Now Then...
{{for|the 2005 Jeb Loy Nichols album|Now Then (Jeb Loy Nichols album)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}
{{Infobox album
| name = Now Then...
| type = Album
| artist = Stiff Little Fingers
| cover = SLFNT.jpg
| alt =
| released = 1982
| recorded = July 2 – mid-August 1982
| venue =
| studio =
| length = 39:11
| label = Chrysalis
| producer = Nick Tauber
| prev_title = Go for It
| prev_year = 1981
| next_title = All the Best
| next_year = 1983
}}
Now Then... is the fourth album by the Northern Irish band Stiff Little Fingers, released in 1982.{{cite web |title=Stiff Little Fingers Biography by Mark Deming |url=https://www.allmusic.com/artist/stiff-little-fingers-mn0000937098/biography |website=AllMusic |access-date=9 July 2023}}{{cite book |last1=Gimarc |first1=George |title=Post Punk Diary: 1980-1982 |date=1997 |publisher=Macmillan |page=318}} It was produced by Nick Tauber.{{cite journal |last1=Graham |first1=Bill |title=On this day in 1979: Stiff Little Fingers released their debut album Inflammable Material |journal=Hot Press |date=1982 |url=https://www.hotpress.com/music/on-this-day-in-1979-stiff-little-fingers-inflammable-material-22840548}} Some songs employed a horn section.{{cite book |title=The Rough Guide to Rock |date=2003 |publisher=Rough Guides |page=1014 |edition=3rd}} The band broke up after the release of the album.{{cite web |last1=Lentini |first1=Liza |title=What The World Needs Now: Stiff Little Fingers' Jake Burns on his incredible career and what the world needs now–more punk. |url=https://www.spin.com/2021/01/jake-burns-stiff-little-fingers-interview/ |website=Spin |access-date=9 July 2023 |date=January 1, 2021}}
Critical reception
{{Album ratings
| rev1 = AllMusic
| rev1Score = {{Rating|2.5|5}}{{cite web |title=Now Then... Review by Alex Ogg |url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/now-then-mw0000111565 |website=AllMusic |access-date=9 July 2023}}
|rev2 = The Encyclopedia of Popular Music
|rev2score = {{rating|2|5}}{{cite book |last1=Larkin |first1=Colin |title=The Encyclopedia of Popular Music |date=2011 |publisher=Omnibus Press}}
}}
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."{{cite web |title=Stiff Little Fingers |url=https://trouserpress.com/reviews/stiff-little-fingers/ |website=Trouser Press |access-date=9 July 2023}}
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."
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:
{{numbered list|start=12
|"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
| class="wikitable sortable" |
| Chart (1982)
!Peak |
|---|
| style="text-align:center;" |United Kingdom{{cite book |last1=Thompson |first1=Dave |title=Alternative Rock |date=2000 |publisher=Miller Freeman Books |page=656}}
|style="text-align:center;" |24 |
| class="wikitable sortable" |
| Song
!Singles Chart (1982/83) !Peak |
|---|
| style="text-align:center;" |"Bits of Kids"
|style="text-align:center;" |United Kingdom |style="text-align:center;" |73 |
| style="text-align:center;" |"Price of Admission"
|style="text-align:center;" |United Kingdom |style="text-align:center;" |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