Lay It On Me is an EP by British singer-songwriter Nick Lowe. It is the third consecutive Nick Lowe EP to feature label-mates, Los Straitjackets, as his backing band. The EP was released through Yep Roc Records on June 5, 2020. Lay It On Me reached number 37 on Billboard's Americana/Folk Albums chart.[1]
| Lay It On Me | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| EP by | ||||
| Released | June 5, 2020 | |||
| Studio | Sawhorse Studio, Silver Shark Studios | |||
| Genre | Rock, Americana, Singer-Songwriter | |||
| Label | Yep Roc Records | |||
| Producer | Nick Lowe | |||
| Nick Lowe chronology | ||||
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Album background and recording
editLay It On Me was recorded at Sawhorse Studios in St. Louis, Missouri. The EP was mixed at Silver Shark Studios in Tooting Bec, London, United Kingdom. The EP was mastered by Tony Cousins at Metropolis in London, UK.[2]
Side A of Lay It On Me features two Nick Lowe originals, titled "Lay It On Me Baby" and "Don't Be Nice to Me." These originals are featured alongside a cover of the Dorsey Burnette-penned, Brenda Lee song "Here Comes That Feeling". Side B features a Los Straitjackets cover of Shocking Blue's "Venus". This cover was produced by Nick Lowe; his first production credit for an artist other than himself in 25 years.[3] The last time Lowe produced another artist was in 1995, producing the Mavericks' cover of "Blue Moon" for the Apollo 13 soundtrack.
Nick Lowe performed "Lay It On Me Baby" for Rolling Stone's "In My Room" on April 10, 2020. The performance featured his son, Roy Lowe, on drums and three other songs: "Trombone", "(What's So Funny 'Bout) Peace, Love, and Understanding", and "I Read a Lot."[4]
Critical reception
edit| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |    [5] |
The title track "Lay It On Me Baby" premiered on Rolling Stone's website on April 1, 2020. Angie Martoccio began the article with, "Nick Lowe has dropped a new song, 'Lay It on Me Baby,' off his upcoming EP, Lay It on Me, out June 5th via Yep Roc Records."[6]
No Depression posted a review of Lay It On Me on June 4, 2020. Grant Britt ended his article with, "Crooner Lowe can still rock and roll, perhaps a little grayer, but still shakin', rattlin', and rollin' when the spirit moves him."[7]
In an article for American Songwriter, Paul Zollo said, "American Songwriter is proud to premiere a new song by legendary songwriter-producer Nick Lowe. It's the title track of his new EP Lay It On Me, his third record with the Nashville band Los Straitjackets."[8]
Lay It On Me was given a 3.5 out of 5 rating by AllMusic. Stephen Thomas Erlewine began his review with, "Now that Nick Lowe has reached his third EP of new material recorded with Los Straitjackets, it only stands to reason that the musicians have found the same groove in the studio as they do on-stage."[9]
The EP was also reviewed by Scott Bauer for the Associated Press on June 3, 2020. Bauer began his review with, "In typical Nick Lowe fashion, the upbeat love song that's the title track of his latest EP, 'Lay It On Me,' is immediately followed by a note of caution: 'Don't Be Nice to Me.'"[10]
Track listing
edit| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Lay It On Me Baby" | Nick Lowe | 2:52 |
| 2. | "Don't Be Nice to Me" | Nick Lowe | 3:01 |
| 3. | "Here Comes That Feeling" | 2:53 | |
| 4. | "Venus" | Robbie van Leeuwen | 2:53 |
| Total length: | 11:39 | ||
Personnel
editCredits taken from AllMusic.[11]
- Nick Lowe – lead vocals, acoustic guitar, producer
- Eddie Angel – guitar
- Greg Townson – guitar
- Pete Curry – bass
- Chris Sprague – drums, backing vocals
Production
- Nathan Golub – cover illustrations, design
- Peta Waddington – art direction and aesthetics
- Tuck Nelson – recording engineer, mixing
- Assistance provided by Jason McEntire
- Tony Cousins – mastering
References
edit- ^ "Americana/Folk Albums Chart". Billboard. 25 July 2020. Retrieved 6 April 2021.
- ^ Lowe, Nick. Lay It On Me, Liner Notes. EP Album. Released June 5, 2020. Yep Roc Records. Retrieved April 5, 2021.
- ^ "Nick Lowe Releases New EP Lay It On Me Today Via Yep Roc Records". Shore Fire Media. Retrieved 6 April 2021.
- ^ Martoccio, Angie (10 April 2020). "'In My Room' With Nick Lowe". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 5 April 2021.
- ^ Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "Nick Lowe Lay It On Me". AllMusic. Retrieved 6 April 2021.
- ^ Martoccio, Angie (1 April 2020). "Nick Lowe Announces New EP, Drops 'Lay It on Me Baby'". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 6 April 2021.
- ^ Britt, Grant (4 June 2020). "Nick Lowe Rekindles His Rock Side on 'Lay It On Me' EP". No Depression. Retrieved 6 April 2021.
- ^ Zollo, Paul (2020). "Nick Lowe Releases Title Track From 'Lay It On Me'". American Songwriter. Retrieved 6 April 2021.
- ^ Erlewine, Stephen Thomas (2020). "Nick Lowe Lay It On Me". AllMusic. Retrieved 6 April 2021.
- ^ Bauer, Scott (3 June 2020). "Review: Nick Lowe's sardonic duality on display on new EP". Associated Press. Retrieved 6 April 2021.
- ^ Lay It on Me - Nick Lowe | Credits | AllMusic, retrieved 6 April 2021