Lowe and Edmunds, Live: Rockpile “Live at Montreux” Arrives On CD

Nick Lowe, Dave Edmunds, Billy Bremner and Terry Williams, individually, are among the most accomplished artists to come out of the “pub rock” scene. Joined as Rockpile, they are a true rock legend. Though the band only recorded one album, 1980’s Seconds of Pleasure, under its own name, the Rockpile sound is instantly recognizable.  It graced solo LPs by Edmunds and Lowe as well as tracks by Mickey Jupp and Carlene Carter (then Lowe’s wife). Eagle Records will on August 22 release on CD the first-ever Rockpile live album, taken from the band’s 1980 performance at Montreux.

The Rockpile name first surfaced in 1970 on a Dave Edmunds solo LP and was used when Edmunds toured in support of the album as “Dave Edmunds and Rockpile.” Terry Williams, on drums, was among the members of that touring band. Around the same time, Nick Lowe was making waves as a member of Brinsley Schwarz. When Edmunds was enlisted to produce the band in 1974, he and Lowe realized their common sensibility, and pushed the folk/country/rockabilly revivalists into a forward-thinking power pop style, a forerunner of New Wave. The Rockpile lineup was formed shortly thereafter but record company politics kept it from being much more than an on-again, off-again concern; Lowe was the first artist signed to Stiff Records, while Edmunds recorded for Led Zeppelin’s Swan Song label. Still, Rockpile played on albums by both Lowe and Edmunds including Lowe’s first two solo LPs and Edmunds’ Tracks on Wax 4 and Repeat When Necessary. In 1980, Edmunds was extricated from his Swan Song contract and committed to a Rockpile album proper, Seconds of Pleasure.

Hit the jump for more, including the complete track listing of the new set!