Speaking of Nick Lowe Production Masterpieces, By Rich Horton and Eduard P. Gomez

[Your comments are appreciated, what are some other great moments from Nick Lowe’s career? Please join in below.]

For my money, “Bring the Family” by John Hiatt (1987) is Nick Lowe’s production highlight. Lowe’s production of this record (like most of his productions) perfectly suits Hiatt’s songs and arrangements. Only the barest production tricks and only when necessary to highlight Hiatt’s intentions. Not surprisingly, the album was critically well received — Hiatt was always a critics’ fave — but more surprising was that it was the first Hiatt album to have commercial success, which may have been an indirect result of Lowe’s unerring guiding production hands, in terms of song choice & sequencing, spare-but-highly-accomplished arrangements, and audiophonic equalization that preserved Hiatt’s vocal grittiness while emphasizing the warmer, lower ranges of his voice. I also liked Lowe’s production work on The Katydids debut CD (1988, I think), which, despite being on a major label, I consider a “perfect indie record” of the pre-grunge alternative scene.

Your comments are appreciated, what are some other great moments from Nick Lowe’s career?

– Rich Horton

Musical Shapes by Carlene Carter is certainly a “Labour of Love”. Here Nick Lowe gives his wife a clean, updated “cow-billy” sound. And her backing band of Dave Edmunds and Billy Bremner are top notch and shine in the production. Lowe brings out the best of Carter’s compositions and gives the album a sheen that Marty Stuart would have been proud of. Rockpile is all over this LP, but Nick’s leadership turns that Pub Rock band into one of the best country bands around. It’s very reminiscent of Dave Edmunds work on k.d. lang’s big label debut, “Angel with a Lariat”. Big and Bold.

“Baby Ride Easy” is the hit here, but the other tracks are just as strong. (Video is below.)

– Eduard P. Gomez

There’s something immediately gripping and eclectric about the instrumental sounds of “Memphis in the Meantime” off Bring the Family. The mix is just perfect and jumps out to the listener, even from an AM car radio, which is where I first heard it. “Memphis” is one of not more than ten songs where I remember exactly where I was the first time I heard it. I was driving a rusty Buick Eastbound on Foster in Chicago, near Lincoln. I was headed to Jewel for groceries.

– East Portland Blog