I come for Nick Lowe on Dave and get Paul Freaking Carrack on piano! I consider myself a lucky SOB, I got to see Rockpile TWICE in 1981. My first show was at Magic Mountain (amusement park) and it was Rockpile w/special guest Paul Carrack. At the time I didn’t know Paul. When he did a run of his hits, then I KNEW. OMG! The second show was a small theatre in Hollywood. I don’t think it was long after that, that Rockpile disbanded. As I write this in 2023 we are coming up on the 50th Anniversary of (What’s So Funny ‘Bout) Peace, Love and Understanding, next year. Wouldn’t it be a wonderful thing for the R&RHoF to induct Nick on the Anniversary year? Better late than never. Also check out Sharon Van Etten’s cover of the song from 2020, if you haven’t. It gave me goosebumps and a second round of goosebumps when I saw “grandpa” in the backyard with his dog and guitar…
For people who are too young to remember, the Letterman show was amazing the first few years. He had incredible guests, like Lowe, not just big celebs hawking whatever they were hawking. It was must watch tv.
disagree. respectfully. I think Dave's show remained solid through its run. especially the musical guests. not just the first few years. just do a search of every musical guest from the first show to the last. 33yrs and only the first few were good? no.
I was born in ‘82 and we were a Letterman household. In ‘87 I remember my mom letting me stay up to watch the Sonny and Cher epp but little did she know I would watch from the top of the steps when they thought I was in bed.
What I noticed over the years was that musicians sounded better on the Letterman show than other shows. I don’t know why, but hearing the same song performed on a different show never sounded as good.
Anyone else notice Paul Carrack (formerly of Ace, Squeeze, Mike & The Mechanics, writer of such hits as "How Long (has this been going on)", "Tempted", and "Long Distance") on keys?
Paul Carrack is a legend in his own way, and he sings and has written many great hits, he did not write "Tempted", Difford and Tilbrook of Squeeze wrote it.
FINALLY! An actual LIVE performance by this guy for this song where he's actually singing it and NOT just dancing around moving his lips while the original studio recording plays over the speakers! I wish it was one of the late 70's performances, but I'll take early 80's any day over the fake lipsync version he always seemed to do during "live" shows.
Great to see Bobby Irwin in his element. I remember gigging at the Marquee in 1979, Bobby was playing with The Sinceros, I was drumming with support act The Defendants. Being drummers we discussed the virtues of vintage Ludwig and Gretsch kits!
I saw him live in 2002 at the beautiful Lobero Theatre in Santa Barbara (founded in 1873). It was an acoustic concert, just him sitting on a barstool with a well-behaved audience of no more than 200 people. He stayed after the show to meet fans, give autographs, and answer questions. I had him sign the insert from his fabulous 4 CD collection, "The Doings", and asked him "Who were the SPGs and why were they clearing the streets?" From a lyric from his song, "Half a Boy and Half a Man". He told me they were the London Special Police Guard, who were known for being unnecessarily rough with punk rockers and bashed a lot of heads. I told him we have something similar here, the LAPD Rampart Division. He still had beautiful hair and eyes in 2002, snow white hair and sparkling blue eyes. My husband took a pic of us, Nick put his arm around me! I still haven't come down off that cloud of bliss, 21 years later!
Totally under rated in America. Cruel to be kind was going to be a springboard and he had no hits in the US afterwards. His promotions people screwed up.
The story at the time was that some promoter was on a talk show and the host said it was a good thing that payola no longer existed in the music industry. The exec told him that he didn't know what he was talking about and said he could make any song a hit. He said he could do it with someone like Nick Lowe and his song "Cruel to be kind. One week later, it hit #1.
I don't think the 80s were a Nick Lowe kind of decade. Nick Lowe's well constructed songs weren't going to pull the kids away from Michael Jackson, Prince, Wham, Madonna, and Springsteen. It's a miracle Huey Lewis did as well as he did in that environment.
"Cruel" was the song that made me a fan of Nick's. It and "American Squirm" got airplay on KLOS in the late Seventies, and I bought that and all the albums to "Party of One"
Saw Nick Lowe and the Noise to Go in concert twice in 1983/4. Incredible band with Paul Carrack getting solo spots to sing "Tempted (Squeeze), "How Long" (Ace) and his solo record "I Need You". Wish I had the chance to see Rockpile. Note the amazing TV production of the Letterman show in the early 1980s, especially on the second song. Cameras cut to the musicians actually playing the solo/important riff and the INTERPLAY of the group actually comes through in the camera work. See 4:30 to 5:30 in this clip for a primer of how to televise live rock music. Good production work is commonplace now, but back then the bad production work of live music, especially on talk/variety shows, was everywhere and annoying.
Agreed, Lowe has done brilliant stuff in the later parts of his career. But ILOAB (co-written by Lowe & Carrack!) was written at least 32 years ago, since Diana Ross released her take on it in 1991. So quite old, but sure, it came after Lowe's early 80's pop.
I missed the ooh-oooh - OOOH! at 2:03! Just before the super great lead guitar twang! And on this version, the guitar break was finished for the 'run-down' by the guy on keyboard, not the guitar! Oh well... Nick and the boys still did a SUPER GOOD version here in 1983! Love the song, love the performance! Nick -- keep that left leg twitching, as always!
Just as cute and talented today as he was then. He's amazing on that guitar and carries the song pretty much alone! Would love to have that British Hunk alone for about 30 mins!!
That's one of the standard patterns, called "four on the snare." Sometimes you play the hi hat twice that speed. Of course you're right, it's not featured that often. There's lots of famous songs that use it, that I can't think of right now! On UA-cam you can see: The Equals - Baby Come Back, Sniff 'n' The Tears - "Driver's Seat"
An all star band! Andrew Bodnar on bass, Martin Delmont on guitar (both from the Rumour) Paul Carrick on keys, Terry Williams from Rockpile and Dire Straits on drums.
Nick is 69 today.Cruel to be kind was great but they were just using it as a springboard to get to Raging Eyes!And just how good are you when you have Paul Carrack on keyboards?11 on a scale of 1 to 10.
Agree with the springboard comment. It is obvious to me that the latest single "Raging Eyes" was pushed to second song after a decision to go with the more familiar "Cruel to Be Kind" was made after rehearsal. The camera blocking is so much better in the second song that I feel that the TV crew obviously worked harder on "Raging Eyes". From a TV production point, the crew would not work harder to televise Song #2. "Raging Eyes" is just so much better shot it is the only explanation in my view.
At least you don't challenge that he has a great voice that was always in demand as his numerous studio/live concert credits proved. So I guess all those OTHER times he was hired to only play keyboards, especially live, was because he is such a good bloke?
Dave Edmunds ran away with Geraint Watkins who also play a great accordeon. That s 2 times 10, 20 out of 10. But both, Edmunds and Lowe are great !! Saw them with Rockpile 2 times at Paradiso, Amsterdam
Despite his career, it wasn't until the 90's that he played live in Japan in earnest. He was worried about his name in Japan, but his live was a great success. What surprised him was that many of the audience were young.
I was a senior in high school when this aired. What a breath of fresh air compared to the crap on the radio at that time. Styx, REO Shitwagon, Journey and the like.
Agreed. While the UK was embracing punk/new wave, North America was dominated by those bloated studio bands. Sure, they could play their instruments, but god it was boring music.
Actually, radio in summer 1979 (when CTBK first aired) had improved greatly with new wave/power pop/R 'n' R finally being played and fairly frequently. But yeah, prior to that...
Dolly Parton I love ya and you are correct. You shouldn't be a rock and roll hall of fame nominee. Especially since there are still so many great rockers out there, such as the illustrious Mr. Lowe.
I thought that looked like Paul Carrack on keyboards. Never heard "Raging Eyes" before! Thanks for including it! Cha cha cha cha cha Awesome upload! She bon - she bon.
Full band information has always been in the description just below the title. Copied and repasted here: Nick Lowe - Vox, gtr Paul Carrack - vox, piano Martin Belmont - gtr James Eller - bass Bobby Irwin - drums
Cruel to Be Kind is simply a perfect song
@@patriciofernandez2711 Like Girl Talk -Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah'
Nick Lowe and that mighty little band of his could play rings around ANY of the current bands we have out today! Period!
I come for Nick Lowe on Dave and get Paul Freaking Carrack on piano! I consider myself a lucky SOB, I got to see Rockpile TWICE in 1981. My first show was at Magic Mountain (amusement park) and it was Rockpile w/special guest Paul Carrack. At the time I didn’t know Paul. When he did a run of his hits, then I KNEW. OMG! The second show was a small theatre in Hollywood. I don’t think it was long after that, that Rockpile disbanded.
As I write this in 2023 we are coming up on the 50th Anniversary of (What’s So Funny ‘Bout) Peace, Love and Understanding, next year. Wouldn’t it be a wonderful thing for the R&RHoF to induct Nick on the Anniversary year? Better late than never. Also check out Sharon Van Etten’s cover of the song from 2020, if you haven’t. It gave me goosebumps and a second round of goosebumps when I saw “grandpa” in the backyard with his dog and guitar…
Paul Carrack!!!
Wow Paul Carrack on keyboards 🎹 plus his voice sounds so full ! Brilliant find !
For people who are too young to remember, the Letterman show was amazing the first few years. He had incredible guests, like Lowe, not just big celebs hawking whatever they were hawking. It was must watch tv.
right on. And he had Steve Jordan and Hiram Bullock in the band then too.
disagree. respectfully. I think Dave's show remained solid through its run. especially the musical guests. not just the first few years. just do a search of every musical guest from the first show to the last. 33yrs and only the first few were good? no.
I was born in ‘82 and we were a Letterman household. In ‘87 I remember my mom letting me stay up to watch the Sonny and Cher epp but little did she know I would watch from the top of the steps when they thought I was in bed.
….if I recall, back then he was on daytime TV
What I noticed over the years was that musicians sounded better on the Letterman show than other shows. I don’t know why, but hearing the same song performed on a different show never sounded as good.
This was a great era for music 🎵🎶🎸🎹🎺🥁. Never knew Nick Lowe was on “Letterman.” Watching this was a great way to end my day.
The great Martin Belmont on lead guitar. Nick Lowe. It just doesn't get any better than that.
Anyone else notice Paul Carrack (formerly of Ace, Squeeze, Mike & The Mechanics, writer of such hits as "How Long (has this been going on)", "Tempted", and "Long Distance") on keys?
Paul Carrack is a legend in his own way, and he sings and has written many great hits, he did not write "Tempted", Difford and Tilbrook of Squeeze wrote it.
can't mistake him
No I didn't. Thanks for the heads up. 😎
Noticed Carrack about half way through CTBK...
Paul who?
THANKS NICK LOWE AND BAND FOR THE MEMORIES! AMERICA IS STILL HERE AND ALIVE!!🇺🇸🇬🇧👍🏻
Nick should have a huge following...for his own music and for the great work at producing other artists.
I.e. Elvis Costello.
One of my faves from Mr. Nick Lowe, and awesome to see Paul Carrack on keys!
Yes, I didn't know Carrack played with Nick Lowe.
Love Nick and the 80s clothes.
Nudie Shirt!
I love the drummer. He has a basic kit and plays the hell out of it.
The great Bobby Irwin. (R.I.P.)
Every player in this band is top notch. Did you notice Paul Carrack on the piano?
I noticed the drummer too.
Great to see Paul Carrack in this video!
FINALLY! An actual LIVE performance by this guy for this song where he's actually singing it and NOT just dancing around moving his lips while the original studio recording plays over the speakers!
I wish it was one of the late 70's performances, but I'll take early 80's any day over the fake lipsync version he always seemed to do during "live" shows.
This man should have above and beyond achieved success in the US. Nick Lowe ❤️
Timeless classic with great Paul Carrack
Great to see Bobby Irwin in his element. I remember gigging at the Marquee in 1979, Bobby was playing with The Sinceros, I was drumming with support act The Defendants. Being drummers we discussed the virtues of vintage Ludwig and Gretsch kits!
I saw this band about half a dozen times. They were really something
Lucky!! Technically, this band is way more dynamic than Rockpile.
Takes me back to simpler times and fond memories 👏🏼
Nick Lowe is such a great songwriter!
Nick Lowe has such beautiful hair and eyes. Amazing song!
I saw him live in 2002 at the beautiful Lobero Theatre in Santa Barbara (founded in 1873). It was an acoustic concert, just him sitting on a barstool with a well-behaved audience of no more than 200 people. He stayed after the show to meet fans, give autographs, and answer questions. I had him sign the insert from his fabulous 4 CD collection, "The Doings", and asked him "Who were the SPGs and why were they clearing the streets?" From a lyric from his song, "Half a Boy and Half a Man". He told me they were the London Special Police Guard, who were known for being unnecessarily rough with punk rockers and bashed a lot of heads. I told him we have something similar here, the LAPD Rampart Division.
He still had beautiful hair and eyes in 2002, snow white hair and sparkling blue eyes. My husband took a pic of us, Nick put his arm around me! I still haven't come down off that cloud of bliss, 21 years later!
Miss you Bobby Irwin!
Totally under rated in America. Cruel to be kind was going to be a springboard and he had no hits in the US afterwards. His promotions people screwed up.
The story at the time was that some promoter was on a talk show and the host said it was a good thing that payola no longer existed in the music industry. The exec told him that he didn't know what he was talking about and said he could make any song a hit. He said he could do it with someone like Nick Lowe and his song "Cruel to be kind. One week later, it hit #1.
He and Edmunds had some successful club dates, though. They flat burned the place down, when we saw them.
I don't think the 80s were a Nick Lowe kind of decade. Nick Lowe's well constructed songs weren't going to pull the kids away from Michael Jackson, Prince, Wham, Madonna, and Springsteen. It's a miracle Huey Lewis did as well as he did in that environment.
I think that KLOS in LA played "Cruel" "Squirm" and maybe one other track from the album.
@@mikestevenson576 I think Nick made the most money from, "What's So Funny", but not from a Costello record.
"Cruel" was the song that made me a fan of Nick's. It and "American Squirm" got airplay on KLOS in the late Seventies, and I bought that and all the albums to "Party of One"
There is complete harmony and coordination in this performance.
Saw Nick Lowe and the Noise to Go in concert twice in 1983/4. Incredible band with Paul Carrack getting solo spots to sing "Tempted (Squeeze), "How Long" (Ace) and his solo record "I Need You". Wish I had the chance to see Rockpile. Note the amazing TV production of the Letterman show in the early 1980s, especially on the second song. Cameras cut to the musicians actually playing the solo/important riff and the INTERPLAY of the group actually comes through in the camera work. See 4:30 to 5:30 in this clip for a primer of how to televise live rock music. Good production work is commonplace now, but back then the bad production work of live music, especially on talk/variety shows, was everywhere and annoying.
Directed by Hal Gurnee.
Wishing they had more theatrical lighting, like a spot in Nick sometimes.
Real good.
Giants did walk the earth!
Rock and roll!
This man is still doing it. I love his latter day composition "I Live on a Battlefield."
Agreed, Lowe has done brilliant stuff in the later parts of his career. But ILOAB (co-written by Lowe & Carrack!) was written at least 32 years ago, since Diana Ross released her take on it in 1991. So quite old, but sure, it came after Lowe's early 80's pop.
And checking my Carrack best of I now realise his version was relased first, in 1989.
I'm old.......but not so old that 32 years should be "latter day"! @@JeansWebbTv
@@richardmindemann6935
Same here. But I do sometimes find myself thinking of, let's say Dylan's "Oh Mercy", as quite a recent one :)
Great band with Bunger here... Carracks keyboards majestic at times and Martin "Flying Fender" Belmont. Top clip !
"I thought your love was bona fide, but that don't coincide...."
brilliant
There's only ONE Nick Lowe!! Awesome..thanks
Nick Low is one of the best!
So was David Bowi. ;-)
Such a great time for pop musuc, UK had so many great musicians and songwriters.
We still have ........there are a few twats out there
I missed the ooh-oooh - OOOH! at 2:03! Just before the super great lead guitar twang! And on this version, the guitar break was finished for the 'run-down' by the guy on keyboard, not the guitar! Oh well... Nick and the boys still did a SUPER GOOD version here in 1983! Love the song, love the performance! Nick -- keep that left leg twitching, as always!
Who's that guy dansmusic 4579? He writes just like me!
Power pop perfection
I love Cruel to be kind by Nick Lowe! It brings back great memories from Gainesville Florida while I was a student there in 1979.
Very underrated musician- so talented.
Ian Gomm co-wrote Cruel To Be Kind. He had an album out that same year (1979) that C2BK was released called Gomm with The Wind. Check it out.
I remember that. Is he the one that did, "Hit Me with Your Rhythm Stick" or the Ian that did, "Hold On"?
Okay, it was Ian Dury with "Hit Me"
"Hold On" is such a great song.
" Sometimes she"s as mean as a sixteen automatic". One of the greatest lines in Rock.
"Who's gonna tell her.......not this fella"
Yeah, great line.
“Sometimes she’s as mean as a M -16 automatic”.
Just as cute and talented today as he was then. He's amazing on that guitar and carries the song pretty much alone! Would love to have that British Hunk alone for about 30 mins!!
Leah Allen And he's got Raging Hair!
Love this guy's music...Nick...Lowe...👌💪
Nick Lowe = Legend
Unusual drumming with the 1 and 2 and 3 and 4 on both hi-hat AND snare.
That's one of the standard patterns, called "four on the snare." Sometimes you play the hi hat twice that speed. Of course you're right, it's not featured that often. There's lots of famous songs that use it, that I can't think of right now! On UA-cam you can see: The Equals - Baby Come Back, Sniff 'n' The Tears - "Driver's Seat"
Thank you so much for posting this! Great versions of two great songs- cheers!
Thanks for sharing this marvelous video of the great Nick Lowe & band. How really great they were. Love it!
My guy Paul Carrack on keys. He also played keys on some albums of some famous artists. If Paul Carrack sang this song, it would sound just as good.
A true journeyman if ever there was one!
Nick Lowe and band rule!!!! thanks for the great music!!!!
Great lyrics and melody. Thanks the magicians for popularising the song.
Amen Anita Bonghit! Nick underrated!
My god, this is good.
Kudos to the sound mix engineer.
I love this song with Nick & Daryl Hall singing it..
An all star band! Andrew Bodnar on bass, Martin Delmont on guitar (both from the Rumour) Paul Carrick on keys, Terry Williams from Rockpile and Dire Straits on drums.
It's "belmont" and that is NOT Terry Williams.
*James Eller on bass. Martin Belmont on guitar. Paul Carrack on keys. Bobby Irwin on drums. You really know your Nick Lowe, that's for sure.... 🤣
Yes, one hell of a band. Nick knows it too. He is loving it.
Nick is 69 today.Cruel to be kind was great but they were just using it as a springboard to get to Raging Eyes!And just how good are you when you have Paul Carrack on keyboards?11 on a scale of 1 to 10.
Agree with the springboard comment. It is obvious to me that the latest single "Raging Eyes" was pushed to second song after a decision to go with the more familiar "Cruel to Be Kind" was made after rehearsal. The camera blocking is so much better in the second song that I feel that the TV crew obviously worked harder on "Raging Eyes". From a TV production point, the crew would not work harder to televise Song #2. "Raging Eyes" is just so much better shot it is the only explanation in my view.
Carrack played on some fun songs..but he's not such a great player. Sorry.
At least you don't challenge that he has a great voice that was always in demand as his numerous studio/live concert credits proved. So I guess all those OTHER times he was hired to only play keyboards, especially live, was because he is such a good bloke?
Why would I "challenge" his great voice?
Dave Edmunds ran away with Geraint Watkins who also play a great accordeon. That s 2 times 10, 20 out of 10. But both, Edmunds and Lowe are great !! Saw them with Rockpile 2 times at Paradiso, Amsterdam
Great backing band! Nick Is The Man!
Brilliant!
Despite his career, it wasn't until the 90's that he played live in Japan in earnest. He was worried about his name in Japan, but his live was a great success. What surprised him was that many of the audience were young.
Bet he played, "Gaijin Man"
Thankx, absolute timeless.
I was a senior in high school when this aired. What a breath of fresh air compared to the crap on the radio at that time. Styx, REO Shitwagon, Journey and the like.
Agreed. While the UK was embracing punk/new wave, North America was dominated by those bloated studio bands. Sure, they could play their instruments, but god it was boring music.
I was a Senior when "Labour of Lust" came out. All those bands were good (Wheel in the Sky is epic), but Nick was better, unique.
Actually, radio in summer 1979 (when CTBK first aired) had improved greatly with new wave/power pop/R 'n' R finally being played and fairly frequently. But yeah, prior to that...
Jesus of cool!
Yup
Pure Pop for Now People
Rock and Roll Hep Cat to Crooning Singer-Songwriter...not a bad career arc, Mr. Lowe.
Nick is great.
Stellar performance!!!
Dolly Parton I love ya and you are correct. You shouldn't be a rock and roll hall of fame nominee. Especially since there are still so many great rockers out there, such as the illustrious Mr. Lowe.
His music and even his voice remind me of Buddy Holly, and I mean that as a great compliment.
This is so fucking good!
Great tune!
You gotta be cruel to be kind… 😂 🎉🎉🎉
Great that Paul Shaffer wasn't there to ruin it.
Well put!!!!
🎯🎯🎯
So true!
Before it was in the contract that Paul and the band must play with each live act.
He's so pesky...
Fantastic!
Classic good Rockin Pop Song.
Just Brilliant!
nick is still the greatest!
I thought that looked like Paul Carrack on keyboards. Never heard "Raging Eyes" before! Thanks for including it! Cha cha cha cha cha Awesome upload! She bon - she bon.
He has incredible hair.
01) Dave's Introduction - ua-cam.com/video/fAOrkny2yUU/v-deo.html
02) Cruel to be Kind - ua-cam.com/video/fAOrkny2yUU/v-deo.html
03) Raging Eyes - ua-cam.com/video/fAOrkny2yUU/v-deo.html
You got like Nick Lowe 🎶🇺🇸
Bobby Irwin!
The greatest
Dave Edmunds on Bass by the looks of it,the drummer did he not play for Dire/S a lot ?
James Eller on bass, Bobby Irwin on drums. Nick's ex-bandmate in Rockpile, Terry Williams, was the one who went on to play drums for Dire Straits.
No and No. Not Dave on Bass and not Terry on Drums.
Full band information has always been in the description just below the title. Copied and repasted here:
Nick Lowe - Vox, gtr
Paul Carrack - vox, piano
Martin Belmont - gtr
James Eller - bass
Bobby Irwin - drums
Nick's clearly enjoying himself here.
Amazing song..Jesus lives...
And Paul Carrack on keys!
his left leg gyrates just as in the first video of this song
Mr Carrack on keyboards. Great!
FUCK YEAH
glory days
The Jesus of cool
nick lowe is just brill .
What to plug in w at I want!!
Is that Colin Moulding on Bass?
Raging Eyes, and Broken Glass, never quite hit in the States. Both should have.
Graham Parker Rockpile sounds like a band name.
Were they on stage together?
Is that Paul Carrack on keyboards ?
Missing Rock pile there.
I want the drummers shirt!
Was this the drummer from Driver’s Seat?
Is that Paul Carrick on keys?
The Jesus of Cool.
someone post "Switchboard Susan"
ua-cam.com/video/4IVENZ6OFSQ/v-deo.html
@@gregghumphrey3626
Thanks Gregg. Awesome band.
How many people are going to think of "10 Things I Hate About You"?? Me, for sure!! :)