Nick Lowe really ought to be a national treasure. A key figure in pub rock and punk rock in the Seventies, for some of us he already is.

He occupies a similar position in music history to John Cale, another Zelig-like Brit who flies under the mainstream radar but made a valuable contribution to so many important records.

Lowe’s career began with an impressive apprenticeship as a band member with Brinsley Schwarz and Rockpile, followed by a distinguished role as producer alongside a successful solo career.

He was behind the desk for Graham Parker and Dr Feelgood before directing debuts by The Damned, The Pretenders, Squeeze, Wreckless Eric and Elvis Costello, with whom he would work on many more.

He was also the first solo artist to release a single on the seminal punk label Stiff Records with So It Goes / Heart Of The City back in August 1976, followed shortly afterwards by the first UK punk single, New Rose by The Damned – which he also produced.

This was his first – and only – top ten hit, in 1978, taken from his debut solo album Jesus Of Cool, though he would enjoy two more smaller ones with Crackin’ Up and Cruel To Be Kind.

( Love The Sound Of Breaking Glass is one of those songs that is just perfect, thanks to his production, even though he has said it was more or less made up in the studio by his session musicians – otherwise known as The Rumour.

I always assumed the bass, which is the lead instrument here, must have been played by Lowe – an accomplished bass guitarist – but it’s played by Andy Bodnar, with Steve Goulding on drums and Bob Andrews (another Brinsleys survivor) at his zaniest on the piano.

And yes, the song is a kind of riposte to Bowie’s song Breaking Glass, following on from Lowe’s earlier response to the Low album – an EP entitled Bowi.

Anyway, I heard it on the radio a few days ago for the first time in ages and was reminded of its absolute perfection. Here it is performed on Top of the Pops, with Lowe wearing a green ‘Riddler’ suit with question marks.

The striking outfit caught the eye of his girfriend Carlene Carter (daughter of Johnny Cash and June Carter) who was so impressed when he took her along to TOTP that she agreed to become his wife.

As for me, I still have the skinny black tie that came free with the album.