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Guest DJ Nick Lowe

Nick Lowe.
Enlarge Dan Burn-Forti

Nick Lowe.

Nick Lowe.
Dan Burn-Forti

Nick Lowe.

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September 6, 2011

Nick Lowe is one of those musicians who actually seems to get better with age. He got his start in the mid-'60s English roots- and country-rock group Kippington Lodge, which later changed its name to Brinsley Schwarz, and earned a cult following in the local pub scene for the band's laid-back, feel-good swagger. Later, as a solo artist, he wrote inspired songs full of wit and heartache, such as "Cruel to Be Kind" and "(What's So Funny 'Bout) Peace, Love and Understanding," a hit for Elvis Costello. Lowe also produced Costello's first five solo albums, including My Aim Is True and This Year's Model. Now, nearly 45 years after he released his first record, Lowe is back with his 13th solo album, The Old Magic.

On this edition of All Songs Considered, Lowe joins host Bob Boilen to talk about The Old Magic and his long career making razor-sharp pop music. Lowe also shares some of the artists and songs he's loved over the years, from the country-boogie singer Tennessee Ernie Ford to a Conway Twitty-Loretta Lynn duet, as well as a rarely heard R&B tune from Jewel and the Rubies.

Guest DJ Nick Lowe

Cover for We Can Fly: Rare Psych Obscurities

'I Can See Her Face' by Kippington Lodge

  • Artist: Various Artists
  • Album: We Can Fly: Rare Psych Obscurities
YouTube
 
Cover for Capitol Collectors Series

Shot-Gun Boogie

  • Artist: Tennessee Ernie Ford
  • Album: Capitol Collectors Series
YouTube
 
Cover for The Old Magic

Sensitive Man

  • Artist: Nick Lowe
  • Album: The Old Magic
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Purchase Featured Music

  • "Sensitive Man"
  • Album: The Old Magic
  • Artist: Nick Lowe
  • Label: Yep Rock
  • Released: 2011
 
Cover for Good Vibrations: 30 Carolina Beach Music Classics

'Kidnapper' by Jewel and the Rubies

  • Artist: Various Artists
  • Album: Good Vibrations: 30 Carolina Beach Music Classics

Learn more about this release at Rinpete Records.

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Cover for The Very Best of Loretta and Conway

Pickin' Wild Mountain Berries

  • Artist: Loretta Lynn and Conway Twitty
  • Album: The Very Best of Loretta and Conway
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Cover for The Old Magic

House for Sale

  • Artist: Nick Lowe
  • Album: The Old Magic
YouTube
 
Cover for Harlan County

Harlan County

  • Artist: Jim Ford
  • Album: Harlan County
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Cover for Labour of Lust

Without Love

  • Artist: Nick Lowe
  • Album: Labour of Lust
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Bob Boilen and Robin Hilton spin their favorite new tunes and live concert recordings from around the country. Listen and join the conversation.

 

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