Graham Parker | ||
| Allmusic Biography : Stereotyped early in his career as the quintessential angry young man, Graham Parker was one of the most celebrated singer/songwriters to emerge from Englands pub rock scene in the early 70s. Drawing heavily from Van Morrison and the Rolling Stones, Parker developed a sinewy fusion of driving rock & roll and confessional folk-rock, highlighted by his indignant passion, biting sarcasm, and bristling anger. At the outset of his career, his albums crackled with pub rock energy, snide witticisms, and perceptive insights, earning him a devoted following of fans and critics, who lavished praise on his debut, 1976s Howlin Wind, recorded with the Rumour, his backing band of pub rock all-stars. Despite all the positive word of mouth, Parker was saddled with a record label that wasnt sure what to do with him, and he was soon overshadowed by the emergence of Elvis Costello, a singer/songwriter who shared similar roots while enjoying greater success. After delivering Squeezing Out Sparks in 1979, which was a smash with critics and won him a larger audience in the United States, Parker courted a crossover career with solo projects such as 1982s Another Grey Area and 1985s Steady Nerves before settling into a cult following in the late 80s and continuing to garner critical acclaim as his music mellowed but his lyrical perspective stayed sharp. At the behest of filmmaker Judd Apatow, Parker reunited with the Rumour for his movie This Is 40, which led to concert tours and a pair of albums, 2012s Three Chords Good and 2015s Mystery Glue. After spending much of his early adulthood working odd jobs, ranging from breeding mice and guinea pigs to working at a gas station, Parker began seriously pursuing a musical career in 1975. Until that time, he had played in a number of obscure pub rock groups, including a cover band that had spent time playing in Morocco and Gibraltar. But it wasnt until 1975 that he began shopping his demos. That year, Dave Robinson, one of the co-founders of the new independent label Stiff, heard one of Parkers demo tapes and encouraged the songwriter, helping him assemble a backing band called the Rumour. Robinson rounded up several stars of the pub rock scene -- guitarist Brinsley Schwarz and keyboardist Bob Andrews, both formerly of leading pub rockers Brinsley Schwarz, former Ducks Deluxe guitarist Martin Belmont, former Bontemps Roulez drummer Steve Goulding, and bassist Andrew Bodnar -- to form the Rumour, and the band was soon supporting Parker on the dying pub rock scene. With the assistance of DJ Charlie Gillett, the group landed a record contract with Mercury by the end of 1975. Graham Parker & the Rumour headed into the studio to cut their debut album with producer Nick Lowe, who gave the resulting record, Howlin Wind, an appealingly ragged edge. Howlin Wind was greeted with enthusiastic reviews upon its summer release, as was the similar Heat Treatment, which followed in the fall. Despite the positive press, Parker was growing frustrated with Mercury, believing that the company was not properly promoting and distributing his records. His third album, Stick to Me, had to be re-recorded quickly after the original tapes were discovered to be defective prior to its scheduled release. As a result, Stick to Me received mixed reviews upon its fall 1977 release, which derailed Parkers momentum slightly. Furthermore, Elvis Costello, a fellow pub rock survivor who possessed not only a more pop-oriented style of songwriting, but also a more dangerous persona, soon eclipsed Parker in popularity. Frustrated by his career hitting a standstill, Parker released the live-double album The Parkerilla in the summer of 1978 in order to get out of his contract. Following a short but intense bidding war, he quickly signed to Arista Records, where he released "Mercury Poisoning" -- a blistering attack on his former record label and the B-side of a promotional single -- as his first record for the label. Squeezing Out Sparks, Parkers first album for Arista, put a halt to that decline. Sporting a slicker, new wave-oriented production -- it was the first of his records not to have any involvement from Nick Lowe -- the album was greeted with terrific reviews and, on the strengths of radio hits like "Local Girls," it became his most successful album, reaching number 40 on the American charts and selling over 200,000 copies. Parker was poised for a major breakthrough, but that didnt happen. He followed Squeezing Out Sparks in 1980 with the Jimmy Iovine-produced The Up Escalator, which was considerably slicker than its predecessor. The Up Escalator didnt sell, and Parker decided to ditch the Rumour, who had already begun a solo career. For 1982s Another Grey Area, he hired producer Jack Douglas and a team of session musicians, resulting in a radio-ready production that received mixed reviews, yet managed to peak at number 51. The Real Macaw, which followed in 1983, suffered a similar fate. For 1985s Steady Nerves, Parker moved to Elektra Records and formed a backing band called the Shot with guitarist Brinsley Schwarz, who helped him deliver his most radio-ready collection. This time, the pop move paid off. "Wake Up (Next to You)" became his only Top 40 hit, and the album stayed on the charts for nearly as long as Squeezing Out Sparks. Despite his moderate commercial success with Steady Nerves, the album wasnt widely praised, and he also ran into trouble with Elektra, leaving the label after just one record. He briefly moved to Atlantic, which dropped him without releasing a single record. Consequently, Parker wasnt able to deliver another album until 1988, when he signed with RCA and released The Mona Lisas Sister in the spring. Hailed as a comeback by several critics upon its release, the album generated a college radio hit with "Get Started (Start a Fire)" and spent 19 weeks on the charts. Instead of being the beginning of a comeback, the album turned out to be a last gasp: it was the last time Parker was able to crack the Top 100. Live! Alone in America (1989) received positive reviews but was ignored, and 1990s mild worldbeat experiment Human Soul received mixed reviews and peaked at number 165 on the charts. Parkers final album for RCA -- and his last album to chart -- was the stripped-down Struck by Lightning (1991), and while it was critically praised, it didnt find an audience outside of his cult. The following year, he switched to Capitol and released Burning Questions, which was ignored. Following the release of 1993s double-disc anthology Passion Is No Ordinary Word, Parker made the leap to independent labels -- he had spent time at all but one of the major labels (Columbia/Sony) with little success. In 1994, he released the Christmas Cracker EP on Dakota Arts, and then he signed with Razor & Tie, where he released 12 Haunted Episodes in the spring. Like The Mona Lisas Sister and Struck by Lightning before it, 12 Haunted Episodes was hailed as a comeback, and it sold in respectable numbers for an indie release. Parker followed it with two albums in 1996, Live from New York, NY and Acid Bubblegum, which appeared within two months of each other late in the summer. Early in 1997, he released yet another live album, the double-disc The Last Rock N Roll Tour, which was recorded with the power pop quartet the Figgs. Parker continued to issue a steady stream of archive and live releases into the mid-2000s, and moved into singer/songwriter mode for the albums Deepcut to Nowhere and Your Country, the latter a roots rock-influenced affair released by the Chicago-based Bloodshot Records. The Figgs were back for 2005s Songs of No Consequence, an album that Parker declared "rocks like safari park chimp" in pre-release publicity. Unreleased material, rare edits, and remixes were featured on Official Art Vandelay Tapes, Vol. 2, which appeared two weeks after Songs of No Consequence. Dont Tell Columbus arrived in March 2007 and the clever Imaginary Television appeared in 2010, along with the DVD Live at the FTC. Parker unexpectedly reunited his original backing band the Rumour in 2011, in part due to the intervention of longtime fan and filmmaker Judd Apatow, who made the group a plot point in his film This Is Forty. After appearing in the movie, the group recorded an album of new material, Three Chords Good, which arrived in November 2012, around the same time Apatows movie was released. A concert shot for the film also received a stand-alone release on DVD and Blu-Ray under the title This Is Live. Parker and the Rumour took advantage of their new place in the spotlight by touring America and the UK in support of Three Chords Good, and in May 2015 they returned with another new LP, Mystery Glue, recorded during a six-day sprint at Londons RAK Studios. The Rumour reunion came to an end, but their guitarist, Martin Belmont became part of the Goldtops, the ad hoc band that backed Parker on the 2018 release Cloud Symbols, which was rooted in the old bands pub rock sensibilities. | ||
 | Album: 1 of 29 Title: Another Grey Area Released: 1982 Tracks: 11 Duration: 40:33 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Allmusic Wikipedia AlbumCover | 1 Temporary Beauty (03:52) 2 Another Grey Area (03:00) 3 No More Excuses (04:28) 4 Dark Side of the Bright Lights (03:37) 5 Can’t Waste a Minute (03:28) 6 Big Fat Zero (02:44) 7 You Hit the Spot (03:30) 8 It’s All Worth Nothing Alone (04:04) 9 Crying for Attention (04:08) 10 Thankless Task (04:12) 11 Fear Not (03:30) |
| Another Grey Area : Allmusic album Review : When Graham Parker issued the Jack Nitzsche-produced Squeezing out Sparks in 1979, many inside the music industry -- from execs to critics -- figured that his next one would be it, since Squeezing just missed, though it was celebrated by nearly everyone who heard it. Two of Parkers first three albums -- Howlin Wind and Heat Treatment -- were top-notch, hard hitting rock & roll albums full of great songs and mud-slinging pub rock production that connected in England. It felt like only a matter of time. Arista in its infinite wisdom paired Parker with Jimmy Iovine for The Up Escalator in 1980, and for some reason, Iovine decided to slicken up the singer/songwriter and his band rather than the hard-edged production that clicked when he worked with Bruce Springsteen and Tom Petty. While the songs were there, the sound wasnt, and it must have been discouraging for Parker. His moment had come and gone. Parker wasnt about to let fate cheat him, though, and for 1982s Another Grey Area, he teamed with veteran producer Jack Douglas, and placed his band on recording hiatus in favor of a slew of studio musicians including Nicky Hopkins, Hugh McCracken (!), David Brown and George Small among others. Things start well enough with the mid-tempo rocker "Temporary Beauty"; with its Springsteen-esque piano and ondioline courtesy of Hopkins, the rounded lead guitar lines fall into place, wrapping themselves around Parkers voice on the refrains, and it works. Parker nearly spits out his words, full of irony, empathy, piss and vinegar. They even hold up on the title track, which cooks along with a bitter edge, a brisk tempo set by a snare/hi-hat combination and six strings upfront pushing the singer. Female backing vocals to fill it in and the bassline nearly percolates. But Douglas production begins to wear thin by "Big Fat Zero," despite Parkers fine writing. He doesnt seem to be able to capture the knife edge the band tries to counter the vocals with. Its all swirl and twirl without resolution or warmth. Ironically, its the rawness on Parkers earlier records that made them warm. The reliance on "new wave" sounding electric keyboards also mars the tunes. The ballad "Dark Side of the Bright Lights," works well, as does the horn-driven, funky "You Hit the Spot." But the sameness of some of the rockers such as "Cant Waste a Minute" and the poignant "Crying for Attention" suffer. "Its All Worth Nothing Alone" is punched up a bit, but there still seems to be this glassfloor sheen on everything, which is entirely at odds with the biting humor and scathing social observations Parker makes in both his lyrics and his delivery. Ultimately, Another Grey Area is another "might have been if" set for Parker, and about the last time he believed a word of what anyone from a record company ever said to him. | ||
 | Album: 2 of 29 Title: The Real Macaw Released: 1983 Tracks: 11 Duration: 39:08 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Allmusic Wikipedia AlbumCover | 1 You Cant Take Love For Granted (04:37) 2 Glass Jaw (03:14) 3 Just Like a Man (02:38) 4 Passive Resistance (03:18) 5 Sounds Like Chains (04:42) 6 Life Gets Better (03:11) 7 A Miracle a Minute (03:09) 8 Beyond a Joke (04:47) 9 Last Couple on the Dance Floor (03:04) 10 Anniversary (02:57) 11 (Too Late) The Smart Bomb (03:27) |
| The Real Macaw : Allmusic album Review : Graham Parker must have sensed that replacing a backing band as solid as the Rumour wasnt going to be easy after he parted ways with the group, and the session heavyweights assembled for Another Grey Area either couldnt or wouldnt summon up the passion and soul Parkers music demanded -- and the mushy-sounding production didnt help, either. The Real Macaw, while hardly perfect, is a significant improvement; the musicians, who include former Rumour guitarist Brinsley Schwarz and Squeeze drummer Gilson Lavis, sound tight and snappy throughout, and if the album rarely rocks as hard as you might hope for from Parker, the accelerated tempos of "Just Like a Man" and "Last Couple on the Dance Floor" indicate the band could kick it out when the situation demanded, and the quieter songs still display a potent if low-key energy. While David Kershenbaums production is a bit too stereotypically mid-80s for its own good in spots (especially the periodic use of the Linn drum and those regrettably dated keyboard patches), it packs plenty of presence and gives the songs a bright, listenable surface that serves them well. And Parker has a batch of gems this time out; in the wake of his recent marriage, relationships have apparently been on his mind, and he has plenty to say about the ups, downs, and plain hard work that goes into being in love, ranging from the rueful "Cant Take Love for Granted" and the bitterly self-chastising "Just Like a Man" to "Life Gets Better," one of the most openly optimistic tunes hes ever allowed himself to write. After the disappointments of his final album with the Rumour and his first solo album, there was certainly room to wonder if hed become a spent force, but The Real Macaw makes it clear Parkers muse is still on duty and working hard to put him back on track. | ||
 | Album: 3 of 29 Title: Steady Nerves Released: 1985 Tracks: 12 Duration: 42:29 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 Break Them Down (04:30) 2 Mighty Rivers (03:22) 3 Lunatic Fringe (03:15) 4 Wake Up (Next to You) (05:10) 5 When You Do That to Me (03:35) 6 The Weekends Too Short (04:06) 7 Take Everything (03:05) 8 Black Lincoln Continental (03:10) 9 Canned Laughter (02:24) 10 Everyone’s Hand Is on the Switch (03:26) 11 Locked Into Green (02:27) 12 Too Much Time to Think (03:58) |
| Steady Nerves : Allmusic album Review : Graham Parker moves to his third record label (following stints at Mercury and Arista), forms a backup band called the Shot (again led by guitarist Brinsley Schwarz) and continues alternately arguing with existence ("Break Them Down") and praising his romantic life ("Wake Up [Next to You]"). | ||
 | Album: 4 of 29 Title: The Mona Lisa’s Sister Released: 1988-04 Tracks: 11 Duration: 39:07 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Allmusic Wikipedia AlbumCover | 1 Don’t Let It Break You Down (03:34) 2 Under the Mask of Happiness (03:34) 3 Back in Time (03:27) 4 I’m Just Your Man (03:44) 5 OK Hieronymus (04:16) 6 Get Started, Start a Fire (05:09) 7 The Girl Isn’t Ready (03:33) 8 Blue Highways (02:37) 9 Success (03:49) 10 I Don’t Know (02:48) 11 Cupid (02:30) |
| The Mona Lisa’s Sister : Allmusic album Review : Graham Parker moves to his fourth record label (actually, his fifth, if you count Atlantic, which dumped him before releasing an album) for one of his less inspired efforts. When he sings "Get Started, Start A Fire," he seems to be talking to himself, and when he resorts to covering the old Sam Cooke hit "Cupid," he seems to be grasping for material. | ||
 | Album: 5 of 29 Title: Human Soul Released: 1989 Tracks: 13 Duration: 43:06 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 Little Miss Understanding (03:19) 2 My Love’s Strong (04:15) 3 Dancing for Money (02:52) 4 Call Me Your Doctor (03:38) 5 Big Man on Paper (04:10) 6 Soultime (04:37) 7 Everything Goes (02:20) 8 Sugar Gives You Energy (01:38) 9 Daddy’s a Postman (02:25) 10 Green Monkeys (01:46) 11 I Was Wrong (02:54) 12 You Got the World (Right Where You Want It) (05:37) 13 Slash and Burn (03:33) |
| Human Soul : Allmusic album Review : On Human Soul, Graham Parker begins to retreat further into his domestic life, writing an album that includes a side of romantic ruminations and a side of social commentary. With a band that comprises guitarist Brinsley Schwarz, bassist Andrew Bodnar, and Attractions Steve Nieve (keyboards) and Pete Thomas (drums), Parkers music is subtly diverse, adding elements of worldbeat, reggae, pop, and folk to his R&B-fueled; rock & roll; however, most of the impact of the music is lost by the slick, radio-ready production. When Parker stays at home on the first half of Human Soul, he makes his most impressive music, from the sultry come-ons of "Call Me Your Doctor" to the reassuring "My Loves Strong." He tends to lose his focus on the latter half of the record, when he writes about subjects that dont directly affect his home life. Taken in conjunction with the self-conscious musical eclecticism, the lyrical stretches make Human Soul an intriguing, but flawed, record. | ||
 | Album: 6 of 29 Title: Live! Alone in America Released: 1989 Tracks: 14 Duration: 52:28 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify AlbumCover | 1 White Honey (02:53) 2 Watch the Moon Come Down (04:40) 3 Black Honey (03:23) 4 Protection (04:11) 5 Soul Corruption (07:00) 6 Gypsy Blood (04:54) 7 Back to Schooldays (02:27) 8 Durban Poison (03:10) 9 The 3 Martini Lunch (03:35) 10 Back in Time (03:45) 11 Hotel Chambermaid (02:38) 12 Don’t Let It Break You Down (03:27) 13 You Can’t Be Too Strong (03:13) 14 A Change Is Gonna Come (03:07) |
 | Album: 7 of 29 Title: Struck by Lightning Released: 1991-02-05 Tracks: 13 Duration: 47:34 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 She Wants So Many Things (06:07) 2 They Murdered the Clown (03:56) 3 Strong Winds (03:54) 4 The Kid With the Butterfly Net (03:54) 5 And It Shook Me (03:43) 6 That’s Where She Ends Up (03:09) 7 A Brand New Book (03:28) 8 Weeping Statues (03:23) 9 Wrapping Paper (03:39) 10 Ten Girls Ago (03:29) 11 I’m into Something Good (01:44) 12 Over the Border (to America) (03:10) 13 The Sun Is Gonna Shine Again (03:53) |
| Struck by Lightning : Allmusic album Review : Struck by Lightning was the culmination of Graham Parkers previous two records, where he increasingly began to chronicle domestic tasks and affairs of the married heart. For such an intimate subject, Parker wisely decided to scale back the musical ambition of Human Soul on Struck by Lightning, recording a lean, stripped-down album that relied heavily on acoustic guitars. Appropriately, his lyrics were some of the most concise he had written in years, breathing life into tales like "The Kid with the Butterfly Net" and "Wrapping Paper." Parkers music was similarly simple and tuneful, making Struck by Lightning his best effort since the early 80s. | ||
 | Album: 8 of 29 Title: Burning Questions Released: 1992 Tracks: 13 Duration: 45:30 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 Release Me (03:56) 2 Too Many Knots to Untangle (03:10) 3 Just Like Joe Meek’s Blues (04:10) 4 Love Is a Burning Question (04:53) 5 Platinum Blonde (04:21) 6 Long Stem Rose (02:50) 7 Short Memories (03:03) 8 Here It Comes Again (03:12) 9 Mr. Tender (02:30) 10 Just Like Hermann Hesse (02:52) 11 Yesterday’s Cloud (03:24) 12 Oasis (04:08) 13 Worthy of Your Love (02:55) |
| Burning Questions : Allmusic album Review : After Struck By Lightning, Graham Parker was dropped by RCA Records. He moved to Capitol in 1992, releasing another installment in his musical diaries called Burning Questions. A more open and polished affair than the previous record, Burning Questions concentrates on broader issues than Struck By Lightning, yet the scope is similarly scaled-back. And its clear from "Long Stem Rose," "Oasis," and "Mr. Tender" that his heart is with his home, not with the sputtering rage of "Here It Comes Again" and "Short Memories." | ||
 | Album: 9 of 29 Title: Christmas Cracker Released: 1994 Tracks: 6 Duration: 25:27 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% AlbumCover | 1 Christmas Is for Mugs (04:30) 2 New Year’s Revolution (03:32) 3 Soul Christmas (04:40) 4 Christmas Is for Mugs (demo) (04:39) 5 New Year’s Revolution (demo) (03:36) 6 Soul Christmas (demo) (04:30) |
 | Album: 10 of 29 Title: 12 Haunted Episodes Released: 1995-03-14 Tracks: 12 Duration: 44:29 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 Partner for Life (03:32) 2 Pollinate (03:24) 3 Force of Nature (03:48) 4 Disneys America (04:47) 5 Haunted Episodes (02:55) 6 Next Phase (03:45) 7 Honest Work (03:58) 8 Cruel Stage (03:29) 9 See Yourself (04:12) 10 Loverman (03:39) 11 Fly (03:57) 12 First Day of Spring (02:59) |
| 12 Haunted Episodes : Allmusic album Review : 12 Haunted Episodes, Graham Parkers first album recorded for an independent label, is appropriately intimate and warm, recalling the simplicity of Struck By Lightning, but with a gentler approach. Parker makes no concessions to commercial radio on the record, dispensing with the slick productions that tended to plague his albums for the past decade or so. That doesnt mean the record is raw -- it means that its more personal and intimate. At its core, 12 Haunted Episodes is not that different than Parkers records since The Mona Lisas Sister: most of the songs are love songs to his wife and daughter, or theyre tales of an aging rebel, trying to keep his youthful fire alive as he grows older. However, the songs are measured and reflective, signaling that hes settling gracefully into his middle age. When Parker does get bitter -- such as his attack on capitalism, "Disneys America" -- it doesnt seem vengeful, it seems regretful, which helps make 12 Haunted Episodes his most mature album to date. | ||
 | Album: 11 of 29 Title: Acid Bubblegum Released: 1996 Tracks: 13 Duration: 54:00 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 Turn It Into Hate (03:20) 2 Sharpening Axes (04:49) 3 Get Over It and Move On (03:24) 4 Bubblegum Cancer (03:37) 5 Impenetrable (05:21) 6 She Never Let Me Down (03:55) 7 Obsessed With Aretha (03:52) 8 Beancounter (04:49) 9 Girl at the End of the Pier (04:18) 10 Baggage (03:36) 11 Milk Train (04:19) 12 Character Assassination (05:40) 13 They Got It Wrong (as Usual) (02:55) |
| Acid Bubblegum : Allmusic album Review : Like Struck By Lightning before it, 12 Haunted Episodes was a kind of artistic rebirth for Graham Parker, boasting a quiet set of intimate songs about simple, domestic concerns that had tenderness, even when he was bitter. Of course, 12 Haunted Episodes was just the calm before the storm, since the followup Acid Bubblegum blasts out of the speaker with the snarly rage that distinguished his seminal late 70s albums. Unfortunately, it often sounds like a parody of classic Parker instead of an inspired return to form. Spitting out songs like "Bubblegum Cancer," "Turn It Into Hate" and "Character Assasination," his voice is raw and snide, but it doesnt sounds passionate -- it sounds like feigned energy. Similarly, the songs are all fairly prefunctory, following standard Parker patterns without ever catching fire. Moments of Acid Bubblegum sound good, with Parker and the Haunted Episodes bashing out tight, competent R&B-inflected; garage rock, but it is alarmingly low in terms of content. | ||
 | Album: 12 of 29 Title: Vertigo Released: 1996-10-07 Tracks: 40 Duration: 2:22:55 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% AlbumCover | 1 Between You and Me (02:29) 2 Im Gonna Use It Now (03:05) 3 Youve Got to Be Kidding (03:29) 4 Howlin Wind (03:56) 5 Back to Schooldays (02:57) 6 White Honey (03:10) 7 Thats What They All Say (03:51) 8 Back Door Love (03:28) 9 Back to Schooldays (02:59) 10 Silly Thing (03:21) 11 Chain of Fools (03:12) 12 Dont Ask Me Questions (05:40) 13 You Cant Hurry Love (03:34) 14 Soul Shoes (03:36) 15 Kansas City (03:51) 16 Heat Treatment (03:15) 17 Hotel Chambermaid (02:59) 18 Black Honey (04:00) 19 Fools Gold (04:14) 20 Hold Back the Night (03:04) 21 (Let Me Get) Sweet on You (02:40) 1 The New York Shuffle (03:02) 2 Watch The Moon Come Down (04:54) 3 The Raid (02:31) 4 Lady Doctor (02:54) 5 Im Gonna Tear Your Playhouse Down (03:28) 6 The Heat in Harlem (07:01) 7 Gypsy Blood (04:37) 8 Discovering Japan (03:27) 9 Local Girls (03:37) 10 Nobody Hurts You (03:39) 11 You Cant Be Too Strong (03:17) 12 Passion Is No Ordinary Word (04:26) 13 Saturday Nite Is Dead (03:18) 14 Love Gets You Twisted (03:01) 15 Protection (03:54) 16 Waiting For The UFOs (03:08) 17 Dont Get Excited (03:03) 18 Mercury Poisoning (03:10) 19 I Want You Back (Live) (03:20) |
 | Album: 13 of 29 Title: No Holding Back Released: 1996-11-05 Tracks: 51 Duration: 3:11:41 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 No Holding Back (03:22) 2 Stupefaction (03:32) 3 Empty Lives (05:10) 4 Manoeuvres (03:35) 5 Love Without Greed (03:29) 6 Don’t Let It Break You Down (03:34) 7 Under the Mask of Happiness (03:34) 8 I’m Just Your Man (03:44) 9 Oh Hieronymous (04:17) 10 Get Started, Start a Fire (05:11) 11 Cupid (02:30) 12 Little Misunderstanding (03:20) 13 My Love’s Strong (04:15) 14 Dancing for Money (02:53) 15 Big Man on Paper (04:10) 16 Everything Goes (02:20) 1 Daddys a Postman (02:25) 2 You Got the World (05:41) 3 She Wants So Many Things (06:07) 4 Strong Winds (03:54) 5 Kid With the Butterfly Net (03:54) 6 Wrapping Paper (03:39) 7 A Brand New Book (03:28) 8 Weeping Statues (03:23) 9 When I Was King (04:19) 10 The Sun Is Gonna Shine Again (03:53) 11 Release Me (03:56) 12 Just Like Joe Meek’s Blues (04:10) 13 Love Is a Burning Question (04:55) 14 Long Stem Rose (02:50) 15 Here It Comes Again (03:12) 16 Yesterday’s Cloud (03:24) 17 Substitute (03:10) 1 White Honey (02:52) 2 Black Honey (03:22) 3 Protection (04:02) 4 Gypsy Blood (05:26) 5 Durban Poison (03:08) 6 The 3 Martini Lunch (03:42) 7 Hotel Chambermaid (02:37) 8 Thats What They All Say (03:15) 9 Platinum Blonde (04:53) 10 Mercury Poisoning (03:23) 11 No Woman No Cry (03:09) 12 Discovering Japan (03:43) 13 Watch the Moon Come Down (Revisited) (04:10) 14 Chopsticks (02:29) 15 Short Memories (03:25) 16 Christmas Is for Mugs (04:30) 17 New York Revolution (03:31) 18 Soul Christmas (04:40) |
| No Holding Back : Allmusic album Review : Complicated as Graham Parkers history of label affiliations has been in the U.S., he has an entirely different one in the U.K. Some of that history is revealed on this three-CD box set, No Holding Back, which traces his recordings for Demon Records. Anyone accustomed to thinking of box sets as comprehensive career summaries will find the results idiosyncratic. Simply put, this one compiles excerpts from Parkers fifth, ninth, tenth, 11th, and 12th studio albums, his second and third live albums, and a seasonal single. That means it begins with songs from 1980s The Up Escalator, his last with his original backup band, the Rumour, then skips ahead eight years to The Mona Lisas Sister and covers the next six years, stopping in 1994. As a chronicle of Parkers work, clearly this is incomplete. Its like going to a movie a half-hour late, staying 15 minutes, going out for popcorn, coming back a half-hour later, staying a half-hour, then leaving before the end. Actually its worse than that because the selections made from the available albums are questionable. "Endless Night" from The Up Escalator is missing, as are "Back to Schooldays" and "You Cant Be Too Strong" from Live! Alone in America and "Dont Ask Me Questions" from Live Alone! Discovering Japan. So, even with the available materials, the compiler could have done better. The best thing about the box may be Parkers typically jaundiced liner notes, in which he takes aim at his own jaundiced lyrics and finds room to insult his fan base as well. Even he cant make sense of this peculiar collection, however, and he isnt assisted by the additional, appropriately unsigned liner notes that get his story wrong. As with any Parker release, there are some terrific songs with biting lyrics, intensely performed. Its the context thats incoherent. | ||
 | Album: 14 of 29 Title: Live Alone! Discovering Japan Released: 1998 Tracks: 14 Duration: 50:09 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify AlbumCover | 1 That’s What They All Say (03:16) 2 Platinum Blonde (04:51) 3 Mercury Poisoning (03:57) 4 Sweet 16 (05:15) 5 No Woman No Cry (03:12) 6 Lunatic Fringe (03:18) 7 Long Stem Rose (03:04) 8 Discovering Japan (03:40) 9 Don’t Ask Me Questions (03:43) 10 Watch the Moon Come Down (revisited) (04:12) 11 Just Like Hermann Hesse (02:48) 12 Too Many Knots to Untangle (02:55) 13 Chopsticks (02:29) 14 Short Memories (03:23) |
 | Album: 15 of 29 Title: Loose Monkeys Released: 1999-03-15 Tracks: 20 Duration: 1:07:12 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify AlbumCover | 1 Theres a Ghost in My House (03:17) 2 Burnin on a Higher Flame (03:43) 3 Durban Poison (03:22) 4 Tortured Soul (03:35) 5 Wherever You Are (03:07) 6 Dead to the World (03:17) 7 Hormone of Love (03:03) 8 Everything Goes (version 1) (03:31) 9 Im in Love With You (03:27) 10 Natalie (03:10) 11 I Just Cant Capture Her Imagination (version 1) (03:08) 12 Corporate Rock (02:24) 13 Love in the Air (03:07) 14 Waiting for the Next World (02:54) 15 I Just Cant Capture Her Imagination (version 2) (03:46) 16 Shes Been Working (03:14) 17 Still Got My Faith (03:57) 18 Dont Kid Yourself (03:11) 19 The Invisible Woman (03:32) 20 Guillotine of Guadeloupe (04:16) |
 | Album: 16 of 29 Title: Temporary Beauty Released: 1999-07-15 Tracks: 21 Duration: 1:15:41 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 Temporary Beauty (03:56) 2 Another Grey Area (03:00) 3 No More Excuses (04:29) 4 Darkside of the Bright Lights (03:39) 5 Cant Waste a Minute (03:30) 6 Big Fat Zero (02:45) 7 You Hit the Spot (03:31) 8 Its All Worth Nothing Alone (04:07) 9 Crying for Attention (04:12) 10 Thankless Task (04:13) 11 Fear Not (03:34) 12 You Cant Take Your Love for Granted (04:38) 13 Glass Jaw (03:16) 14 Passive Resistance (03:20) 15 Sound Like Chains (04:43) 16 Just Like a Man (02:40) 17 Life Gets Better (03:12) 18 Last Couple on the Dance Floor (03:06) 19 Miracle a Minute (03:12) 20 Habit Worth Forming (03:11) 21 The Smart Bomb (03:27) |
| Temporary Beauty : Allmusic album Review : Temporary Beauty is a budget-line British collection that culls highlights from Another Grey Area and The Real Macaw, two albums that were solid but unremarkable additions to Parkers catalog. At that point, Parker had parted ways with the Rumour and was relying on studio musicians, which had the effect of snuffing out his spark. Brinsley Schwarz returned for The Real Macaw, adding some energy, but for the most part, the performances are enjoyably workmanlike. Parkers songs are similarly well-crafted, with only a couple of songs -- notably "Temporary Beauty" -- ranking as real classics. So, Temporary Beauty is a pleasant listen, but its an unnecessary collection -- casual fans will want a full-fledged hits set or the early albums, and diehards will already have the two source albums for Temporary Beauty, making the disc rather useless. | ||
 | Album: 17 of 29 Title: King Biscuit Flower Hour Presents Graham Parker Released: 2001 Tracks: 15 Duration: 56:26 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% AlbumCover | 1 Just Like a Man (02:49) 2 Thunder and Rain (03:10) 3 Fool’s Gold (04:02) 4 Fear Not (03:30) 5 Sounds Like Chain (05:02) 6 Love Gets You Twisted (03:54) 7 Passive Resistance (03:35) 8 You Can’t Take Love for Granted (05:08) 9 Glass Jaw (03:21) 10 Life Gets Better (02:55) 11 You Can’t Be Too Strong (03:34) 12 Local Girls (03:15) 13 Protection (04:40) 14 Saturday Night Is Dead (03:36) 15 Discovering Japan (03:55) |
 | Album: 18 of 29 Title: That’s When You Know (The Acoustic Demos & Live at Marble Arch) Released: 2001-07 Tracks: 25 Duration: 1:25:20 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% AlbumCover | 1 I Got My Soul (02:48) 2 Stargazer (03:32) 3 The Raid (03:13) 4 You’re on the Wanted List (03:35) 5 Hit Town (03:15) 6 Soul Shoes (03:31) 7 That’s When You Know (02:59) 8 Let It Rain (03:20) 9 Sunny Side Down (02:42) 10 Hole in the World (02:42) 11 Move It Down the Line (02:24) 12 It’s Alright Children It’s Alright (04:04) 13 Gypsy Blood (04:38) 14 Express Delivery (02:24) 15 Not If It Pleases Me (03:22) 1 White Honey (03:25) 2 That’s What They All Say (03:51) 3 Back Door Love (03:30) 4 Back to School Days (03:15) 5 Silly Thing (02:58) 6 Chain of Fools (03:27) 7 Don’t Ask Me Questions (05:34) 8 You Can’t Hurry Love (03:36) 9 Soul Shoes (04:15) 10 Kansas City (03:00) |
 | Album: 19 of 29 Title: Deepcut to Nowhere Released: 2001-08-21 Tracks: 12 Duration: 51:08 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 Dark Days (03:46) 2 Ill Never Play Jacksonville Again (04:57) 3 If It Ever Stops Rainin (04:31) 4 Depend on Me (05:42) 5 High Horse (03:05) 6 Cheap Chipped Black Nails (04:43) 7 Blue Horizon (05:18) 8 Tough on Clothes (04:55) 9 Socks n Sandals (02:55) 10 It Takes a Village Idiot (04:07) 11 Syphilis & Religion (03:57) 12 Last Stop Is Nowhere (03:07) |
| Deepcut to Nowhere : Allmusic album Review : Ever since 1990s Struck By Lightning, Graham Parker has been retreating into domesticity -- and, along with that, his audience became more selective. There were the occasional forays into rock & roll, on Acid Bubblegum and on tours where he was accompanied by the Figgs, but he turned into a genuine singer/songwriter by essaying miniature songs about daily travails, current events, and thoughts that have crossed Parkers mind. Thats pretty much the case here, but theres a bit of a difference -- these are "dark days" as he says on the opening salvo, and there are a number of dark undercurrents running throughout the record. By the end, when hes concluding with "It Takes a Village Idiot" and "Last Stop Is Nowhere," there are strong suggestions that things are not well on the domestic front, stating obliquely but clearly the themes that have been running through much of the uneasy songs on the album. That gives it a different thematic spin than a lot of his 90s records, but the sound is essentially the same and the music, if anything, is more insular than before (appropriate for the inward, pained songs). This means that this is a record thats just for the converted -- the ones who will spin the record several times to unlock the meanings of the record, not minding that the songs arent immediate (or that memorable outside of the lyrics) and that the record sounds very similar to every record hes made in the past ten years. | ||
 | Album: 20 of 29 Title: Extended Versions: The Encore Collection Released: 2002 Tracks: 10 Duration: 37:03 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% AlbumCover | 1 Discovering Japan (03:38) 2 Local Girls (03:40) 3 Nobody Hurts You (03:50) 4 You Can’t Be Too Strong (03:43) 5 Passion Is No Ordinary Word (04:26) 6 Saturday Night Is Dead (03:24) 7 Love Get You Twisted (03:05) 8 Protection (04:10) 9 Waiting For The UFO’s (03:24) 10 Don’t Get Excited (03:43) |
 | Album: 21 of 29 Title: From a Window: Lost Songs of Lennon & McCartney Released: 2003-04-08 Tracks: 17 Duration: 48:54 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% AlbumCover | 1 I’m in Love (02:54) 2 I’ll Keep You Satisfied (02:39) 3 From a Window (02:39) 4 Step Inside Love (03:12) 5 It’s for You (02:41) 6 Bad to Me (02:36) 7 That Means a Lot (02:53) 8 Hello Little Girl (01:50) 9 Love of the Loved (03:29) 10 Tip of My Tongue (02:55) 11 Goodbye (03:04) 12 Come and Get It (02:41) 13 A World Without Love (03:39) 14 One and One Is Two (02:10) 15 Nobody I Know (03:15) 16 Woman (02:58) 17 I’ll Be on My Way (03:11) |
 | Album: 22 of 29 Title: The Official Art Vandelay Tapes Released: 2003-08-25 Tracks: 18 Duration: 1:00:19 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 Everything Goes (03:31) 2 That Thing Is Rockin (03:45) 3 Substitute (03:09) 4 Class Act (03:05) 5 Women in Charge (03:28) 6 Museum Piece (02:42) 7 Ordinary Girl (03:08) 8 Too Much Time to Think (03:57) 9 Museum of Stupidity (02:52) 10 Ghost in My House (03:19) 11 Wherever You Are (03:04) 12 Behind the Wall of Sleep (03:31) 13 Im Into Something Good (01:47) 14 You Hit the Spot (03:46) 15 Break Them Down (06:13) 16 Habit Worth Forming (03:05) 17 Bricks and Mortar (03:48) 18 The Bleep (02:09) |
| The Official Art Vandelay Tapes : Allmusic album Review : Lemon Recordings Graham Parker rarities compilation The Official Art Vandelay Tapes is a legitimized version of a Parker bootleg that had circulated previously. The unofficial Art Vandelay Tapes (named for a character on Parkers favorite TV series, Seinfeld) gathered together stray tracks, most of which had been released previously only as B-side singles or on different variations of Parker albums between 1977 and 1999. For example, "Women in Charge" (1980), "Too Much Time to Think" (1985), and "That Thing Is Rockin" (1990) were all non-LP B-sides, while "Habit Worth Forming" (1982) had appeared only on the American cassette version of Another Grey Area at a time when record companies were putting bonus tracks on cassettes to encourage sales of the medium. Parker emerged virtually fully formed in 1976, and his style -- energetic folk-rock arrangements, witty, caustic lyrics, and a raspy, rhythmic vocal delivery -- has varied only slightly over the years. Also, he has maintained an unusual degree of consistency. So, even though the material ranges across 22 years, it hangs together well. "Habit Worth Forming" may be unfamiliar to all but 80s cassette fans in the U.S., but when Parker sings a verse like "Some people get all the breaks/Some people just get broken down/Either way, no second takes/You hit or you miss and count the mistakes," as a shuffle beat rocks away and an electric guitar solos in a catchy countermelody, this could be any of his many excellent albums playing. There are, however, a few stylistic variations, such the country arrangement of the Burning Questions outtake "Class Act," and there are several intriguing covers, among them a slowed-down version of the Whos "Substitute," an "unplugged" version of the Smithereens "Behind the Wall of Sleep," with the Smithereens themselves as the backup band, and Hermans Hermits "Im into Something Good." Taken together, all this makes for an hours worth of terrific Graham Parker music previously consigned to out of print discs and tapes. As Parker himself notes of the unknown bootlegger who assembled a collection that finally achieved legality, "Somebody knew what they were doing when they compiled this album." | ||
 | Album: 23 of 29 Title: Your Country Released: 2004 Tracks: 11 Duration: 43:40 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 Anything for a Laugh (03:22) 2 The Rest Is History (04:21) 3 Cruel Lips (04:02) 4 Almost Thanksgiving Day (03:23) 5 Nation of Shopkeepers (05:06) 6 Queen of Compromise (03:41) 7 Things Ive Never Said (03:44) 8 Sugaree (03:43) 9 Tornado Alley (03:19) 10 Fairground (05:21) 11 Crawling From the Wreckage (revisited) (03:34) |
| Your Country : Allmusic album Review : While he had a switchblade voice and a lyrical style whose bitterness rivaled that of Elvis Costello or his more abrasive contemporaries, Graham Parker was never really a punk rocker, or even a new wave guy -- like his buddies Nick Lowe and Brinsley Schwarz, Parker was at heart an unreconstructed pub rock man, and like his fellow pub rockers, he had a soft spot for country-rock in the manner of the Band, even if he didnt air that enthusiasm very often. (Just cue up "Between You and Me" or "Back to Schooldays" for proof.) So it should be no great surprise that Parker has recorded a twang-friendly roots rock album for Chicagos "insurgent country" label Bloodshot; what might surprise a few is that its a strong, intelligent, and compelling piece of work that shows Parker mellowing just a bit with age, but still maintaining the sharp eye thats always been the hallmark of his songwriting. Parkers tales of a second-rate comedian on the road ("Anything for a Laugh") and an Englishman adjusting to life in the States ("Nation of Shopkeepers") are first-class character studies that show compassion for their protagonists without disguising their failings, "Things Ive Never Said" and "The Rest Is History" prove he can write well about a semifunctional relationship when hes of a mind, and "Queen of Compromise" and "Fairground" reveal Parkers still in touch with his snarky side, and still knows how to use it well. As for the music, Parker doesnt bend over backward to make these tunes sound "country," and that suits both him and the songs just fine -- the occasional washes of lap steel and blues-flavored shuffle give these songs a well-applied rootsy touch without condescending to a genre that (by his own admission) he doesnt know remarkably well. In an accompanying essay, Parker says the Rolling Stones "have showed me that country music is just the blues," and Your Country suggests Parker and his partners have learned well from that lesson -- like the best blues and the best country, this is an album of simple but well-crafted songs about real peoples lives, full of home truth and some well-applied piss and vinegar. Added value items: a duet with Lucinda Williams on "Cruel Lips," and a snappy new version of "Crawling From the Wreckage." | ||
 | Album: 24 of 29 Title: The Official Art Vandelay Tapes, Volume Two Released: 2005 Tracks: 13 Duration: 54:47 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify AlbumCover | 1 When the Lights Go Down (03:20) 2 You Hit the Spot (live) (03:57) 3 Sinkin Low (live) (04:30) 4 Durban Poison (live) (03:45) 5 I Want You Back (Alive) (03:21) 6 (Too Late) The Smart Bomb (12" remix) (04:58) 7 Just Like a Man (7" edit) (02:39) 8 No More Excuses (live) (04:43) 9 Howlin Wind (live) (04:40) 10 Dont Ask Me Questions (acoustic version) (04:50) 11 White Honey (live) (03:44) 12 Passion Is No Ordinary Word (live) (04:23) 13 Get Started, Start a Fire (live) (05:57) |
 | Album: 25 of 29 Title: Songs of No Consequence Released: 2005-06-07 Tracks: 12 Duration: 46:38 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 Vanity Press (03:46) 2 Bad Chardonnay (04:45) 3 She Swallows It (02:54) 4 Chloroform (05:15) 5 Evil (03:03) 6 Dislocated Life (03:59) 7 Suck n Blow (04:58) 8 Theres Nothing on the Radio (03:30) 9 Ambivalent (04:11) 10 Go Little Jimmy (03:43) 11 Local Boys (03:01) 12 Did Everybody Just Get Old? (03:27) |
| Songs of No Consequence : Allmusic album Review : One mans stellar legacy is another mans millstone, and until the day he dies Graham Parker will doubtless find his latest music compared (usually unfavorably) to the four superb albums he cut in the 1970s: Howlin Wind, Heat Treatment, Stick to Me, and Squeezing Out Sparks. To hear some folks talk about his body of work, youd think Parkers muse had turned tail and fled as soon as Squeezing Out Sparks was completed, but the truth is, despite a lot of poor choices made by record labels and producers over the years, Parker has been writing fine songs and making solid records on a regular basis for close to 30 years now, and Songs of No Consequence makes it clear he has no intention of stopping anytime soon. While Parkers 2004 set, Your Country, found him dipping his toes into country and blues-accented roots rock, Songs of No Consequence is a straightforward rock & roll session (something of a rarity for Bloodshot Records), with Parker backed by frequent touring partners the Figgs, who add a healthy level of spunk to the proceedings. Parker isnt as young as he once was, and he certainly knows it, as cuts like "Bad Chardonnay," "Theres Nothing on the Radio," and "Did Everybody Just Get Old?" make abundantly clear, but dont get the silly idea that hes mellowing. Parkers smart, pithy wordplay and bemused annoyance with the world around him informs most of the cuts on this set, and not unlike 1996s Acid Bubblegum, his latter-day rage makes for some darkly humorous and well-pointed observations about the media, contemporary culture, and numerous manifestations of human frailty. In short, Graham Parker still has the sharp edges that made him memorable in the first place, and if you wonder when hes going to make another record like he did in his glory days, a quick spin of Songs of No Consequence might convince you thats a matter of common misconception about his music rather than any real career slump. | ||
 | Album: 26 of 29 Title: Dont Tell Columbus Released: 2007 Tracks: 12 Duration: 57:53 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 I Discovered America (05:34) 2 England’s Latest Clown (04:52) 3 Ambiguous (04:29) 4 The Other Side of the Reservoir (08:23) 5 Suspension Bridge (03:52) 6 Love or Delusion (04:06) 7 Total Eclipse of the Moon (04:17) 8 Stick to the Plan (05:51) 9 Somebody Saved Me (05:28) 10 Hard Side of the Rain (04:21) 11 Bullet of Redemption (03:16) 12 All Being Well (03:24) |
| Don't Tell Columbus : Allmusic album Review : Depending on which album you get from Graham Parker these days, hes either set on reminding us that hes still capable of serving up the sort of lean and feisty rock & roll that made him a cult hero years ago, or demonstrating that hes matured into a pithy and very gifted singer/songwriter with the passage of time. 2007s Dont Tell Columbus falls into the latter category (and follows his 2005 studio set Songs of No Consequence, which happened to fit into the former scenario), and while there are several examples of his acerbic side on display (most notably "Englands Latest Clown," which concerns someone quite a bit like Pete Doherty, and "Stick to the Plan," a witty but poison-penned meditation on George W. Bushs handling of Hurricane Katrina), Parkers more gentle side dominates Dont Tell Columbus, and it serves him well on these tunes. The title cut is a cautious celebration of his adopted home in the guise of a road story, "The Other Side of the Reservoir" and "Suspension Bridge" are richly detailed slice-of-life stories, "Love of Delusion" is an intelligent but uncompromising story of a relationship gone sour, and "Somebody Saved Me" is an equally honest story from the other side of the coin. While Parker doesnt rock especially hard here, the arrangements are taut, concise and full-bodied even when the electric guitars fade into the backdrop, and Parker handles the lions share of the guitar work himself with an easy confidence, while Mike Gent shines on drums and Ryan Barnum adds some well-placed keyboard textures that give the tunes welcome color and balance. If Dont Tell Columbus doesnt sound like its markedly superior to such recent Graham Parker efforts as Your Country and Songs of No Consequence, those were both strong albums and so is this, and what impresses most at this stage of Parkers career is his consistency -- hes writing first-rate songs and putting them on record with heart, soul and conviction, and he hasnt sounded this reliably inspired since the mid-80s. Its a fine thing hes still around. | ||
 | Album: 27 of 29 Title: Imaginary Television Released: 2010-03-16 Tracks: 11 Duration: 35:05 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 Weather Report (03:27) 2 Broken Skin (04:19) 3 Its My Party (But I Wont Cry) (02:38) 4 Bring Me a Heart Again (02:01) 5 Snowgun (03:39) 6 Always Greener (02:49) 7 See Things My Way (02:33) 8 Youre Not Where You Think You Are (04:48) 9 Head on Straight (03:02) 10 More Questions Than Answers (02:38) 11 1st Responder (03:11) |
| Imaginary Television : Allmusic album Review : Nearly 35 years after making Howlin Wind, Graham Parker is certainly not an Angry Young Man anymore, but hes managed not to avoid becoming a Cranky Old Man, the fate time often forces upon youthful upstarts. Parker isnt significantly less cynical than he was in the 1970s and 80s, but hes matured into a witty realist who has ceased to be surprised by human failings while knowing there are still plenty of great stories to be found in them, and 2010s Imaginary Television has Parker sharing ten more new songs that confirm his craft and his skills are still strong. Parker isnt rocking very hard on Imaginary Television, but thats not to say hes not lively; "Bring Me a Heart Again" is a jazzy R&B; number that swings with quiet assurance, "1st Responder" is a snappy and surprisingly optimistic pop tune, and if "Its My Party (But I Wont Cry)" nods to a certain Lesley Gore oldie; it sounds admirably tough and has a solid swagger all its own. Imaginary Television is a stylistically modest affair, and that is clearly just the way Parker wanted it; the songs are good, but rather than knock himself out trying to convince us, he is willing to let their subtle qualities find their way to the surface, and his voice, while showing a bit of its age, is well-suited to the less aggressive, more intimate style of this work. Parker produced Imaginary Television with keyboard man Louie Hurwitz, and the results mesh well with these songs, with the arrangements and recording adding just enough support without overwhelming the melodies or the lyrics. And while Parker didnt write "More Questions Than Answers" (an old Johnny Nash tune), it sounds like it was made to order for him, and suits the albums smart, quietly witty tone very well. Imaginary Television isnt likely to win Parker any immediate converts like his classic albums of the 70s did, but it also leaves no room to doubt that the man still has anything to say and voice with which to say it -- plenty of artists have sustained long and healthy careers with albums significantly less interesting than this. | ||
 | Album: 28 of 29 Title: These Dreams Will Never Sleep: The Best of Graham Parker 1976/2015 Released: 2016-10-07 Tracks: 90 Duration: 6:00:14 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% AlbumCover | 1 I Got My Soul (02:46) 2 That’s When You Know (02:58) 3 Sunny Side Down (02:41) 4 The Raid (03:13) 5 Between You and Me (02:25) 6 Don’t Ask Me Questions (05:39) 7 Howlin’ Wind (03:58) 8 Nothing’s Gonna Pull Us Apart (03:23) 9 Soul Shoes (03:06) 10 Pourin’ It All Out (03:17) 11 Black Honey (03:58) 12 Turned Up Too Late (03:38) 13 Stick to Me (03:28) 14 Watch the Moon Come Down (04:49) 15 Thunder and Rain (03:16) 16 The Heat in Harlem (07:33) 1 Lady Doctor (02:56) 2 Gypsy Blood (05:03) 3 Fools Gold (04:16) 4 Nobody Hurts You (03:39) 5 You Can’t Be Too Strong (03:17) 6 Passion Is No Ordinary Word (04:26) 7 Love Gets You Twisted (02:58) 8 Empty Lives (05:09) 9 You Hit the Spot (03:30) 10 You Can’t Take Love for Granted (04:37) 11 Wake Up (Next to You) (05:10) 12 Back in Time (03:22) 13 Under the Mask of Happiness (03:34) 14 Big Man on Paper (04:10) 15 The Kid With the Butterfly Net (03:54) 16 Weeping Statues (03:23) 1 Just Like Joe Meek’s Blues (04:10) 2 Disney’s America (04:46) 3 Honest Work (03:58) 4 Sharpening Axes (04:49) 5 Blue Horizon (05:18) 6 Cheap Chipped Black Nails (04:43) 7 Cruel Lips (04:02) 8 Nation of Shopkeepers (05:06) 9 Bad Chardonnay (04:45) 10 England’s Latest Clown (04:52) 11 1st Responder (03:11) 12 Long Emotional Ride (04:29) 13 Live in the Shadows (03:06) 14 What Do You Like (02:44) 15 Flying Into London (04:09) 16 Going There (03:39) 1 Discovering Japan (03:33) 2 Local Girls (03:39) 3 Thunder and Rain (03:11) 4 Don’t Get Excited (03:41) 5 Back to Schooldays (02:41) 6 Passion Is No Ordinary Word (04:31) 7 Mercury Poisoning (03:03) 8 Heat Treatment (03:06) 9 Howlin’ Wind (04:45) 10 Stick to Me (03:18) 11 Love Gets You Twisted (03:09) 12 Crawling From the Wreckage (03:01) 13 Saturday Night Is Dead (03:14) 14 Nobody Hurts You (03:58) 15 Protection (04:38) 16 White Honey (03:01) 17 Hotel Chambermaid (02:58) 18 Pourin’ It All Out (03:53) 19 Don’t Ask Me Questions (05:24) 1 Howlin’ Wind (04:32) 2 Stop Cryin’ About the Rain (03:44) 3 Thunder and Rain (03:30) 4 Long Emotional Ride (04:44) 5 Get Started, Start a Fire (05:18) 6 Pub Crawl (06:03) 7 Wall of Grace (04:22) 8 Stick to Me (03:45) 9 Passion Is No Ordinary Word (04:56) 10 Watch the Moon Come Down (05:27) 11 Railroad Spikes (04:43) 1 Hotel Chambermaid (03:07) 2 Protection (05:06) 3 Pourin’ It All Out (04:19) 4 Back to Schooldays (03:27) 5 Local Girls (04:32) 6 White Honey (03:10) 7 Fools Gold (03:42) 8 Heat Treatment (03:53) 9 You Can’t Be Too Strong (04:21) 10 Hey Lord, Don’t Ask Me Questions (06:16) 11 Hold Back the Night (03:04) 12 Soul Shoes (04:03) |
 | Album: 29 of 29 Title: Cloud Symbols Released: 2018-09-28 Tracks: 11 Duration: 31:41 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify AlbumCover | 1 Girl in Need (03:44) 2 Ancient Past (02:11) 3 Brushes (02:21) 4 Dreamin’ (02:30) 5 Is the Sun out Anywhere (03:07) 6 Every Saturday Nite (03:11) 7 Maida Hill (02:43) 8 Bathtub Gin (03:24) 9 Nothin’ from You (02:45) 10 What Happens When Her Beauty Fades? (03:29) 11 Love Comes (02:12) |