All I had to do was read off the members, and I knew I would like this band. Who were the members? Ry Cooder, John Hiatt, Nick Lowe, and Jim Keltner. Each one of them is a legend, but when they teamed up in 1992, they made music that felt effortless.. This song plays like an anthem for anyone who has ever tried to get something done while the world keeps knocking at the door.
When Little Village came together in the early 1990s, it wasn’t a typical supergroup situation. Ry Cooder, John Hiatt, Nick Lowe, and Jim Keltner had already worked together in the studio. They worked on Hiatt’s 1987 album Bring the Family, a record cut in just four days. This album would be called Little Village.
Around 1991, discussions began about whether those four players could try something more equal and together as a band. Nick Lowe summed up the vibe when he said, “We only needed a name and a reason.” The name came from a 1930s reference, but the reason was simply that they liked working with each other. This wasn’t a record-company idea, and it wasn’t nostalgia.
While the sessions were friendly, the band admitted that being equals instead of backups slowed things down. Decisions took longer, and sometimes a song would go in five directions before landing on one. Lowe joked that it was like “four people in the passenger seat reaching for the wheel.” Critics generally liked it, although some expected another John Hiatt album and were surprised by its humor and different musical turns. Fans of any one member found something to enjoy. The album even received a Grammy nomination for Best Rock Performance by a Duo or Group.
Nick Lowe did say it wasn’t as good as it could have been. He blamed it on having too much time to record it. The album peaked at #22 in the UK and #66 on the Billboard Album Charts in 1992. Over time, this album has developed a cult following, especially among fans of Hiatt and Cooder.
This next video has a bonus live song, She Runs Hot. Enjoy Ry Cooder’s slide before they break into Don’t Bug Me When I’m Working.
Don’t Bug Me When I’m Working
Don’t bug me when I’m working
I’m working, I’m working
Don’t bug me when I’m working
Got a job to do
Don’t bug me when I’m working
I’m working, I’m working
Don’t bug me when I’m working
I don’t work for you
If you bug me at work I can’t get it done
Too tired, baby to have any fun
You got complaints, better keep ’em hid
Don’t come ’round here mess with the kid
Don’t bug me when I’m sleepin’
I’m sleepin’, I’m sleepin’
Don’t bug me when I’m sleepin’
‘Cause I need my rest
Don’t bug me when I’m
Don’t bug me when I’m got to buzz awhile
I said don’t bug me when I’m working
I’m working, I’m working
Don’t bug me when I’m working
Got a job to do
Now you bug me at home when I’m tired and beat
Can’t even stand on my own two feet
You call on the phone, you make me uptight
And I can’t even work with my baby at night
Don’t bug me when I’m working
I’m working, I’m working
Don’t bug me when I’m working
Got a job to do
Don’t bug me when I’m working
I’m working, I’m working
Don’t bug me when I’m working
I don’t work for you
Don’t bug me
‘Cause I don’t work for you
Don’t bug me
Mister I don’t work for you
Don’t bug me, don’t bug me
‘Cause I don’t work for you
Don’t bug me, don’t bug me
‘Cause I don’t work for you
At the sound of the tone
Better hang up the phone
If you want to be my friend
Don’t bug me when I’m working
…
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What can you say about so much talent! The quote from Nick really says it all. They couldn’t get out of their own way. Nevertheless I quite like the album and would have liked to hear more from them. They were all very busy guys so getting back together required some serious commitment.
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I do like a lot of the album as well. I think with that talent you think of a perfect album…you can’t meet those expectations.
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Lowe also made a comment about one of them wanting to pursue their solo career instead. He never named who, but it was pretty obvious.
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I did like quite a bit of the album…it would have been hard living up to what people expected…. yea I saw that.
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Reminds me a little of Traveling Wilburys although it seems these guys didn’t work together as well.
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It’s some good songs on this album for sure. I think everyone was expecting a masterpiece…but thats hard to live up to.
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quite so. I mean imagine if Ringo decided to have his All Starr Band come up with an album of all new music one year instead of tour and play the old, familiar tunes. Good chance it would end up with a disaster even though the talent is there.
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Or it wouldn’t live up to expectations. Just like the Beatles reuniting say in the late seventies…it would have never lived up to the hype…fairly or unfairly
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Thanks for sharing this, as I am still learning about Ry Cooder.
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He was in a lot of different configurations.
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Jim, try out Buena Vista Social Club, where he goes and jams with Cuban musicians. Really really good.
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Thanks, Lisa and I will try to check that out.
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As was said by somebody on the Rising Sons post, I don’t think the album lived up to the potential, but it is good. I think they were much better live, as the stuff on YouTube attests to. I think Cooder and Hiatt especially play off each other really well. Doesn’t seem like it was that long ago (long box CD Carson is holding). I got my copy on cassette. I didn’t buy a CD player until I got my income tax refund in 1992.
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Yea I liked some of the songs off of it. It’s hard living up to expectations but I get what you are saying.
I think I waited until around 95 or so…because I listened to mostly in cars…when I got a car with one…I started to get CDs
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Just watched and listened to the live cut off Carson. A band doesnt get any tighter than that. I want to go to Little Village concert now
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I liked the album…it was some good songs on there. Yes, live they sounded awesome…that is what won me.
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Anytime musicians like this get together expectations are high. I really like the ideas they came up with and I pull this out often. I like Lowe’s bass on the second cut. Another great choice Max.
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Thanks CB….there is no way they could have met everyone’s expectations…but yes…I enjoyed the album and that is why I posted it.
I just heard it…I like that!
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Now that’s what I call a Supergroup! So much talent packed into one space.
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I thought you would be interested in that…I like all of them separately….some good songs on the album.
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I loved that Little Village album, which my German music buddy and bandmate at the time brought to my attention when it came out. Thanks for the reminder! 😀
“Don’t Bug Me When I’m Working” and “She Runs Hot For Me,” for that matter, sound fun. I also dig this one!
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Oh cool! I liked the album Christian. I know it didn’t meet some expectations but that is a tall order! Like I told someone…if the Beatles would have got together in the late 70s…NO way could they have satisfied everyone.
This album is really good to me…and…dude you WON’T believe this…but it’s true…although you know us…The Solar Sex Panel was the other one I was going to post!
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😆
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