Lowe followed up his successful debut solo album "Jesus Of Cool" by releasing "Labour of Lust" a year later. Although Lowe and Dave Edmunds were members of Rockpile, they were signed to different record labels so were unable to release records in the band's name. In 1979 they worked on two albums simultaneously, releasing Lowe's "Labour of Lust" and Edmunds' "Repeat When Necessary" on the same day.
I purchased this album shortly after it came out, and acquired Edmunds' album a year or two later. I liked both LP's, but had a preference for "Labour Of Lust".
The two records were different, with Lowe's being a mix of pop, new wave and country songs, whereas Edmunds' was mostly rock n' roll or rockabilly. The other noticeable feature was whilst "Labour of Lust" was nearly all Lowe compositions, "Repeat When Necessary" didn't include anything written by either Lowe or Edmunds.
That said, there were two or three songs on each which could have easily fitted on the other album !
The album cover and inner sleeve didn't list the tracks, these were only on the actual disc label, but looking at them now, I could remember all of side two, but only the two singles on side one plus a vague recollection of "You Made Me".
Side one begins with "Cruel To Be Kind", the second single from the album, and Lowe's only top 20 hit in the US. Co-written with Ian Gomm, it was a latter era Brinsley Schwarz number but this re-recorded version has strummed acoustic guitars, prominent galloping drums and a simple twangy guitar solo. "Well, I do my best to understand, dear but you still mystify and I want to know why, I pick myself up off the ground, to have you knock me back down again and again"
"Cracking Up", the first single, is probably the most interesting composition in this collection. It has an electric piano intro, great guitar and bass, and some understated saxophone in the break. There is a hint of menace, which fits the description of someone on the verge of a mental breakdown.
"Big Kick, Plain Scrap !" has heavy drums and a single note guitar riff. It tries to be heavy rock, but I didn't like it.
"Born Fighter" is one of the songs that sounds more like a Dave Edmunds song from "Repeat From Necessary", and features a Huey Lewis harmonica solo.
"You Make Me" is just a soft voice and a very faintly strummed acoustic guitar. Hearing it again and I still can't decide if it is really good or terrible !
"Skin Deep" sounds like it could be Dave Edmunds singing and is another of the songs that could be one either LP as it sounds like a Rockpile track.
Side two opens with Micky Jupp's "Switchboard Susan", which rocks along with just about every telephone metaphor you could think of. "When I'm near you girl, I get an extension, and I don't mean Alexander Graham Bell's invention", "Switchboard Susan, can we be friends? After six, at weekends", "Come on sugar, let's get engaged", "let me off the hook", "I keep trying til I get answer" etc etc. I think it's terrific !
"Endless Grey Ribbon" is a slow country style ballad whilst "Without Love" is a standard uptempo country rock, which perhaps unsurprisingly has been covered by Lowe's father-in-law, Johnny Cash.
"Dose Of You" is a catchy pop song and the chords in the guitar break reminded me a little of the The Jam's "All Around The World. "Specialists are mumbling to themselves, they say there ain't no cure, private or National Health on this one. I caught a dose of you tonight, I need a stiff shot badly"
Written by all four members of Rockpile, the closing number "Love So Fine" is a bar blues stomp.
In summary, I didn't think "Labour of Lust" was quite as great as I remembered, but it was still an enjoyable listen. The highlights remain "Cruel To Be Kind", Cracking Up", "Switchboard Susan", "Without Love" and "Dose of You"
Track Listing :
Side One :
1. Cruel To Be Kind
2. Cracking Up
3. Big Kick, Plain Scrap !
4. Born Fighter
5. You Make Me
6. Skin Deep
1. Switchboard Susan
2. Endless Grey Ribbon
3. Without Love
4. Dose Of You
5. Love So Fine
Released 1979
UK Chart Position : 42
Singles :
Cracking Up ( No 34 - 1979 )
Cruel To Be Kind ( No 12 - 1979 )
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