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{{EngvarB|date=September 2013}}
{{EngvarB|date=September 2013}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2013}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2024}}
{{Infobox album
{{Infobox album
| name = Jesus of Cool
| name = Jesus of Cool
Line 6: Line 6:
| artist = [[Nick Lowe]]
| artist = [[Nick Lowe]]
| cover = Nick Lowe Jesus of Cool.jpg
| cover = Nick Lowe Jesus of Cool.jpg
| alt =
| released = {{Start date|1978|03}}
| released = {{Start date|1978|03}}
| recorded = 1976–77
| recorded = 1976–77
| venue =
| studio = {{unbulleted list|Chalk Farm Studios, London|[[Eden Studios]], [[Chiswick]]|Jackson Studios, [[Rickmansworth]]|[[Pathway Studios]], [[Stoke Newington]]}}
| studio = {{unbulleted list|Chalk Farm Studios, London|[[Eden Studios]], [[Chiswick]]|Jackson Studios, [[Rickmansworth]]|[[Pathway Studios]], [[Stoke Newington]]}}
| genre =
| genre = <!-- Do not add unsourced genres -->[[New wave music|New wave]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.pastemagazine.com/articles/2016/09/the-best-new-wave-albums.html?p=2|title=The 50 Best New Wave Albums|last=Jackson|first=Josh|last2=Martin|first2=Garrett|date=8 September 2016|website=[[Paste (magazine)|Paste]]|access-date=28 December 2017}}</ref>
* [[New wave music|New wave]]<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.pastemagazine.com/music/new-wave/the-best-new-wave-albums/ |title=The 50 Best New Wave Albums |website=[[Paste (magazine)|Paste]] |date=8 September 2016 |access-date=28 December 2017}}</ref>
* [[Pop music|pop]]<ref name="Segretto 2022">{{cite book|title=33 1/3 Revolutions Per Minute – A Critical Trip Through the Rock LP Era, 1955–1999|first=Mike|last=Segretto|date=2022|chapter= 1978|page= 348|publisher=Backbeat|isbn=9781493064601|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=jtNtEAAAQBAJ}}</ref>
| length = {{Duration|m=33|s=17}}
| length = {{Duration|m=33|s=17}}
| label = [[Radar Records|Radar]]
| label = [[Radar Records|Radar]]
| producer = Nick Lowe
| producer = Nick Lowe
| prev_title =
| prev_year =
| next_title = [[Labour of Lust]]
| next_title = [[Labour of Lust]]
| next_year = 1979
| next_year = 1979
| Misc = {{Extra album cover
| misc = {{Extra album cover
| Upper caption = Back cover
| header = Back cover
| Type = studio
| type = studio
| Cover = Nick Lowe Jesus of Cool back.jpg
| cover = Nick Lowe Jesus of Cool back.jpg
| border =
| Lower caption = From the original Radar Records release
| alt =
}}
| caption = From the original Radar Records release
}}
}}
{{Album ratings
| rev1 = [[AllMusic]]
| rev1score = {{Rating|5|5}}<ref name="Allmusic">{{cite web |url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/pure-pop-for-now-people-mw0000309200 |title=Pure Pop for Now People – Nick Lowe |publisher=[[AllMusic]] |accessdate=9 June 2017 |last=Erlewine |first=Stephen Thomas |authorlink=Stephen Thomas Erlewine}}</ref>
| rev2 = ''[[American Songwriter]]''
| rev2Score = {{Rating|4|5}}<ref>{{cite journal |url=https://americansongwriter.com/2008/03/nick-lowe-jesus-of-cool-30th-anniversary-edition-yep-roc/ |title=Nick Lowe > Jesus of Cool: 30th Anniversary Edition |work=[[American Songwriter]] |date=1 March 2008 |accessdate=9 June 2017 |last=Waterman |first=Doug}}</ref>
| rev3 = ''[[Encyclopedia of Popular Music]]''
| rev3score = {{Rating|4|5}}<ref>{{cite book |title=[[Encyclopedia of Popular Music|The Encyclopedia of Popular Music]] |last=Larkin |first=Colin |authorlink=Colin Larkin (writer) |publisher=[[Omnibus Press]] |edition=5th concise |year=2011 |isbn=0-85712-595-8}}</ref>
| rev4 = ''[[Entertainment Weekly]]''
| rev4score = A<ref>{{cite journal |url=http://ew.com/article/2008/03/03/jesus-cool-30th-anniversary-edition/ |title=Jesus of Cool: 30th Anniversary Edition |work=[[Entertainment Weekly]] |date=3 March 2008 |accessdate=9 June 2017 |last=Brunner |first=Rob}}</ref>
| rev5 = ''[[Mojo (magazine)|Mojo]]''
| rev5score = {{Rating|4|5}}<ref>{{cite journal |title=Nick Lowe: Jesus of Cool |work=[[Mojo (magazine)|Mojo]] |issue=172 |date=March 2008 |page=120}}</ref>
| rev6 = ''[[Pitchfork (website)|Pitchfork]]''
| rev6score = 9.3/10<ref>{{cite web |url=http://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/11183-jesus-of-cool/ |title=Nick Lowe: Jesus of Cool |work=[[Pitchfork (website)|Pitchfork]] |date=18 February 2008 |accessdate=9 June 2017 |last=LeMay |first=Matt}}</ref>
| rev7 = ''[[Rolling Stone]]''
| rev7score = {{Rating|4|5}}<ref>{{cite journal |url=https://www.rollingstone.com:80/reviews/album/97062/review/18306103/jesusofcoolreissue |title=Nick Lowe: Jesus of Cool |work=[[Rolling Stone]] |date=21 February 2008 |accessdate=9 June 2017 |last=Fricke |first=David |authorlink=David Fricke |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20090130021341/http://www.rollingstone.com/reviews/album/97062/review/18306103/jesusofcoolreissue |archivedate=30 January 2009 |deadurl=yes |df=dmy-all }}</ref>
| rev8 = ''[[Spin (magazine)|Spin]]''
| rev8score = {{Rating|4|5}}<ref>{{cite journal |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=1BNKzzDdRrMC&pg=PA97&lpg=PA97 |title=Reissues |work=[[Spin (magazine)|Spin]] |volume=24 |issue=3 |date=March 2008 |accessdate=9 June 2017 |last=Hermes |first=Will |authorlink=Will Hermes |page=97}}</ref>
| rev9 = ''[[Uncut (magazine)|Uncut]]''
| rev9score = {{Rating|5|5}}<ref>{{cite journal |url=http://www.uncut.co.uk/reviews/album/nick-lowe-jesus-of-cool |title=Nick Lowe – Jesus of Cool |work=[[Uncut (magazine)|Uncut]] |date=13 February 2008 |accessdate=9 June 2017 |last=Jones |first=Allan}}</ref>
| rev10 = ''[[The Village Voice]]''
| rev10Score = A<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.robertchristgau.com/xg/cg/cgv4-78.php |title=Christgau's Consumer Guide |work=[[The Village Voice]] |date=24 April 1978 |accessdate=9 June 2017 |last=Christgau |first=Robert |authorlink=Robert Christgau}}</ref>
}}
}}


'''''Jesus of Cool''''' is the solo debut album by British singer-songwriter [[Nick Lowe]]. Produced by Lowe, it was released in March 1978 by [[Radar Records]] in the UK.
'''''Jesus of Cool''''' is the solo debut album by British singer-songwriter [[Nick Lowe]]. Produced by Lowe, it was released in March 1978 by [[Radar Records]] in the UK.


In the United States, the album was reconfigured by [[Columbia Records]] and retitled '''''Pure Pop for Now People''''', a slogan that had appeared on the original UK album cover, with Columbia opting for a different track listing: "Shake and Pop" was replaced with "They Called It Rock," a slightly different version of the song by Lowe's sister band [[Rockpile]], which had been included as a single-sided bonus 45 in the original UK album; the live version of "Heart of the City" was replaced with a studio version that had been released as the b-side of Lowe's "[[So It Goes (song)|So It Goes]]" single on [[Stiff Records]]; and "Rollers Show," a song originally released by Lowe in 1977 as a [[United Artists]] novelty single under the name Tartan Horde (a follow-up to their single "Bay City Rollers We Love You")<ref>https://www.discogs.com/Tartan-Horde-Rollers-Show-Allorolla-Part-1/release/2691578</ref>, was added. The songs are also in a different order than the UK version.
In the United States, the album was reconfigured by [[Columbia Records]] and retitled '''''Pure Pop for Now People''''', a slogan that had appeared on the original UK album cover, with Columbia opting for a different track listing: "Shake and Pop" was replaced with "They Called It Rock," a slightly different version of the song by Lowe's other band [[Rockpile]], which had been included as a single-sided bonus 45 in the original UK album; the live version of "Heart of the City" was replaced with a studio version that had been released as the b-side of Lowe's "[[So It Goes (song)|So It Goes]]" single on [[Stiff Records]]; and "Rollers Show," a song originally released by Lowe in 1977 as a [[United Artists]] novelty single under the name Tartan Horde (a follow-up to their single "Bay City Rollers We Love You"),<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.discogs.com/Tartan-Horde-Rollers-Show-Allorolla-Part-1/release/2691578|title = Tartan Horde – Rollers Show – Allorolla Part 1 (1977, Vinyl)|publisher = [[Discogs]]}}</ref> was added. The songs are also in a different order than the UK version.


''Jesus of Cool'' has been highly acclaimed by critics. In February of 2008, it was reissued in an expanded, deluxe edition by Proper Records in the UK and [[Yep Roc Records]] in the US.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.pitchforkmedia.com/page/news/47456-nick-lowe-reissues-expands-ijesus-of-cooli |title=Archived copy |accessdate=2007-12-05 |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20071219001321/http://www.pitchforkmedia.com/page/news/47456-nick-lowe-reissues-expands-ijesus-of-cooli |archivedate=19 December 2007 |df=dmy-all }}</ref>
''Jesus of Cool'' has been highly acclaimed by critics. In February 2008, it was reissued in an expanded, deluxe edition by Proper Records in the UK and [[Yep Roc Records]] in the US.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.pitchforkmedia.com/page/news/47456-nick-lowe-reissues-expands-ijesus-of-cooli |title=Nick Lowe Reissues, Expands Jesus of Cool |publisher=Pitchfork |date=5 December 2007 |accessdate=5 December 2007 |last=Maher |first=Dave |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071219001321/http://www.pitchforkmedia.com/page/news/47456-nick-lowe-reissues-expands-ijesus-of-cooli |archive-date=19 December 2007 |url-status=dead}}</ref> On 23 April 2022, for Record Store Day, the album was rereleased again under the name '''''Wireless World''''', combining the track lists of ''Jesus of Cool'' and ''Pure Pop for Now People'' into one album.<ref>{{Citation |title=RSD '22 Special Release: Nick Lowe – Wireless World |url=https://recordstoreday.com/SpecialRelease/14833|access-date=2022-04-24}}</ref>


Two verses of the song "So It Goes" were featured in the 1979 film ''[[Rock 'n' Roll High School]]''.
Two verses of the song "So It Goes" were featured in the 1979 film ''[[Rock 'n' Roll High School]]''.


==Themes==
==Themes==
''Jesus of Cool'' has a number of tracks attacking the commercialism and greed of the [[record industry]] and the shallow content of pop music: "Music for Money," the fraternal twin songs "Shake and Pop" and "They Called It Rock," and "Rollers Show," the last being a parody of the teen audience of the [[Bay City Rollers]]. Although musically sophisticated in conventional genres, the album shares the energy, cynicism and rebelliousness of the contemporary [[new wave music|new wave]] movement.
''Jesus of Cool'' has a number of tracks attacking the commercialism and greed of the [[music industry]] and the shallow content of pop music: "Music for Money," the fraternal twin songs "Shake and Pop" and "They Called It Rock," and "Rollers Show," the last being a parody of the teen audience of the [[Bay City Rollers]]. Although musically sophisticated in conventional genres, the album shares the energy, cynicism and rebelliousness of the contemporary [[new wave music|new wave]] movement.


==Album cover==
==Album cover==
The original vinyl album cover features five pictures of Nick Lowe and one of his Rockpile bandmate Dave Edmunds, disguised to look like Lowe, with the UK and US versions featuring a slightly different selection of photos. On both covers, the phrase "PURE POP FOR NOW PEOPLE" is spelled out in small letters across the photos. "PURE" was small yellow print in the top left photo, "POP" was small red print in the top middle, "FOR" was small blue print in the top right, "NOW" was small blue print bottom left, "PEO" was small yellow print in the bottom middle and "PLE" was small red print in the bottom right.
The original vinyl album cover features six pictures of Nick Lowe. The UK, US and Scandinavian versions featuring a slightly different selection of photos. On both covers, the phrase "PURE POP FOR NOW PEOPLE" is spelled out in small letters across the photos. "PURE" was small yellow print in the top left photo, "POP" was small red print in the top middle, "FOR" was small blue print in the top right, "NOW" was small blue print bottom left, "PEO" was small yellow print in the bottom middle and "PLE" was small red print in the bottom right.

The UK version had a photo of three kitsch glass swan ornaments on the back sleeve. The US version replaced this with a picture of Lowe dressed up in a green [[Riddler]] suit made by Antoinette Laumer Sales. The design of the inner sleeve also differs between the UK and US versions.

The UK, US and Scandinavian sleeves were designed by [[Barney Bubbles]].

== Critical reception ==
{{Album ratings
| rev1 = [[AllMusic]]
| rev1score = {{Rating|5|5}}<ref name="AllMusic">{{cite web |url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/jesus-of-cool-mw0000197696 |title=Jesus of Cool – Nick Lowe |publisher=[[AllMusic]] |accessdate=25 October 2020 |last=Erlewine |first=Stephen Thomas |author-link=Stephen Thomas Erlewine}}</ref>
| rev2 = ''[[American Songwriter]]''
| rev2score = {{Rating|4|5}}<ref>{{cite magazine |url=https://americansongwriter.com/2008/03/nick-lowe-jesus-of-cool-30th-anniversary-edition-yep-roc/ |title=Nick Lowe > Jesus of Cool: 30th Anniversary Edition |magazine=[[American Songwriter]] |date=1 March 2008 |accessdate=9 June 2017 |last=Waterman |first=Doug |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111218042050/http://www.americansongwriter.com/2008/03/nick-lowe-jesus-of-cool-30th-anniversary-edition-yep-roc/ |archive-date=18 December 2011 |url-status=dead}}</ref>
| rev3 = ''[[Christgau's Record Guide: Rock Albums of the Seventies|Christgau's Record Guide]]''
| rev3score = A<ref name="CG">{{cite book |chapter=L |chapter-url=https://www.robertchristgau.com/get_chap.php?k=L&bk=70 |accessdate=1 March 2019 |via=robertchristgau.com |title=Christgau's Record Guide: Rock Albums of the Seventies |title-link=Christgau's Record Guide: Rock Albums of the Seventies |last=Christgau |first=Robert |author-link=Robert Christgau |publisher=[[Ticknor and Fields]] |year=1981 |isbn=0-89919-026-X}}</ref>
| rev4 = ''[[Entertainment Weekly]]''
| rev4score = A<ref>{{cite magazine |url=http://ew.com/article/2008/03/03/jesus-cool-30th-anniversary-edition/ |title=Jesus of Cool: 30th Anniversary Edition |magazine=[[Entertainment Weekly]] |date=3 March 2008 |accessdate=9 June 2017 |last=Brunner |first=Rob}}</ref>
| rev5 = ''[[Mojo (magazine)|Mojo]]''
| rev5score = {{Rating|4|5}}<ref>{{cite magazine |title=Nick Lowe: Jesus of Cool |magazine=[[Mojo (magazine)|Mojo]] |issue=172 |date=March 2008 |page=120}}</ref>
| rev6 = [[Pitchfork (website)|Pitchfork]]
| rev6score = 9.3/10<ref>{{cite web |url=http://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/11183-jesus-of-cool/ |title=Nick Lowe: Jesus of Cool |publisher=Pitchfork |date=18 February 2008 |accessdate=9 June 2017 |last=LeMay |first=Matt}}</ref>
| rev7 = ''[[Rolling Stone]]''
| rev7score = {{Rating|4|5}}<ref>{{cite magazine |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/reviews/album/97062/review/18306103/jesusofcoolreissue |title=Nick Lowe: Jesus of Cool |magazine=[[Rolling Stone]] |date=21 February 2008 |accessdate=9 June 2017 |last=Fricke |first=David |author-link=David Fricke |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090130021341/http://www.rollingstone.com/reviews/album/97062/review/18306103/jesusofcoolreissue |archive-date=30 January 2009 |url-status=dead}}</ref>
| rev8 = ''[[Spin (magazine)|Spin]]''
| rev8score = {{Rating|4|5}}<ref>{{cite magazine |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=1BNKzzDdRrMC&pg=PA97 |title=Reissues |magazine=Spin |volume=24 |issue=3 |date=March 2008 |accessdate=9 June 2017 |last=Hermes |first=Will |author-link=Will Hermes |page=97}}</ref>
| rev9 = ''[[Spin Alternative Record Guide]]''
| rev9score = 9/10<ref>{{cite book |chapter=Nick Lowe |last=Sheffield |first=Rob |author-link=Rob Sheffield |title=Spin Alternative Record Guide |title-link=Spin Alternative Record Guide |editor1-last=Weisbard |editor1-first=Eric |editor1-link=Eric Weisbard |editor2-last=Marks |editor2-first=Craig |publisher=[[Vintage Books]] |year=1995 |isbn=0-679-75574-8 |page=232}}</ref>
| rev10 = ''[[Uncut (magazine)|Uncut]]''
| rev10score = {{Rating|5|5}}<ref>{{cite magazine |url=http://www.uncut.co.uk/reviews/album/nick-lowe-jesus-of-cool |title=Nick Lowe – Jesus of Cool |magazine=Uncut |date=13 February 2008 |accessdate=9 June 2017 |last=Jones |first=Allan |author-link=Allan Jones (editor) |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190302024741/http://www.uncut.co.uk/reviews/album/nick-lowe-jesus-of-cool |archive-date=2 March 2019 |url-status=dead}}</ref>
}}
Reviewing the American release in 1978, ''[[The Village Voice|Village Voice]]'' critic [[Robert Christgau]] called it "an amazing pop tour-de-force demonstrating that if the music is cute enough the words can be any old non-cliché". The characters in Lowe's songs, he observed, "cut off their right arms, castrate [[Fidel Castro|Castro]], love the sound of breaking glass, roam with alligators in the heart of the city, and go to see the [[Bay City Rollers]]. But because the hooks cascade so deftly from sources as diverse as [[the Beach Boys]] and [[the Boomtown Rats]], I care about every one of them."<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.robertchristgau.com/xg/cg/cgv4-78.php |title=Christgau's Consumer Guide |work=[[The Village Voice]] |date=24 April 1978 |accessdate=9 June 2017 |last=Christgau |first=Robert |author-link=Robert Christgau}}</ref>


Peter Silverton of ''[[Sounds (magazine)|Sounds]]'' said at the time of release, "Despite the track to track differences in sound, they're all so very Lowe – sparse, carefully selected instrumentation, delicacy of touch and understated vocals. But when he turns in masterpieces like 'Marie Provost' – certainly the best, most fully formed lyrics he's ever written – you forget the partial failures."<ref>{{cite magazine |url=https://www.rocksbackpages.com/Library/Article/nick-lowe-jesus-of-cool |title=Nick Lowe: Jesus of Cool |magazine=[[Sounds (magazine)|Sounds]] |date=25 February 1978 |accessdate=17 July 2019 |last=Silverton |first=Peter |url-access=subscription |via=[[Rock's Backpages]]}}</ref>
The UK version had a photo of three kitsch glass swan ornaments on the back sleeve. The US version replaced this with a picture of Lowe dressed up in a green [[Riddler]] suit made by Antoinette Laumer Sales, a shot deliberately posed to make him look like Dave Edmunds, since one of the shots of Lowe on the front cover is actually Edmunds. The design of the inner sleeve also differs between the UK and US versions.


[[Nick Kent]], writing in ''[[NME]]'', noted that fans of Lowe would be "more than a little pissed off" by the inclusion of five songs that had previously been released in different formats, but also said, "if you're not already familiar with these titles then you at least have nothing to complain about, seeing that they're almost uniformly superb."<ref>{{cite magazine |url=https://www.rocksbackpages.com/Library/Article/nick-lowe-ijesus-of-cooli |title=Nick Lowe: Jesus of Cool |magazine=[[NME]] |date=25 February 1978 |accessdate=17 July 2019 |last=Kent |first=Nick |author-link=Nick Kent |url-access=subscription |via=[[Rock's Backpages]]}}</ref>
Both the UK and US sleeves were designed by [[Barney Bubbles]].


==Track listing==
==Track listing==
Line 74: Line 89:
| length1 = 2:03
| length1 = 2:03
| title2 = [[I Love the Sound of Breaking Glass]]
| title2 = [[I Love the Sound of Breaking Glass]]
| note2 = Nick Lowe / [[Andrew Bodnar]] / [[Steve Goulding]]
| writer2 = Lowe, [[Andrew Bodnar]], [[Steve Goulding]]
| length2 = 3:05
| length2 = 3:05
| title3 = Little Hitler
| title3 = Little Hitler
| note3 = Nick Lowe / [[Dave Edmunds]]
| writer3 = Lowe, [[Dave Edmunds]]
| length3 = 2:51
| length3 = 2:51
| title4 = Shake and Pop
| title4 = Shake and Pop
Line 87: Line 102:
{{Track listing
{{Track listing
| headline = Side two
| headline = Side two
| title1 = So It Goes
| title1 = [[So It Goes (song)|So It Goes]]
| length1 = 2:23
| length1 = 2:23
| title2 = No Reason
| title2 = No Reason
| length2 = 3:25
| length2 = 3:25
| title3 = 36 Inches High
| title3 = 36 Inches High
| note3 = [[Jim Ford]]
| writer3 = [[Jim Ford]]
| length3 = 2:50
| length3 = 2:50
| title4 = Marie Provost
| title4 = Marie Provost
Line 104: Line 119:
{{Track listing
{{Track listing
| headline = Bonus 7" single
| headline = Bonus 7" single
| extra_column = Notes
| title1 = They Called It Rock
| title1 = They Called It Rock
| note1 = Nick Lowe / Rockpile / Dave Edmunds
| writer1 = Lowe, Rockpile, Edmunds
| length1 = 3:10
| length1 = 3:10
}}
}}
* "They Called It Rock" was a single-sided, non-album [[Single (music)|45]], credited to the band Rockpile.
* "They Called It Rock" was a single-sided, non-album [[Single (music)|45]], credited to the band Rockpile.
* "Rollers Show" and "They Called It Rock," both of which were included on the US issue of ''Pure Pop for Now People'', were added as bonus tracks to the first UK CD release of this album in 1989.<ref>https://www.discogs.com/Nick-Lowe-Jesus-Of-Cool/release/1383873</ref>
* "Rollers Show" and "They Called It Rock," both of which were included on the US issue of ''Pure Pop for Now People'', were added as bonus tracks to the first UK CD release of this album in 1989.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.discogs.com/Nick-Lowe-Jesus-Of-Cool/release/1383873|title=Nick Lowe – Jesus of Cool (1989, CD)|publisher=[[Discogs]]}}</ref>



===''Pure Pop for Now People''===
===''Pure Pop for Now People''===
Line 120: Line 133:
| length1 = 2:23
| length1 = 2:23
| title2 = I Love the Sound of Breaking Glass
| title2 = I Love the Sound of Breaking Glass
| note2 = Nick Lowe / Andrew Bodnar / Steve Goulding
| writer2 = Lowe, Andrew Bodnar, Steve Goulding
| length2 = 3:05
| length2 = 3:05
| title3 = Tonight
| title3 = Tonight
Line 139: Line 152:
| length2 = 3:25
| length2 = 3:25
| title3 = Little Hitler
| title3 = Little Hitler
| note3 = Nick Lowe / Dave Edmunds
| writer3 = Lowe, Dave Edmunds
| length3 = 2:51
| length3 = 2:51
| title4 = Nutted by Reality
| title4 = Nutted by Reality
| length4 = 2:46
| length4 = 2:46
| title5 = 36 Inches High
| title5 = 36 Inches High
| note5 = Jim Ford
| writer5 = Jim Ford
| length5 = 2:50
| length5 = 2:50
| title6 = Music for Money
| title6 = Music for Money
Line 151: Line 164:


* "Heart of the City" is the studio version.
* "Heart of the City" is the studio version.



===''Jesus of Cool'' (2008 deluxe edition)===
===''Jesus of Cool'' (2008 deluxe edition)===


{{Track listing
{{Track listing
| headline = The Original Album:
| headline = Side one
| title1 = Music for Money
| title1 = Music for Money
| length1 = 2:09
| length1 = 2:03
| title2 = I Love the Sound of Breaking Glass
| title2 = [[I Love the Sound of Breaking Glass]]
| note2 = Nick Lowe / Andrew Bodnar / Steve Goulding
| writer2 = Lowe, [[Andrew Bodnar]], [[Steve Goulding]]
| length2 = 3:05
| length2 = 3:05
| title3 = Little Hitler
| title3 = Little Hitler
| note3 = Nick Lowe / Dave Edmunds
| writer3 = Lowe, [[Dave Edmunds]]
| length3 = 2:51
| length3 = 2:51
| title4 = Shake and Pop
| title4 = Shake and Pop
Line 174: Line 186:
| length7 = 3:25
| length7 = 3:25
| title8 = 36 Inches High
| title8 = 36 Inches High
| note8 = Jim Ford
| writer8 = [[Jim Ford]]
| length8 = 2:50
| length8 = 2:50
| title9 = Marie Provost
| title9 = Marie Provost
| length9 = 2:41
| length9 = 2:41
| title10 = Nutted by Reality
| title10 = Nutted by Reality
| length10 = 2:46
| length10 = 2:46
| title11 = Heart of the City (Live)
| title11 = Heart of the City
| length11 = 2:14
| note11 = Live
| length11 = 2:14
}}
}}


Line 189: Line 202:
| length12 = 2:12
| length12 = 2:12
| title13 = I Love My Label
| title13 = I Love My Label
| note13 = Nick Lowe / [[Jake Riviera|Profile]]
| writer13 = Lowe, [[Jake Riviera|Profile]]
| length13 = 3:00
| length13 = 3:00
| title14 = They Called It Rock
| title14 = They Called It Rock
| note14 = Nick Lowe / Rockpile / Dave Edmunds
| writer14 = Lowe, Rockpile, Edmunds
| length14 = 3:13
| length14 = 3:13
| title15 = [[Sandy_Posey#"Born_a_Woman"|Born a Woman]]
| title15 = [[Sandy Posey#"Born a Woman"|Born a Woman]]
| note15 = Martha Sharp
| writer15 = Martha Sharp
| length15 = 3:27
| length15 = 3:27
| title16 = Endless Sleep
| title16 = Endless Sleep
| length16 = 4:08
| length16 = 4:08
| title17 = [[Halfway to Paradise]]
| title17 = [[Halfway to Paradise]]
| note17 = [[Gerry Goffin]] / [[Carole King]]
| writer17 = [[Gerry Goffin]], [[Carole King]]
| length17 = 2:26
| length17 = 2:26
| title18 = Rollers Show
| title18 = Rollers Show
| length18 = 3:32
| length18 = 3:32
| title19 = Cruel to Be Kind (Original Version)
| title19 = [[Cruel to Be Kind]]
| note19 = Original Version
| note19 = Nick Lowe / [[Ian Gomm]]
| writer19 = Lowe, [[Ian Gomm]]
| length19 = 2:52
| length19 = 2:52
| title20 = Heart of the City
| title20 = Heart of the City
Line 213: Line 227:
}}
}}


* "Cruel to Be Kind" is the original version by [[Brinsley Schwarz]], recorded for their unreleased album ''It's All Over Now'' and first released as the b-side to Lowe's "Little Hitler" single in 1978.
* "Cruel to Be Kind" is the original version by [[Brinsley Schwarz]], recorded for their unreleased album ''It's All Over Now'' and first released as the B-side to Lowe's "Little Hitler" single in 1978.

=== ''Wireless World'' (2022 Record Store Day release) ===
{{Track listing
| headline = Side one
| title1 = Music for Money
| length1 = 2:03
| title2 = [[I Love the Sound of Breaking Glass]]
| writer2 = Lowe, [[Andrew Bodnar]], [[Steve Goulding]]
| length2 = 3:05
| title3 = Little Hitler
| writer3 = Lowe, [[Dave Edmunds]]
| length3 = 2:51
| title4 = Shake and Pop
| length4 = 3:13
| title5 = Tonight
| length5 = 3:45
| title6 = So It Goes
| length6 = 2:23
| title7 = No Reason
| length7 = 3:25
}}

{{Track listing
| headline = Side two
| title1 = 36 Inches High
| length1 = 2:50
| writer1 = [[Jim Ford]]
| title2 = Marie Provost
| length2 = 2:41
| title3 = Nutted by Reality
| length3 = 2:46
| title4 = Heart of the City
| note4 = Live
| length4 = 2:14
| title5 = They Called It Rock
| length5 = 3:13
| title6 = Rollers Show
| length6 = 3:32
| title7 = Heart of the City
| note7 = Studio Version
| length7 = 2:07
}}


==Personnel==
==Personnel==
Line 223: Line 279:
*[[John Turnbull (musician)|John Turnbull]] – lead guitar on "Nutted by Reality"
*[[John Turnbull (musician)|John Turnbull]] – lead guitar on "Nutted by Reality"
*[[John McFee]] – guitar solo on "Tonight"
*[[John McFee]] – guitar solo on "Tonight"
*[[Martin Belmont]] – guitar
*[[Andrew Bodnar]] – bass
*[[Andrew Bodnar]] – bass
*[[Norman Watt-Roy]] – bass on "Nutted by Reality"
*[[Norman Watt-Roy]] – bass on "Nutted by Reality"
Line 231: Line 288:
*[[Bob Andrews (keyboardist)|Bob Andrews]] – piano, organ
*[[Bob Andrews (keyboardist)|Bob Andrews]] – piano, organ
*[[Steve Nieve]] – piano on "Nutted by Reality"
*[[Steve Nieve]] – piano on "Nutted by Reality"
*[[Roger Bechirian]] – tambourine and backing vocals on "I Love The Sound Of Breaking Glass", organ on "Marie Provost"
*[[Roger Béchirian]] – tambourine and backing vocals on "I Love The Sound of Breaking Glass", organ on "Marie Provost"

==Charts==
==Charts==
{| class="wikitable"
'''Album'''
!Chart (1978)
{| class="wikitable" border="1" cellspacing="2" cellpadding="2"
!Position
!align="left"|Year
!align="left"|Chart
!align="left"|Position (UK)
!align="left"|Position (US)
!align="left"|Position (Netherlands)
!align="left"|Position (Sweden)
|-
|-
|Australia ([[Kent Music Report]])<ref name=aus>{{cite book|last=Kent|first=David|author-link=David Kent (historian)|title=Australian Chart Book 1970–1992|edition=illustrated|publisher=Australian Chart Book|location=St Ives, N.S.W.|year=1993|isbn=0-646-11917-6|page=182}}</ref>
|align="left"|1978
| style="text-align:center;"|77
|align="left"|Pop Albums
|-
|align="left"|22
|The Netherlands
|align="left"|127
|align="left"|26
| style="text-align:center;"|26
|-
|align="left"|31
|Sweden
| style="text-align:center;"|31
|-
|United Kingdom ([[Official Charts Company]])
| style="text-align:center;"|22
|-
|US [[Billboard 200|''Billboard'' 200]]
| style="text-align:center;"|127
|-
|-
|}
|}


==Related links==
==Related links==
*[http://www.e-tabs.org/tab/nick_lowe/marie_provost "Marie Provost" guitar tabs and lyrics]
*[https://tabs.ultimate-guitar.com/tab/nick-lowe/marie-provost-chords-955339 "Marie Provost" guitar tabs and lyrics]
*[[Marie Prevost]]
*[[Marie Prevost]]


==References==
==References==
{{Reflist}}
<references />

==External links==
* {{Discogs master|type=album|36997|name=Jesus of Cool}}


{{Nick Lowe}}
{{Nick Lowe}}


{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Jesus Of Cool}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Jesus of Cool}}
[[Category:1978 debut albums]]
[[Category:1978 debut albums]]
[[Category:Nick Lowe albums]]
[[Category:Nick Lowe albums]]

Latest revision as of 18:55, 10 August 2024

Jesus of Cool
Studio album by
Nick Lowe
ReleasedMarch 1978 (1978-03)
Recorded1976–77
Studio
Genre
Length33:17
LabelRadar
ProducerNick Lowe
Nick Lowe chronology
Jesus of Cool
(1978) 		Labour of Lust
(1979)
Back cover
From the original Radar Records release

Jesus of Cool is the solo debut album by British singer-songwriter Nick Lowe. Produced by Lowe, it was released in March 1978 by Radar Records in the UK.

In the United States, the album was reconfigured by Columbia Records and retitled Pure Pop for Now People, a slogan that had appeared on the original UK album cover, with Columbia opting for a different track listing: "Shake and Pop" was replaced with "They Called It Rock," a slightly different version of the song by Lowe's other band Rockpile, which had been included as a single-sided bonus 45 in the original UK album; the live version of "Heart of the City" was replaced with a studio version that had been released as the b-side of Lowe's "So It Goes" single on Stiff Records; and "Rollers Show," a song originally released by Lowe in 1977 as a United Artists novelty single under the name Tartan Horde (a follow-up to their single "Bay City Rollers We Love You"),[3] was added. The songs are also in a different order than the UK version.

Jesus of Cool has been highly acclaimed by critics. In February 2008, it was reissued in an expanded, deluxe edition by Proper Records in the UK and Yep Roc Records in the US.[4] On 23 April 2022, for Record Store Day, the album was rereleased again under the name Wireless World, combining the track lists of Jesus of Cool and Pure Pop for Now People into one album.[5]

Two verses of the song "So It Goes" were featured in the 1979 film Rock 'n' Roll High School.

Themes

[edit]

Jesus of Cool has a number of tracks attacking the commercialism and greed of the music industry and the shallow content of pop music: "Music for Money," the fraternal twin songs "Shake and Pop" and "They Called It Rock," and "Rollers Show," the last being a parody of the teen audience of the Bay City Rollers. Although musically sophisticated in conventional genres, the album shares the energy, cynicism and rebelliousness of the contemporary new wave movement.

Album cover

[edit]

The original vinyl album cover features six pictures of Nick Lowe. The UK, US and Scandinavian versions featuring a slightly different selection of photos. On both covers, the phrase "PURE POP FOR NOW PEOPLE" is spelled out in small letters across the photos. "PURE" was small yellow print in the top left photo, "POP" was small red print in the top middle, "FOR" was small blue print in the top right, "NOW" was small blue print bottom left, "PEO" was small yellow print in the bottom middle and "PLE" was small red print in the bottom right.

The UK version had a photo of three kitsch glass swan ornaments on the back sleeve. The US version replaced this with a picture of Lowe dressed up in a green Riddler suit made by Antoinette Laumer Sales. The design of the inner sleeve also differs between the UK and US versions.

The UK, US and Scandinavian sleeves were designed by Barney Bubbles.

Critical reception

[edit]
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[6]
American Songwriter[7]
Christgau's Record GuideA[8]
Entertainment WeeklyA[9]
Mojo[10]
Pitchfork9.3/10[11]
Rolling Stone[12]
Spin[13]
Spin Alternative Record Guide9/10[14]
Uncut[15]

Reviewing the American release in 1978, Village Voice critic Robert Christgau called it "an amazing pop tour-de-force demonstrating that if the music is cute enough the words can be any old non-cliché". The characters in Lowe's songs, he observed, "cut off their right arms, castrate Castro, love the sound of breaking glass, roam with alligators in the heart of the city, and go to see the Bay City Rollers. But because the hooks cascade so deftly from sources as diverse as the Beach Boys and the Boomtown Rats, I care about every one of them."[16]

Peter Silverton of Sounds said at the time of release, "Despite the track to track differences in sound, they're all so very Lowe – sparse, carefully selected instrumentation, delicacy of touch and understated vocals. But when he turns in masterpieces like 'Marie Provost' – certainly the best, most fully formed lyrics he's ever written – you forget the partial failures."[17]

Nick Kent, writing in NME, noted that fans of Lowe would be "more than a little pissed off" by the inclusion of five songs that had previously been released in different formats, but also said, "if you're not already familiar with these titles then you at least have nothing to complain about, seeing that they're almost uniformly superb."[18]

Track listing

[edit]

All songs written by Nick Lowe, except where otherwise noted.

Jesus of Cool

[edit]
Side one
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Music for Money" 2:03
2."I Love the Sound of Breaking Glass"Lowe, Andrew Bodnar, Steve Goulding3:05
3."Little Hitler"Lowe, Dave Edmunds2:51
4."Shake and Pop" 3:13
5."Tonight" 3:45
Side two
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."So It Goes" 2:23
2."No Reason" 3:25
3."36 Inches High"Jim Ford2:50
4."Marie Provost" 2:41
5."Nutted by Reality" 2:46
6."Heart of the City (Live)" 2:14
Bonus 7" single
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."They Called It Rock"Lowe, Rockpile, Edmunds3:10
  • "They Called It Rock" was a single-sided, non-album 45, credited to the band Rockpile.
  • "Rollers Show" and "They Called It Rock," both of which were included on the US issue of Pure Pop for Now People, were added as bonus tracks to the first UK CD release of this album in 1989.[19]

Pure Pop for Now People

[edit]
Side one
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."So It Goes" 2:23
2."I Love the Sound of Breaking Glass"Lowe, Andrew Bodnar, Steve Goulding3:05
3."Tonight" 3:45
4."Marie Provost" 2:41
5."Heart of the City" 2:01
6."Rollers Show" 3:31
Side two
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."They Called It Rock" 3:10
2."No Reason" 3:25
3."Little Hitler"Lowe, Dave Edmunds2:51
4."Nutted by Reality" 2:46
5."36 Inches High"Jim Ford2:50
6."Music for Money" 2:09
  • "Heart of the City" is the studio version.

Jesus of Cool (2008 deluxe edition)

[edit]
Side one
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Music for Money" 2:03
2."I Love the Sound of Breaking Glass"Lowe, Andrew Bodnar, Steve Goulding3:05
3."Little Hitler"Lowe, Dave Edmunds2:51
4."Shake and Pop" 3:13
5."Tonight" 3:45
6."So It Goes" 2:23
7."No Reason" 3:25
8."36 Inches High"Jim Ford2:50
9."Marie Provost" 2:41
10."Nutted by Reality" 2:46
11."Heart of the City" (Live) 2:14
And more:
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
12."Shake That Rat" 2:12
13."I Love My Label"Lowe, Profile3:00
14."They Called It Rock"Lowe, Rockpile, Edmunds3:13
15."Born a Woman"Martha Sharp3:27
16."Endless Sleep" 4:08
17."Halfway to Paradise"Gerry Goffin, Carole King2:26
18."Rollers Show" 3:32
19."Cruel to Be Kind" (Original Version)Lowe, Ian Gomm2:52
20."Heart of the City" 2:07
21."I Don't Want the Night to End" 1:57
  • "Cruel to Be Kind" is the original version by Brinsley Schwarz, recorded for their unreleased album It's All Over Now and first released as the B-side to Lowe's "Little Hitler" single in 1978.

Wireless World (2022 Record Store Day release)

[edit]
Side one
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Music for Money" 2:03
2."I Love the Sound of Breaking Glass"Lowe, Andrew Bodnar, Steve Goulding3:05
3."Little Hitler"Lowe, Dave Edmunds2:51
4."Shake and Pop" 3:13
5."Tonight" 3:45
6."So It Goes" 2:23
7."No Reason" 3:25
Side two
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."36 Inches High"Jim Ford2:50
2."Marie Provost" 2:41
3."Nutted by Reality" 2:46
4."Heart of the City" (Live) 2:14
5."They Called It Rock" 3:13
6."Rollers Show" 3:32
7."Heart of the City" (Studio Version) 2:07

Personnel

[edit]

Upon the album's initial release, the cover artwork deliberately omitted any mention of the musicians involved.

Charts

[edit]
Chart (1978) Position
Australia (Kent Music Report)[20] 77
The Netherlands 26
Sweden 31
United Kingdom (Official Charts Company) 22
US Billboard 200 127
[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "The 50 Best New Wave Albums". Paste. 8 September 2016. Retrieved 28 December 2017.
  2. ^ Segretto, Mike (2022). "1978". 33 1/3 Revolutions Per Minute – A Critical Trip Through the Rock LP Era, 1955–1999. Backbeat. p. 348. ISBN 9781493064601.
  3. ^ "Tartan Horde – Rollers Show – Allorolla Part 1 (1977, Vinyl)". Discogs.
  4. ^ Maher, Dave (5 December 2007). "Nick Lowe Reissues, Expands Jesus of Cool". Pitchfork. Archived from the original on 19 December 2007. Retrieved 5 December 2007.
  5. ^ RSD '22 Special Release: Nick Lowe – Wireless World, retrieved 24 April 2022
  6. ^ Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "Jesus of Cool – Nick Lowe". AllMusic. Retrieved 25 October 2020.
  7. ^ Waterman, Doug (1 March 2008). "Nick Lowe > Jesus of Cool: 30th Anniversary Edition". American Songwriter. Archived from the original on 18 December 2011. Retrieved 9 June 2017.
  8. ^ Christgau, Robert (1981). "L". Christgau's Record Guide: Rock Albums of the Seventies. Ticknor and Fields. ISBN 0-89919-026-X. Retrieved 1 March 2019 – via robertchristgau.com.
  9. ^ Brunner, Rob (3 March 2008). "Jesus of Cool: 30th Anniversary Edition". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved 9 June 2017.
  10. ^ "Nick Lowe: Jesus of Cool". Mojo. No. 172. March 2008. p. 120.
  11. ^ LeMay, Matt (18 February 2008). "Nick Lowe: Jesus of Cool". Pitchfork. Retrieved 9 June 2017.
  12. ^ Fricke, David (21 February 2008). "Nick Lowe: Jesus of Cool". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on 30 January 2009. Retrieved 9 June 2017.
  13. ^ Hermes, Will (March 2008). "Reissues". Spin. Vol. 24, no. 3. p. 97. Retrieved 9 June 2017.
  14. ^ Sheffield, Rob (1995). "Nick Lowe". In Weisbard, Eric; Marks, Craig (eds.). Spin Alternative Record Guide. Vintage Books. p. 232. ISBN 0-679-75574-8.
  15. ^ Jones, Allan (13 February 2008). "Nick Lowe – Jesus of Cool". Uncut. Archived from the original on 2 March 2019. Retrieved 9 June 2017.
  16. ^ Christgau, Robert (24 April 1978). "Christgau's Consumer Guide". The Village Voice. Retrieved 9 June 2017.
  17. ^ Silverton, Peter (25 February 1978). "Nick Lowe: Jesus of Cool". Sounds. Retrieved 17 July 2019 – via Rock's Backpages.
  18. ^ Kent, Nick (25 February 1978). "Nick Lowe: Jesus of Cool". NME. Retrieved 17 July 2019 – via Rock's Backpages.
  19. ^ "Nick Lowe – Jesus of Cool (1989, CD)". Discogs.
  20. ^ Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (illustrated ed.). St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. p. 182. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
[edit]
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