Complete List Of Rockpile Songs From A to Z

Feature Photo: Roger Green, CC BY-SA 2.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0>, via Wikimedia Commons

Rockpile came together in London during the mid 1970s, built around the talents of guitarist and vocalist Dave Edmunds and bassist Nick Lowe. Both men had already established reputations through solo work, but when they began collaborating they developed one of the tightest live bands of the era. The lineup was solidified with guitarist Billy Bremner and drummer Terry Williams, giving Rockpile the energy and precision that would define their short but celebrated run. Despite their strong chemistry, contractual obligations often prevented them from releasing material under the Rockpile name, so much of their recorded work appeared on solo albums by Edmunds or Lowe.

The group officially released only one album under their own name, Seconds of Pleasure, in 1980. That record showcased their mix of rock and roll, rockabilly, and power pop, cementing their reputation for no-nonsense, high-energy songs. The album included “Teacher Teacher,” which reached the U.S. Top 40, making it the most visible Rockpile single. Alongside that track, the record demonstrated their ability to craft sharp original songs while also showing reverence for early rock and roll influences.

Even without a large discography under the Rockpile banner, the band’s members were prolific. During the late 1970s, Rockpile served as the recording and touring unit for both Edmunds and Lowe. Their playing can be heard on Edmunds’s albums such as Tracks on Wax 4 and Repeat When Necessary, as well as Lowe’s Labour of Lust and Jesus of Cool. This unusual situation meant that fans were effectively listening to Rockpile whether or not the name was on the cover. Their recording work during this period included songs like “Girls Talk,” “I Knew the Bride (When She Used to Rock and Roll),” and “Cruel to Be Kind,” all of which gained significant attention.

Rockpile’s reputation was also built on their live performances, which were marked by their tight interplay and driving sound. They became a fixture on the touring circuit in both the U.K. and the U.S., often supporting major acts while building their own following. Their shows featured a mix of originals and covers, highlighting their respect for American rock and roll while keeping their performances fresh and energetic.

Tensions eventually arose between Edmunds and Lowe, driven in part by musical direction and business pressures. By 1981, Rockpile disbanded, with the members moving on to other projects. Terry Williams went on to play with Dire Straits, Billy Bremner pursued solo work, Edmunds continued to record and produce, and Lowe carried on with his own solo career and production work. The breakup ended what was in many ways one of the most unusual bands of their time, a group that was more prolific under other names than its own.

Although they released just one official album, Rockpile’s influence stretched much further. Their work helped define the sound of late 1970s British rock, blending traditional rock and roll roots with the energy of new wave. Fans continue to celebrate the band not only for their recorded material but also for their undeniable impact as a live act. Their ability to fuse humor, grit, and musicianship left a lasting impression that outlived their brief career.

The legacy of Rockpile lies in the careers of its members and the music they created together, even if it did not always bear the Rockpile name. Seconds of Pleasure remains a cult favorite among rock fans, and the band’s contributions to Edmunds’s and Lowe’s albums are often viewed as essential listening. What stands out most is the spirit of collaboration that defined their time together, a spirit that gave the world some of the most vibrant rock music of the period.

Complete List Of Rockpile Songs From A to Z

3 Time Loser – Live At Montreux 1980 – 2011
3 Time Loser – Live At Rockpalast – 2013
A Knife and a Fork – Seconds of Pleasure – 1980
Back to Schooldays – Seconds of Pleasure – 1980 (CD reissue bonus track – Live)
Born Fighter – Live At Rockpalast – 2013
Born Fighter – Live at The Palladium – 2018
Crackin’ Up – Live at The Palladium – 2018
Crawling from the Wreckage – Seconds of Pleasure – 1980 (CD reissue bonus track – Live)
Crawling From The Wreckage – Live At Montreux 1980 – 2011
Crawling From The Wreckage – Live At Rockpalast – 2013
Crawlin’ From The Wreckage – Live at The Palladium – 2018
Cruel To Be Kind – Live at The Palladium – 2018
Crying in the Rain – Seconds of Pleasure – 1980 (Bonus EP)
Down Down Down (aka Feel Like I’m Goin’ Down) – Live At Rockpalast – 2013
Down, Down, Down – Live at The Palladium – 2018
Fool Too Long – Seconds of Pleasure – 1980
Girls Talk – Live At Montreux 1980 – 2011
Girls Talk – Live At Rockpalast – 2013
Girls Talk – Live at The Palladium – 2018
Heart – Seconds of Pleasure – 1980
I Hear You Knocking – Live At Montreux 1980 – 2011
I Hear You Knocking – Live at The Palladium – 2018
I Knew The Bride – Live At Montreux 1980 – 2011
I Knew The Bride (When She Used To Rock And Roll) – Live At Rockpalast – 2013
I Knew The Bride – Live at The Palladium – 2018
If Sugar Was As Sweet As You – Seconds of Pleasure – 1980
Jailhouse Rock – Live at The Palladium – 2018
Ju Ju Man – Live At Montreux 1980 – 2011
Juju Man – Live At Rockpalast – 2013
Let It Rock – Live At Montreux 1980 – 2011
Let It Rock – Live at The Palladium – 2018
Let It Rock / Let’s Talk About Us – Live At Rockpalast – 2013
Let’s Talk About Us – Live At Montreux 1980 – 2011
Now and Always – Seconds of Pleasure – 1980
Oh What a Thrill – Seconds of Pleasure – 1980
Pet You and Hold You – Seconds of Pleasure – 1980
Play That Fast Thing (One More Time) – Seconds of Pleasure – 1980
Poor Jenny – Seconds of Pleasure – 1980 (Bonus EP)
Promised Land – Live At Rockpalast – 2013
Queen Of Hearts – Live At Montreux 1980 – 2011
Queen Of Hearts – Live At Rockpalast – 2013
Singing The Blues – Live At Rockpalast – 2013
So It Goes – Live At Montreux 1980 – 2011
So It Goes – Live At Rockpalast – 2013
So It Goes – Live at The Palladium – 2018
Sweet Little Lisa – Live At Montreux 1980 – 2011
Sweet Little Lisa – Live At Rockpalast – 2013
Switchboard Susan – Live At Montreux 1980 – 2011
Switchboard Susan – Live At Rockpalast – 2013
Switchboard Susan – Live at The Palladium – 2018
Take a Message to Mary – Seconds of Pleasure – 1980 (Bonus EP)
Teacher, Teacher – Seconds of Pleasure – 1980
Teacher Teacher – Live At Montreux 1980 – 2011
They Called It Rock – Seconds of Pleasure – 1980 (CD reissue bonus track – Live)
They Called It Rock – Live At Montreux 1980 – 2011
They Call It Rock – Live At Rockpalast – 2013
Trouble Boys – Live At Montreux 1980 – 2011
Trouble Boys – Live At Rockpalast – 2013
Trouble Boys – Live at The Palladium – 2018
When I Write the Book – Seconds of Pleasure – 1980
When Will I Be Loved – Seconds of Pleasure – 1980 (Bonus EP)
Wrong Again (Let’s Face It) – Seconds of Pleasure – 1980
You Ain’t Nothin’ But Fine – Seconds of Pleasure – 1980
You Ain’t Nothin’ But Fine – Live At Montreux 1980 – 2011
You’ll Never Get Me Up In One Of Those – Live At Rockpalast – 2013