Entertainment For Lively Minds
Graham Parker
Posted by Mr Fade on 8 May 2009 - 12:03pm.
I'm thinking of giving him a good listen. Anyone here like him and his Rumour? Where should I start?
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The Parkerilla
If Carling did live albums....
It's a bit of a cliche, but...
I'd start with a 'best of'. All his hits are outstanding, whereas I'm not sure one particular CD/album would do Graham Parker justice.
Best Of
There was a great vinyl Best of that I had (can get on eBay still easily). Also got CD "You can't be too strong - an introduction to GP & Rumour" which isn't bad. It hasn't got Between You & Me on it though, which is a favourite of mine. I see there's a 2CD "Graham Parker Best" and a 2CD "Vertigo-Best of" on Amazon that have better coverage but are a bit pricey.
Squeezing Out Sparks
Is a stone classic...
If you get Vertigo
You get the whole of the wonderful Squeezing Out Sparks and the 'official live bootleg' called (I think) The Pink Parker. As well as the greatest hits.
If you want to avoid compilations, you need (in order):
Squeezing Out Sparks
Howlin' Wind
Heat Treatment
The Up Escalator
Mona Lisa's Smile
Stick To Me
Pedant alert
It's called The Mona Lisa's Sister
Your list is spot on, but I'd also mention some of his very fine later albums, particularly Deepcut To Nowhere and 12 Haunted Episodes. There's also a rather splendid live album, The Last Rock N Roll Tour. All available from the man's website.
It's pretty hard to go wrong with GP.
You're absolutely right
and I ought to check out GP's later stuff as I stopped, pretty much, after MLS. One of the best bands I ever saw live as well.
The Pink Parker
was a 4 track EP which hit the charts with Hold Back The Night as the featured track. The other three were (Letme get) Sweet On You; WHite Honey & Soul Shoes.
The live Squeezing Out Sparks was imaginatively titled Live Sparks. I'm sure it was scheduled for release. I remember Peel playing tracks off it.
Squeezing Out Sparks is as Paul says the essential album.
I'd then go for Heat Treatment, then The Up Escalator.
Correct
Squeezing Out Sparks without argument.
The Up Escalator
which contains my favourite GP song The Beating of another heart.
Followed by Mona Lisa's smile and Squeezing out the Sparks. But as per the posting above a greatest hits or anthology is a much better starting point. I have a very good 2 cd anthology which I think is called 'Passion is no ordinary word' - not sure if it is still available.
Accessibility
I think the most "accessible" album is The Up Escalator and it's my personal favourite but it's not as representative as Squeezing Out Sparks. Why not treat yourself to an Emusic sub for a month or so and get a load of his stuff cut price.
Cruel Lips
is a great duet with Lucinda Williams on Your Country on eMusic (which doesn't have the early Parker stuff)
Squeezing Out Sparks For Me Too
Up Escalator and Heat Reatment fight for second place.
GP by gp
"Squeezing out Sparks" is the tops, as it is the last full "proper" Rumour, before Bob Andrews jumped ship. "The Up Escalator is great, I admit, if a little marred by some New Jersey upstart on the first track, trying to get some kudos off the Parker mystique. A song I particularly love is "Temporary Beauty", the single off the next one, when Brinsley was the only old side-kick still present. Saw that line up live at B'ham Odeon, it being surprisingly lacklustre.
"Live alone in America" is worth tracking down, for solo live (clearly) versions.
Of the best ofs, "You can't be too strong, an introduction to" is particularly good one. (In fact the range of "An Introduction to" is all good, by and large)
I'm staggered
that no one else has championed "The Parkerilla"; it's bloody fantastic.
I don't have "Squeezing Out Sparks", can it really be that good, or are all the people mentioning it those who haven't heard the early stuff?
Yes it is that good.
Less frantic, more urgent, if you can work that out.
And only a fiver.
Wish List duly updated.
Um
I think you're better off spending your time exploring Southside Johnny and the Asbury Dukes personally.
GP is good - but not that good - as an old ad. strapline used to run.
Beyond "White Honey" and "Fools Gold" and the cover of "Hold Back the Night" - I'm not sure how much "there" is there.
Hey Lord Don't Ask Me Questions
Is worth more than the entire output of Oasis alone.
That
I have no argument with.
Especially piquant given that - imho - not one of his stronger tracks. It's a good example of the earnestness in his work I find a little off-puttting.
Great - and I mean Grrreaatt live act mind ol' GP
GP Best of
A dozen tracks from the aforementioned GP anthology passion is no ordinary word:-
Dont ask me questions
Heat Treatment
Fools Gold
Watch the moon come down
Discovering Japan
You cant be too strong
Stupefaction
No holding back
Temporary beauty
You cant take love for granted
Dont let it break you down
Get started,start a fire
Bonus track not on the cd - The beating of another heart.
Available from Turners musical emporium for £5.99 or you can download it but they are watching you!!!
Uncompiled but I'd like to add
One that popped up tonight on the way home; the fantastic Just Like Joe Meek's Blues
Vertigo
It's been mentioned above but I second the Vertigo compilation.
Not only does it contain the entire "Squeezing Out Sparks", but also the entire "Live At Marble Arch" official bootleg.
After that, "The Up Escalator","Mona Lisa's Sister","Struck By Lightning" and "Live! Alone in America" are all worthy of greater attention.
It got a bit patchy in the 90s-00s but the most recent 3 albums;"Your Country","Songs Of No Consequence" and "Don't Tell Columbus" have been a return to form.
Best of all, the man himself is playing here(San Diego) on the 28th May - tickets already booked.