Album review: NICK LOWE – Quality Street

Proper Records (released 28th October)

Nick Lowe has had a long and varied career, with ‘Cruel To Be Kind’ perhaps his best known hit, that and ‘Milk And Alcohol’ he co-wrote with Dr. Feelgood, plus he’s worked with Elvis Costello, Ry Cooder and Johnny Cash amongst others. This is his first seasonal album, a mix of covers of Christmas classics and his own songs.

There are some lovely mellow moments on here like ‘Old Toy Trains’, where Nick Lowe’s gentle voice creates a lullaby. ‘Christmas At The Airport’ is a bit of fun, penned by Nick Lowe and his rock ‘n’ roll side comes to the fore on ‘The North Pole Express’ and love that Shadows approved guitar.

Roy Wood and Wizard’s classic ‘I Wish It Could Be Christmas Every Day’ gets a radical overhaul to become a ska Christmas classic! A fine version and an album highlight. ‘Silent Night’ gets a nifty organ and brass backing, completed with a rock ‘n’ roll shuffle, great arrangement.

Brentford fans will particularly like the cover as it features two young lads in full Brentford kit (Nick Lowe lives in Brentford, not sure if he supports them though!).

If you thought Christmas music was endless repeats of the Christmas ‘classics’ do yourself a favour and get this album for your Christmas celebrations. Great fun from beginning to end.

****

Review by Jason Ritchie


Featured Artist: JOSH TAERK

Since early 2020 Josh has been entertaining us with exclusive monthly live sessions, streamed via Facebook.

In 2023 he signed a recording deal with Sony in Canada and released a new single on 15 September.

Josh Taerk Sunday Sessions 2024

Latest session: Sunday 14 April

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David Randall presents a weekly show on Get Ready to ROCK! Radio, Sundays at 22:00 GMT, repeated on Mondays and Fridays), when he invites listeners to ‘Assume The Position’. The show signposts forthcoming gigs and tours and latest additions at getreadytorock.com. First broadcast on 7 April 2024.


UK Blues Broadcaster of the Year (2020 and 2021 Finalist) Pete Feenstra presents his weekly Rock & Blues Show on Tuesday at 19:00 GMT as part of a five hour blues rock marathon “Tuesday is Bluesday at GRTR!”. The show is repeated on Wednesdays at 22:00, Fridays at 20:00). This show was first broadcast 2 April 2024.

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Power Plays w/c 15 April 2024

ENMY The Ledge (FiXT)
KAROBELA Get Hard (indie)
KATH & THE KICKS Neptune (indie)
THE BEE TELLERS River Poem (Black Sand Records)
LAUREN FREEBIRD Like A Bomb (indie)

Featured Albums w/c 15 April 2024

09:00-12:00 The Best of 2003-2023
12:00-13:00 The Best of 2003-2023
14:00-16:00 KATARINA PEJAK – Pearls On A String (Ruf Records)


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