Now Then...

For the 2005 Jeb Loy Nichols album, see Now Then (Jeb Loy Nichols album).

Now Then...
Studio album by Stiff Little Fingers
Released	1982
Recorded	July 2 – mid-August 1982
Genre	Rock, punk
Length	39:11
Label	Chrysalis
Producer	Nick Tauber
Stiff Little Fingers chronology
Go for It (1981) Now Then... (1982) All the Best (1983)

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

Professional ratings

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

1. "Falling Down" (Fingers, Gordon Ogilvie) – 3:19
2. "Won't Be Told" (Fingers, Ogilvie) – 3:25
3. "Love of the Common People" (John Hurley, Ronnie Wilkins, arranged by Fingers) – 2:39
4. "The Price of Admission" (Fingers, Ogilvie) – 3:22
5. "Touch and Go" (Fingers, Ogilvie) – 3:22
6. "Stands to Reason" (Fingers, Ogilvie) – 3:06
7. "Bits of Kids" (Fingers, Ogilvie) – 3:40
8. "Welcome to the Whole Week" (Fingers, Ogilvie) – 3:45
9. "Big City Night" (Fingers, Ogilvie) – 3:55
10. "Talkback" (Fingers, Ogilvie) – 2:48
11. "Is That What You Fought the War For?" (Fingers, Ogilvie) – 3:55

The following tracks were included on the 2001 EMI re-release:

12. "Good for Nothing" (Fingers, Ogilvie) – 2:44
13. "Listen" – (Fingers, Ogilvie) – 4:14
14. "Sad Eyed People" (Fingers, Ogilvie) – 3:56
15. "That's When Your Blood Bumps" (Fingers, Ogilvie) – 3:44
16. "Two Guitars Clash" (Fingers, Ogilvie) – 4:28
17. "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

1. "Stiff Little Fingers Biography by Mark Deming". AllMusic. Retrieved 9 July 2023.
2. Gimarc, George (1997). Post Punk Diary: 1980-1982. Macmillan. p. 318.
3. Graham, Bill (1982). "On this day in 1979: Stiff Little Fingers released their debut album Inflammable Material". Hot Press.
4. The Rough Guide to Rock (3rd ed.). Rough Guides. 2003. p. 1014.
5. 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.
6. "Now Then... Review by Alex Ogg". AllMusic. Retrieved 9 July 2023.
7. Larkin, Colin (2011). The Encyclopedia of Popular Music. Omnibus Press.
8. "Stiff Little Fingers". Trouser Press. Retrieved 9 July 2023.
9. Thompson, Dave (2000). Alternative Rock. Miller Freeman Books. p. 656.