Apologies to all those who tweeted questions - we overran and there just wasn't time to ask them.

If there's any justice in the world he would be Sir Nicholas Lowe by now.

My only objection is that it felt like the first in a series, and I want to hear the rest. Nick Lowe seems to be to music as Barry Cryer is to comedy - not just very good in his own right, but someone who has met almost everybody and has a tale to tell about them all.

the book I'm reading at the moment features pre-pubescent girls going to watch bands on Hastings pier. Jo Brand - It's Different For Girls.

Nick Lowe's wonderful Nilsson anecdote gives me the chance to tell my own (admittedly more prosaic) story about the time I had cause to visit Harry's soon-to-be-infamous flat in Curzon Street, Mayfair.

In early 1972 Nilsson was red hot with the Nilsson Schmilsson LP and the attendant chart topping single Without You. At the time I worked for Harry's UK music publisher who, in order to capitalise on his sudden high profile, had cobbled together a songbook containing some of his biggest songs.

I was dispatched to Curzon Street with proof sheets for Harry to approve the photos for the songbook. He met me at the door looking like a man nursing the worst hangover in the world and although it was early afternoon, he was still padding around in his dressing gown - the very same one he's wearing on the cover of Nilsson Schmilsson I was pleased to note.

Harry took an age to peruse the photographs and meanwhile I drank tea made by his stunningly beautiful girlfriend and leafed through his small but tasteful record collection, making a mental note that it contained exactly the titles one would expect: Beatles (of course), McCartney's solo debut and Ram, Randy Newman, the newly-released Paul Simon self-titled LP etc.

Bizarrely, just a couple of years later both Mama Cass and Keith Moon would die in separate incidents in that same Curzon Street flat.

I could listen to Mr Lowe's wonderfully rich beautifully told anecdotes all day. The Keef one was up there with his brilliant Kevin Costner Bodyguard yarn from an earlier Word podcast. More please

One of the great rock and roll raconteurs meets one of the great rock and roll chortlers-podcast magic ensues!
Great stuff.

Picture appears to be Brentford Dock, i'd heard he lived near me.

Pretty sure Mark Wirtz is still alive and kicking. Here's his story on wiki http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mark_Wirtz
Here's one of the records he made with Ver Lodge

And here's one from his most recent album which came out last year. He's in his late '60s now, but pop chops remain intact.

Top bloke Nick Lowe. Could listen to his "mile melters" for hours.

Was the best gig I ever saw. Now there was a band that *owned* a stage, an object lesson to your indie shamblers of today.

A fantastic podcast. Lowe is a natural, self-effacing raconteur & his war stories are always a joy. More, sharpish, please.

Oh, and get well soon Mr H

There are a few Word podcasts where the subject is so interesting that I don't really want it to end. This is one of 'em.

I was hoping we'd hear a bit more about Little Village. Ah well. It gives me an excuse to post this. If that band only existed in order to provide us with this performance of this song, then that would be fine with me.

Did anyone see Nick Lowe with Ry Cooder a few years ago? They played the State Theatre in Sydney, it was very much Ry's show, which was OK but Nick did seem to be "the bass player who sang a few numbers" rather than co-headliner.

Taking a drink while speeding down Beach Road in Melbourne in the smug peleton on sunny Sunday morning. All is well until ME exclaims "what a wanker!" at the concept of Nick playing the fretless bass, I explosively burst out snorting with laughter and managed to spray Gatorade all over the front of my bike and the back of the lycra-clad guy in front of me. Cue much apologetic Gallic shrugging of shoulders. Hang your heads, gentlemen.

Christ I thought that was Woody Allen in the pic for a second. Now that would have been a scoop for the 'cast!

Nick Lowe has been my greatest musical discovery of the last few years and news of a new album fills me with teenage levels of excitement.
In the meantime I must head off and investigate some of the non-solo stuff, Brinsley, Rockpile and Little Village.
Also, anyone got any recomendations for Dave Edmunds? I know nothing.

Despite huge expectations. the album was something of a disappointment and much less than the sum of its parts.

Better by far are the live shows they played (available for download from the usual sources) and the John Hiatt album Bring The Family, which actually spawned Little Village.

never disappoints. get him back for more swearing n chatting soon as possible

Lovely!

oh that were class - thank you Word Magazine.

this 'handing it in tomorrow, out in 6 months' thingee. Just bung it out sharpish, those old buniness models don't apply anymore

But exceeding almost all previous efforts. Superb. I've listened to it twice now but think it would bear a third time. More please.

I second all the compliments and thanks above. This great podcast greatly cheered my drive to work, and a particular shaggy dog "punchline" occurred just as I was turning a corner, so very nearly caused an accident.

I now need to add significant Nick Lowe additions tothe collection.

Thanks again to all concerned.

A fruitier Welsh accent than Windsor Davies...

"Get that c**** off the stage" Hilarious.

... Best. Guest. Ever.

It is always a treat to listen to musicians talk about their experiences in a low-pressure situation where they can relax and not push new product. If Nick ever wants to do part three, seize the opportunity.

And KR sounds effin' horrible on the Rockpile bootleg.

and G&T over myself with some landing on the chap in the seat next to me. If he sues I'm coming after you Ellen and Lowe. It was the pay-off line of the Keef HORA wot dun it

Agree with all of the above. One of the best 'casts. Superb.

from my pal Micheal to say 'thanks for recommending The Word Podcast. Due to Nick Lowes story about Keef, I think I might be barred from Tesco in Finglas for laughing like a maniac in the cereal aisle'

I've been catching up with podcasts, having been unable to listen for a couple of months because Virgin Media couldn't provide a service, and then downloading half a dozen in one go once connected to BT.

I was that idiot trying to suppress laughter on trains and tubes, probably causing people to inch away from me thinking there's a nutter on the loose.

There is clearly so much more. The break up of Rockpile; the bunch of Stiffs tour and his role as Stiff house producer; the Nick Lowe band years to hint at but a few topics.

Did anyone else think that his Little Village bandmates could have done a bit more to make him welcome in LA? The one Brit in a band of Americans, alone in LA. Still, there wouls I'm sure be a smaller stock of stories.

home from Italy and *what* a joy that was to listen to. Mr Lowe seems to be a born raconteur... his stories were simultaneously hilarious and illuminating from start to finish.

And can I say that he's sold a copy of his new record on the strength of House For Sale. What a beautiful song - marvellous words. And his voice just seems to be getting better and better... as warm and comforting as a favourite pair of old socks.

Brilliant stuff.

EDIT:

After listening to that I ordered The Brentford Trilogy and have been playing the albums nonstop for the last few days. What brilliant, brilliant records they are. I can say already that Dig My Mood is fast-becoming one of my all time favourites. Time I Took A Holiday, in particular, is one of the best songs I've ever heard.

One of the best hours of my life spent listening to Nick Lowe. This podcast was super stuff. I could listen to him for hours, he's got a lifetime of stories to tell. :o)