Favorite Power Pop Songs #4 - "Cruel to be Kind"

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We are heading into rarefied air: #4 in my Favorite Power Pop Songs countdown is a song by a man making his first appearance in one of my series', "Cruel to be Kind," by Nick Lowe. Born in Surrey, England, vocalist and multi instrumentalist Nick Lowe started in the music business in 1966, and is still going strong. While he might be considered kind of a one hit wonder here in the States (shameful,) Lowe has quite an impressive resume: he was a member of legendary pub rock bands Brinsley Schwarz and Rockpile, and wrote Elvis Costello's classic "(What's so Funny 'Bout) Peace, Love, and Understanding," as well as Dave Edmunds' "I Knew the Bride (When She Used to Rock 'n' Roll.)" Additionally, Lowe has produced songs, albums, or both, for acts such as The Damned, Elvis Costello, Pretenders, Johnny Cash, John Hiatt, and The Fabulous Thunderbirds. From Lowe's 1979 album Labour of Lust, "Cruel to be Kind" has quite a history. It was originally recorded for the final (never officially released) Brinsley Schwarz album, was included as a non album B Side on Lowe's single "Little Hitler," and finally rerecorded with Rockpile for Labour of Lust, which is the version we all know and love. "Cruel to be Kind" pulled off an odd sort of feat, reaching #12 on the Billboard Hot 100, but also peaking at #12 in the UK, Canada, and New Zealand, the four countries in which the song charted. "Cruel to be Kind" has been covered numerous times, notably by Letters to Cleo, and Marshall Crenshaw with Christine Ohlman. I had the pleasure of seeing Nick Lowe, opening for The Cars, in Denver, in 1984. He was awesome (and yes, he performed "Cruel to be Kind.") One of the best opening acts I've seen. (Info verified by Wikipedia)