.be/8u68AipVLLg?si=9OE0JdT6zMJWeeES
Here's another, written by Nick and found in a studio recording by Dave on his fantastic album Get It:
https://youtu.be/SJ2TuX_ZiEA?si=w3GFWX_ph8aV1sgK
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@jaybe - I also think that most of their songs have a very similar sound, at least in a live setting; more variety on studio records. But I really like that sound a lot and love the songs that they write (or cover) in that genre. |
Some comments on above posts:
@jasonbourne71: I shopped at Bleeker Bob’s when I briefly lived in New York (Flushing, Queens) in ’83. Quite an ornery fella! Later in the decade he opened a shop on Melrose Street in Los Angeles, and brought his orneriness with him. I have two UK pressings of Nick’s Jesus Of Cool LP, one on Radar Records, the other on Demon. The covers are different from each other, the six pics of Nick on each having him playing different guitars and basses.
@bigtwin: The four acoustic performances of Dave and Nick included on the original CD of the Rockpile album were included on a 7" EP in the first pressing of the Rockpile LP (on F Beat Records in the UK, Columbia in the USA). The four songs aren’t random, they are all songs originally done by The Everly Brothers (Nick and Dave are huge fans of theirs. So am I). The EP has a picture cover, and is entitled Nick Lowe & Dave Edmunds Sing The Everly Brothers. A later version of the CD was issued with not only those four songs, but an additional three live performances of other songs. The Rockpile album was reissued on Demon Records (UK), this version with a different cover and without the EP.
@dickieboy: I couldn’t agree more about Terry Williams---a fantastic drummer! I read an interview with either Nick or Dave (can’’t remember which), in which Nick or Dave made the point about Terry being a great Rock ’n’ Roll drummer. Playing Rock ’n’ Roll well is a talent not all drummers possess.
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Speaking of Little Village, here they are on the Tonight Show:
https://youtu.be/vw1SCbpwnwE?si=cyKupoP6owh76E8o
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