Synopsis

Nick Lowe gets ready for his wedding, shaves, dresses, and heads outside to perform with his band. He then rides to the ceremony, where the video mixes playful staged scenes with genuine footage from Lowe's marriage to Carlene Carter. The wedding party and Rockpile associates appear in exaggerated roles, including chauffeur, photographer, baker, and best man. The result is a loose, good-natured blend of pop performance, wedding documentary, and comedy sketch.

Factoids & Trivia

• The video combines staged material with footage from Nick Lowe's actual wedding to Carlene Carter on August 18, 1979, at the Tropicana Motel in West Hollywood.

• Lowe was reportedly late to the wedding because filming the video took longer than expected.

• Several members of Lowe's musical circle appear in comic wedding roles. Dave Edmunds plays the limo driver, Terry Williams is the photographer, Billy Bremner is the baker, and Lowe's manager Jake Riviera appears as the best man.

• The video's cheerful wedding setting helped make it a memorable early MTV clip. It was the 67th video aired by the network.

• "Cruel to Be Kind" became Lowe's only US Billboard Hot 100 Top 40 single, reaching No. 12 in 1979.

• The song was co-written with Ian Gomm and originated during Lowe's Brinsley Schwarz period. Lowe later recorded the hit version with Rockpile, whose members supplied the arrangement and instrumental backing.