Listening to CRUEL TO BE KIND
the second volume of Nick Lowe's first band Brinsley Schwarz's live BBC
performances. Brinsley Schwarz is like
the Velvet Underground of 70's 80's British singer/songwriters - Ahead of Elvis
Costello, Squeeze, Graham Parker but influencing all in sound and songwriting. In particular two of their records are
absolute masterpieces - SILVER PISTOL and NEW FAVORITES OF. Their version of "Cruel to be Kind" written by Lowe
and fellow band member Ian Gomm was originally supposed to be on their seventh
record but they broke up first and Lowe snagged it for his solo career.
Robert Christgau, the
esteemed rock critic, once wrote (and I’m paraphrasing that) Brinsley Schwarz initially
came across as England’s answer to country rock with a Hammond organ in place
of the pedal steel. That in itself was a
revolutionary bit of instrumental placing.
However, what really made
Brinsley different was Lowe’s songwriting which quickly evolved and pulled the
band out of the amiable country influenced jams of the first two records and
into a vehicle for top notch pop songwriting.
Their discovery of English
pubs as places one could tour and make a career would influence the punk and new
wave bands that came later in the 1970’s.
This was a big advance that gave bands a way to reach a greater audience
without being played on the radio.
Listening to their charming, unpretentious,
catchy music buoyed by Lowe’s clever lyrics and hooky melodies, one sees the
whole new wave scene of the 70’s and early 80’s pre-synth pop. If there was ever a band that lacked commercial
success but had massive musical influence, it’s Brinsley Schwarz.
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