Nick Lowe – ‘Quality Street: A Seasonal Selection For All The Family’(Released October 28th 2013 via Proper Records)
When stiff Records first became into being in 1976, label boss Dave Robinson’s first signing and subsequent first single release (‘So It Goes’) moreover the plethora of label production of some of Stiff’s finest means that it’s of little surprise Nick Lowe in 2013 can produce an effective if out of time, Christmas inspired 12 track album. ‘Quality Street’ is the result. What were those personnel at Proper Records on?
When Nick Lowe was approached by his record label about making a Christmas album, his reaction wasn’t exactly one of comfort and joy. Though Lowe admits the holiday season was for many years something he “suffered through a bit,” that changed when he became a father for the first time in 2005. “There’s no doubt that since I had a little boy, I’ve sort of rediscovered some of the joys of Christmas,” Lowe says.
And wouldn’t you know it, the joys of Christmas infuse the dozen songs on Quality Street: A Seasonal Selection For All The Family (the title is a nod to a famous UK manufacturer of holiday sweets, while the Wes Anderson-ish cover image was conceived by Lowe’s wife, designer Peta Waddington).
Though Lowe had planned to start recording in the weeks leading up to Christmas, a spell of ill health pushed the project into the new year, a time when most of us are relieved to be free of stockings and Santa for another eleven months. “When we started, I was really convinced that we needed to use the energy of the Christmas we were about to have to fling ourselves out into the new year, and into spring,” Lowe says. “We thought we might have to festoon the studio with holly and Christmas cards, and put up a tree. But not at all. It was just a good time and a laugh throughout. And when we finished, it was almost like somebody had woken us up from a dream.”
Rockabilly-charged “Children Go Where I Send Thee” opens then the comfy hush of ‘Christmas Can’t Be Far Away’, the record “deftly slaloms” through such highlights as the beatnik bop of ‘Hooves on the Roof’ (written especially for the project by Ron Sexsmith), Roger Miller’s wistful classic “Old Toy Train” and a New Orleans-style ‘Silent Night’ before wrapping up with a ska-flavored take on Wizzard’s 70s-era glam hit ‘I Wish It Could Be Christmas Every Day’.
It’s an interesting concept, often delivered with warmth without over stepping the sentimental line, it’s also nice to hear a British vocal flavouring, to stand against the fizzy drinks and animated multi-national corporations from over commercialising the festive period. Nick Lowe re-discovered passion, results in a different times, with a range of musical styles no doubt culled from Lowe’s wealth of music experiences. If you want a classic 2013 Christmas album that offers something different, most probably with a quiff, you can’t go too wrong. Fact remains ‘Quality Street: A Seasonal Selection For All The Family’ is one of the better musical Christmas offerings, (outside of Kirsty Macoll and The Pogues of course) than most, time to get merry. 7.4/10
Steve Janes