The Abominable Showman

The Abominable Showman is the fourth solo album by British singer-songwriter Nick Lowe, released in 1983.

The Abominable Showman
Studio album by Nick Lowe
Released	March 1983
Recorded	Rockfield Studios, Wales & Ampro Studio, London
Genre	Rock Pub Rock
Length	35:07
Label	F-Beat Columbia
Producer	Roger Bechirian with Nick Lowe
Nick Lowe chronology
Nick the Knife (1982) The Abominable Showman (1983) Nick Lowe and His Cowboy Outfit (1984)

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
Allmusic	[1]
Robert Christgau	(B+)[2]

The album was out of print for two decades until being reissued on CD and vinyl by Yep Roc Records on 14 July 2017. The reissue contained three bonus tracks.[3]

Track listing

All tracks are written by Nick Lowe, except where noted.

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
1.	"We Want Action"	Lowe, Carlene Carter	2:35
2.	"Ragin' Eyes"		2:38
3.	"Cool Reaction"	Pete Marsh, Andy Howell	2:35
4.	"Time Wounds All Heels"	Lowe, Carter, Simon Climie	2:42
5.	"(For Every Woman Who Ever Made a Fool of a Man There's a Woman Made a) Man of a Fool"		2:44
6.	"Tanque-Rae"		2:48
7.	"Wish You Were Here"		3:14
8.	"Chicken and Feathers"		2:44
9.	"Paid The Price"	Moon Martin	3:24
10.	"Mess Around With Love"		3:05
11.	"Saint Beneath The Paint"		2:48
12.	"How Do You Talk to an Angel"		3:50
Total length:			35:07

2017 Reissue Bonus tracks[4]

No.	Title	Length
13.	"Pet You and Hold You [live]"	3:22
14.	"Crackin' Up [live]"	3:13
15.	"(What's So Funny 'Bout) Peace, Love, and Understanding? [live]"	3:37

Note: The packaging of the YepRoc reissue omits mention of "Pet You And Hold You" as a bonus track.

Personnel

• Nick Lowe – bass, guitar, lead vocals
• James Eller – bass
• Bobby Irwin – drums, backing vocals
• Paul Carrack – keyboards, backing vocals, duet vocals on "Wish You Were Here"
• Martin Belmont – guitar

Other credits

• Robert Kirby – string arrangements
• Carlene Carter and Simon Climie – harmonies and harmonics on "Time Wounds All Heels"
• Pete Marsh – backing vocals on "Paid The Price" and "Tanque-Rae"
• George Rains – The Abominable Showman
• Keith Morris – photography

Production

The album was recorded at Rockfield Studios, Wales and Ampro Studio, London.

• Producer – Roger Bechirian with Nick Lowe
• Engineers – Paul Cobbold and Paul Bass

Singles

Three songs off this album were released as singles:

• "Raging Eyes" / "Tanque-Rae" ("Raging Eyes" was recorded in October 1981)
• "Cool Reaction" (Promo only)
• "Wish You Were Here" / "How Do You Talk To An Angel"

Notes

1. The Abominable Showman Nick Lowe Allmusic.com, Stephen Thomas Erlewine
2. "CG: Nick Lowe". Robert Christgau. Retrieved 10 September 2011.
3. "YEP ROC RECORDS TO REISSUE SIX LONG OUT-OF-PRINT NICK LOWE TITLES, MAKING HIS ENTIRE ALBUM CATALOG AVAILABLE ON ONE LABEL – Yep Roc Records". Yep Roc Records. 2 May 2017. Retrieved 27 September 2018.
4. http://yeproc.11spot.com/music/cds/nick-lowe-the-abominable-showman-reissue.html

References

• Sleeve notes