The year was 1980 (October to be exact), vinyl was still king, and WNEW-FM in New York City was still an album rock station when I first heard some terrific new band called Rockpile. A new band but one with a cast of experienced musicians that delivered one album of pure power pop/post new wave, new rockabilly called Seconds of Pleasure.

Rockpile was Nick Lowe (bass, vocals), an esteemed producer and writer of some of rock and roll’s most erudite gems in three minutes or less; Dave Edmunds (guitar, vocals, piano, organ), a fine producer and a wicked guitarist with a sly, slick ability to cross rock and rockabilly with ease and fervor; Billy Bremner (guitar, vocals), a solid guitarist and underrated vocalist; and Terry Williams (drums), a drummer who could push and pull the beat any which way with serious swing.

This was music caught in a time warp but far above the usual corporate schlock of its time. Take equal parts Chuck Berry, Carl Perkins, Buddy Holly, and the Everly Brothers, add some cheeky wit, and a dash of post-punk aggression and play it loud, fast, and furious. What you get is an album that still sounds great about 25 years later.

These songs are filled with humor, a little lust, some wonderful irony, and teem with musicianship, intelligence, and a notable sense of mischief and fun. There’s no throwaways here, no filler. This is red meat rock and roll played with fierce abandon.

The newly remastered Seconds of Pleasure [2004, Columbia Legacy] is expanded with additional tracks added from the 7” EP that came with the original vinyl album, along with other bonus material. [Note: Four of the additional tracks were also included on the first CD pressing.]

Rockpile may have been a victim of its success—fawning critical praise covered up artistic and record company tensions. Reportedly, mismanagement and tension was the catalyst for the breakup that followed, but with Seconds of Pleasure, Rockpile got it right the first time: delivering an album of sharp songcraft that sparkles and glistens through the speakers.

In the liner notes by Andy Schwartz, Nick Lowe characterizes Rockpile as a "...posh bar band. We specialized in playing Chuck Berry music four times faster than anyone else. We got together for fun and when the fun had all been had we packed it in."

If Rockpile's a bar band (posh or not), I'm buying another round immediately.

I wore out my vinyl version and got hooked on the songs of Nick Lowe and Rockpile for life with this album. It compelled me to follow the solo career of Dave Edmunds as well. More so, Seconds of Pleasure remains one of the better albums of its time and worth adding to any rock and roll collection {five stars].

Tracks
1. Teacher Teacher (K. Pickett/E. Phillips)
2. If Sugar Was as Sweet as You (J. Tex)
3. Heart (Lowe/Edmunds/Bremner/Williams)
4. Now and Always (Lowe/Edmunds/Bremner/Williams)
5. Knife and a Fork (K. Anderson/I. Hennie/C. Derrick)
6. Play That Fast Thing (One More Time) (Lowe)
7. Wrong Again (Let's Face It) (C. Difford/G. Tilbrook)
8. Pet You and Hold You (Lowe/Edmunds/Bremner/Williams)
9. Oh What a Thrill (C. Berry)
10. When I Write the Book (Lowe/Edmunds/Bremner/Williams)
11. Fool Too Long (Lowe/Edmunds/Bremner/Williams)
12. You Ain't Nothin' But Fine (F. Semian/F. Soileau)

Of the bonus tracks, the material taken off the 7” EP is amazing even today, whereby Lowe and Edmunds perfectly capture the magic of the Everly Brothers with terrific harmony work. Note: If you have the original CD pressing you still may want to add this version to have everything in one remastered format.

Bonus Tracks
13. Take a Message to Mary (F. Bryant/B. Bryant)
14. Crying in the Rain (H. Greenfield/C. King)
15. Poor Jenny (F. Bryant/B. Bryant)
16. When Will I Be Loved? (P. Everly)
17. Back to Schooldays (G. Parker) [Live]
18. They Called It Rock [Live] (Lowe/Edmunds/Bremner/Williams)
19. Crawling from the Wreckage (G. Parker) [Live]
Tracks 13-16 from Nick Lowe& Dave Edmunds Sing the Everly Brothers
Tracks 18 from a live performance at the BBC (4/7/77)
Track 19 from The Concerts for the People of Kampuchea (1980-81)
Total: 54.06, reissue produced by Bruce Dickinson

Sources
www.allmusic.com, http://members.tripod.com/rant58/id280.htm, and http://www.geocities.com/SunsetStrip/Balcony/2674/

[This is part of an occasional series on "Blasts from My Past."]


Recommended: Yes

Great Music to Play While: Driving