Listening Booth: Nick Lowe's 'Quality Street': The New Yorker The English singer-songwriter Nick Lowe, who is best known in the U.S. for his late-seventies hit "Cruel to Be Kind," has kept a low profile for the past forty years, but that doesn't mean he hasn't kept busy. From his days producing albums for Elvis Costello - he wrote " (What's So Funny "Bout) Peace, Love, and Understanding" - to his more recent work in other genres, including roots music, he's been unafraid to try new things. His latest effort is a "Quality Street," a Christmas album. In classic Lowe style, he gives seasonal fare a singular spin, with a few originals as well as rockabilly, New Orleans, and country versions of classics. No surprise, really, from someone who titled his first solo album, "Jesus of Cool."