Nick Lowe: “My Heart Hurts” (1982)
If you were expecting this husband-and-wife team to write a straight love song, think again.
Kronomyth 3.2: Angina, they can’t say we never tried.
This is a nifty little tune from Nick the Knife, co-written with his wife, Carlene Carter. It’s still my favorite song on the album, featuring a herky-jerky rhythm and catchy melody. Despite its upbeat sound, it’s actually an anti-love song, which has become something of a Nick Lowe specialty over the years. In the US, the flip side was the spirited rockabilly track, Stick It Where the Sun Don’t Shine, which US radio stations adopted as the A side, ultimately spending eight weeks in the lower half of Billboard’s rock top tracks chart. Lowe’s UK label, F-Beat, doubled down on the original A side, adding three live tracks from the recent Nick Lowe and Noise to Go tour—billed as Nick Lowe & The Chaps for the US leg—and packaging it as a double single. (Kudos to whoever designed that cover.) None of these would be considered the definitive live version, but it’s a nice souvenir for fans who would otherwise have been shelling out for songs they already had. I’m always surprised how many people don’t realize that What’s So Funny ‘Bout Peace, Love and Understanding is an old Brinsley Schwarz tune.
Original 7-inch single version
A1. My Heart Hurts (Nick Lowe/Carlene Carter) (2:40)
B1. Stick It Where the Sun Don’t Shine (Nick Lowe) (3:40)
Original double 7-inch single version
A1. My Heart Hurts (Nick Lowe)
B1. Pet You and Hold You (live) (Nick Lowe/Rockpile)
C1. Cracking Up (live) (Nick Lowe)
D1. What’s So Funny ‘Bout Peace, Love and Understanding (live) (Nick Lowe)
The Players
Nick Lowe (guitar, vocals), Martin Belmont (guitar), Paul Carrack (keyboards, backing vocals), James Eller (bass), Bobby Irwin (drums). Live tracks mixed by Roger Bechirian.
The Plastic
Released on double 7-inch single in March 1982 in the UK (F-Beat, XX-23F) and on 7-inch single in the US and Canada (Columbia, 18-02813) with regional picture sleeve. Also released as promotional 7-inch single in 1982 in the US (Columbia, 18-02813) feat. A only.
