Nick Lowe - The Doings - The Solo Years [4CD Box Set] (1999)

The subtitle of the four-disc box set The Doings is The Solo Years, and the 86-track compilation never once strays from that edict. Disc one kicks off with Nick Lowe's seminal single "So It Goes," bypassing his early work with Brinsley Schwarz. By the end of that first disc, the compilation is already at Nick the Knife, his first album after the disbandment of Rockpile, and none of that group's official recordings are here. As it stands, The Doings falls just below the definitive mark, mainly because of those omissions. It's still a worthwhile set, though, playing much like an expanded version of Basher. It could be argued that it moves a little too quickly through Lowe's '70s and '80s material, especially since the third disc contains almost all of his '90s albums Impossible Bird and Dig My Mood. Then again, those two records really are among the best music he's ever made, so they deserve such an elevated position. Still, such decisions help point out what's missing from The Doings, and there are some great songs not included, but that's nit-picking. What's here is excellent, tracing a good history of Nick's solo career, perfect for casual fans wanting a comprehensive anthology. But The Doings is really for obsessive fans, and they'll be pleased by the rarities. Not only is the original fast version of "Cruel to Be Kind" here, but there's a full disc of live recordings, demos, and home recordings, all of high quality. Not only does The Doings do a good job of collecting obscurities, it does an even better job of drawing a portrait of Lowe's solo recordings. Ultimately, that's what makes The Doings a success.