Now Then... is the fourth album by the Northern Irish band Stiff Little Fingers, released in 1982.[1][2] It was produced by Nick Tauber.[3] Some songs employed a horn section.[4] The band broke up after the release of the album.[5]
Critical reception
| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |    [6] |
| The Encyclopedia of Popular Music | [7] |
Trouser Press wrote that the album "continues the exploration of more accessible musical turf and is full of solid rock songs that pair energy and melody with clever guitar play."[8]
AllMusic called the album an attempt "to become a full-fledged mainstream rock band," writing that "leader Jake Burns had always professed a high regard for Bruce Springsteen and Little Feat as much as his punk elders, and his lyrics here changed in tone rather than theme."[6]
Track listing
- "Falling Down" (Fingers, Gordon Ogilvie) – 3:19
- "Won't Be Told" (Fingers, Ogilvie) – 3:25
- "Love of the Common People" (John Hurley, Ronnie Wilkins, arranged by Fingers) – 2:39
- "The Price of Admission" (Fingers, Ogilvie) – 3:22
- "Touch and Go" (Fingers, Ogilvie) – 3:22
- "Stands to Reason" (Fingers, Ogilvie) – 3:06
- "Bits of Kids" (Fingers, Ogilvie) – 3:40
- "Welcome to the Whole Week" (Fingers, Ogilvie) – 3:45
- "Big City Night" (Fingers, Ogilvie) – 3:55
- "Talkback" (Fingers, Ogilvie) – 2:48
- "Is That What You Fought the War For?" (Fingers, Ogilvie) – 3:55
The following tracks were included on the 2001 EMI re-release:
- "Good for Nothing" (Fingers, Ogilvie) – 2:44
- "Listen" – (Fingers, Ogilvie) – 4:14
- "Sad Eyed People" (Fingers, Ogilvie) – 3:56
- "That's When Your Blood Bumps" (Fingers, Ogilvie) – 3:44
- "Two Guitars Clash" (Fingers, Ogilvie) – 4:28
- "Alan Parker Interviews Jake Burns about "Now Then..."" (Burns/Parker) – 19:40
Chart position
| Chart (1982) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| United Kingdom[9] | 24 |
| Song | Singles Chart (1982/83) | Peak position |
|---|---|---|
| "Bits of Kids" | United Kingdom | 73 |
| "Price of Admission" | United Kingdom | 95 |
Personnel
- Stiff Little Fingers
- Jake Burns – vocals, guitar, occasional keyboards
- Dolphin Taylor – drums, percussion, vocals, occasional keyboards
- Henry Cluney – guitar, vocals
- Ali McMordie – bass guitar
with:
- Dick Morrissey, Jeff Daly, Martin Drover - horns on "Talkback"
- Technical
- Tim Friese-Greene - producer on "Talkback"
- Simon Hanhart - engineer
- Brian Cooke - artwork, photography
References
- ^ "Stiff Little Fingers Biography by Mark Deming". AllMusic. Retrieved 9 July 2023.
- ^ Gimarc, George (1997). Post Punk Diary: 1980-1982. Macmillan. p. 318.
- ^ Graham, Bill (1982). "On this day in 1979: Stiff Little Fingers released their debut album Inflammable Material". Hot Press.
- ^ The Rough Guide to Rock (3rd ed.). Rough Guides. 2003. p. 1014.
- ^ Lentini, Liza (1 January 2021). "What The World Needs Now: Stiff Little Fingers' Jake Burns on his incredible career and what the world needs now–more punk". Spin. Retrieved 9 July 2023.
- ^ a b "Now Then... Review by Alex Ogg". AllMusic. Retrieved 9 July 2023.
- ^ Larkin, Colin (2011). The Encyclopedia of Popular Music. Omnibus Press.
- ^ "Stiff Little Fingers". Trouser Press. Retrieved 9 July 2023.
- ^ Thompson, Dave (2000). Alternative Rock. Miller Freeman Books. p. 656.
