What's the Abominable Showman's Next Move?

If you haven't visited Nick Lowe's Web site lately, you should check in daily between now and Thursday. There's a special announcement around the bend, and the hints given there and on Yep Roc's page has certainly piqued my interest. As I write this, there are still four people that need to be appear in the above photo that will tell us all, and I assume we will know who each of them are when we see them. Could this possibly be a reunion of one of Lowe's old bands? A couple of other hints from the label have been, simply, the words "(What's So Funny 'Bout) Peace, Love and Understanding" and something that can be seen on the artwork from the 'Jesus of Cool' cover. Anybody out there have any ideas?

In the meantime, let's listen to a plethora of live "(What's So Funny 'Bout) Peace, Love and Understanding" performances. This first version is from a show at Toad's Place in New Haven, Conn., circa March 1983. It was a bill he shared with Paul Carrack, and that's the two of them harmonizing together. The second take is from a show when Lowe sat in on bass with Elvis Costello & the Confederates in Tokyo on Nov. 21, 1987. The fellas make it a fine duet. Number three is taken from a 1990 VH1 program called "New Visions." It was hosted by Nile Rodgers, and he sits in with Lowe on this one. I could do this all night (yes, I have quite a few Lowe bootlegs), but let's make it a foursome with the closer from his acoustic set on June 12, 1998 in Austin. The sound quality on this one isn't the best but, Jesus, it's still cool.

Nick Lowe and Paul Carrack -
(What's So Funny 'Bout) Peace, Love and Understanding (mp3)

Elvis Costello & the Confederates With Nick Lowe -
(What's So Funny 'Bout) Peace, Love and Understanding (mp3)

Nick Lowe and Nile Rodgers -
(What's So Funny 'Bout) Peace, Love and Understanding (mp3)

Nick Lowe (acoustic) -
(What's So Funny 'Bout) Peace, Love and Understanding (mp3)

Update: Here's the answer to the riddle. A holiday album will be released soon.