Graham Parker & the Rumour

[Kudzu Guillotine]

One of those artists (like Garland Jeffreys) that I probably wouldn't have been aware of back in the 70's and 80's if not for album rock stations like WQDR in Raleigh. I don't own a bunch of Graham Parker records and in all honesty, haven't heard a bunch of his work but in seeking out more of his music recently, I've yet to meet a song I don't like.

[beantownbubba]

Sorry to say, KG, he did have a couple of less than stellar efforts but on the whole yeah there's a lot to love about Graham Parker, even a lot of his later stuff. But the classic stuff is the early stuff. For those unfamiliar:

Squeezing Out Sparks is generally considered to be his masterpiece. It's a great album but I like his first 2 efforts better:
Howlin' Wind
Heat Treatment

The latter 2 are a bit more raw than Sparks, which imho is a good thing. One of the later albums has a guest appearance by the boss but I'd have to look it up and I'm too lazy to do that at the moment (if i had to guess i'd say the up escalator). This guy absolutely should have been a star and he's incredibly bitter that it didn't happen for him (or at least he was for a number of years; I think he's mellowed some recently) which sometimes interferes w/ the music. OTOH, it also leads to classics like "Mercury Poisoning," his bitch at his former label, Mercury.

[Jonicont]

I got a Lady Doctor. She cures the pain for free

[Kudzu Guillotine]

Thanks for the lowdown, the albums I have are The Mona Lisa's Sister (1988) and Graham Parker (with the Figgs) Songs Of No Consequence (2005). My awareness of the latter was raised significantly since it was released by Bloodshot. Looking forward to delving deeper into his back catalog. Cool to see him get some long overdue recognition thanks to This Is 40 a few years back.

[Tequila Cowboy]

The three that Bean mention are all stellar. I also really like The Up Escalator and the second of Parker's post Rumour solo records The Real McCaw which occasionally I'll tell you is my favorite. After that most of his records had 3-4 really solid songs on them that nobody heard and it's a cryin' shame IMHO. He got lumped into the "Angry Young Men" category in the late seventies with Elvis Costello and Joe Jackson and that's what hooked me in the fist place because I was such a fan of the other two. He should have been equally as popular.

Here's a live Graham Parker show from about 1988 that I found a while back and have revisited a few times:

[Jonicont]

Get Howlin Wind

[tinnitus photography]

it's all about Stick To Me

[paulc]

Mona Lisa's Sister and Deepcut to Nowhere would be my recommendations if you're not familar with his post-Rumour output, which has been pretty sketchy, although every album has at least a couple of great songs. He's also got a good official bootleg series worth checking out.

[Kudzu Guillotine]

Graham Parker gets the boxset treatment with These Dreams Will Never Sleep – The Best Of Graham Parker 1976 – 2015 which is due on September 30th.

A Long Emotional Ride (or Hey Nerd Do Ask Me Questions) – An Interview With Graham Parker

[Rocky]

Agree with Jon. Howlin' Wind is the shit.

[3milelake]

Squeezing Out Sparks is generally considered to be his masterpiece. It's a great album but I like his first 2 efforts better:
Howlin' Wind
Heat Treatment

100%

[paulc]

Graham Parker gets the boxset treatment with These Dreams Will Never Sleep – The Best Of Graham Parker 1976 – 2015 which is due on September 30th.

I'm guessing there aren't any unreleased songs or outtakes included?

[whatwouldcooleydo?]

Squeezing Out Sparks is generally considered to be his masterpiece. It's a great album but I like his first 2 efforts better:
Howlin' Wind
Heat Treatment

100%

thirded!!!

[Markalanbishop]

Pub rock rules!!!! Huge (Yuuuuge) fan of his.

[whatwouldcooleydo?]

Pub rock rules!!!! Huge (Yuuuuge) fan of his.

agree, and another great proponent of pub rock is

[Markalanbishop]

Really Nick Lowe's band as he wrote most of the songs,and Brinsley and another guy joined Graham's band. Excellent stuff.

[Kudzu Guillotine]

Graham Parker gets the boxset treatment with These Dreams Will Never Sleep – The Best Of Graham Parker 1976 – 2015 which is due on September 30th.

I'm guessing there aren't any unreleased songs or outtakes included?

I don't think so.

A 6CD/1DVD career box set spanning Graham's 40 years in the business, both solo and with The Rumour.

The box includes 3 anthology discs, a disc of BBC live performances and a 2-disc never before heard live concert from the last ever show with The Rumour in 2015 at London's Forum with a horn section. The DVD encompasses an unreleased live show at The Brook in Southampton with The Rumour, as well as some Top Of The Pops and Old Grey Whistle Test TV performances from the late 70s.

Alongside this, there is a 36 page hardcover book, featuring a new interview with Graham and an overview written by Holly A. Hughes, as well as a poster and 3 postcards.

Disc: 1
1. I Got My Soul - Graham Parker
2. That's When You Know - Graham Parker
3. Sunny Side Down - Graham Parker
4. The Raid - Graham Parker
5. Between You and Me
6. Don't Ask Me Questions
7. Howlin' Wind
8. Nothin's Gonna Pull Us Apart
9. Soul Shoes (Single Version)
10. Pourin' It All Out
11. Black Honey
12. Turned Up Too Late
13. Stick to Me
14. Watch the Moon Come Down
15. Thunder and Rain
16. The Heat in Harlem

Disc: 2
1. Lady Doctor
2. Gypsy Blood
3. Fool's Gold
4. Nobody Hurts You
5. You Can't Be Too Strong
6. Passion Is No Ordinary Word
7. Love Gets You Twisted
8. Empty Lives
9. You Hit the Spot - Graham Parker
10. You Can't Take Love for Granted - Graham Parker
11. Wake Up (Next to You) - Graham Parker and The Shot
12. Back in Time - Graham Parker
13. Under the Mask (Of Happiness) - Graham Parker
14. Big Man On Paper - Graham Parker
15. The Kid With the Butterfly Net - Graham Parker
16. Weeping Statues - Graham Parker

Disc: 3
1. Just Like Joe Meek's Blues - Graham Parker
2. Disney's America - Graham Parker
3. Honest Work - Graham Parker
4. Sharpening Axes - Graham Parker
5. Blue Horizon - Graham Parker
6. Cheap Chipped Black Nails - Graham Parker
7. Cruel Lips - Graham Parker with Lucinda Williams
8. Nation of Shopkeepers - Graham Parker
9. Bad Chardonnay - Graham Parker & The Figgs
10. England's Latest Clown - Graham Parker
11. 1st Responder - Graham Parker
12. Long Emotional Ride
13. Live in Shadows
14. What Do You Like? - Graham Parker with Punch Brothers
15. Flying Into London
16. Going There

Disc: 4
1. Discovering Japan
2. Local Girls
3. Thunder and Rain
4. Don't Get Excited
5. Back to Schooldays
6. Passion Is No Ordinary Word
7. Mercury Poisoning
8. Heat Treatment
9. Howlin' Wind
10. Stick to Me
11. Love Gets You Twisted
12. Crawling from the Wreckage
13. Saturday Nite Is Dead
14. Nobody Hurts You
15. Protection
16. White Honey
17. Hotel Chambermaid
18. Pourin' It All Out
19. Don't Ask Me Questions

Disc: 5
1. Howlin' Wind
2. Stop Cryin' About the Rain
3. Thunder and Rain
4. Long Emotional Ride
5. Get Started, Start a Fire
6. Pub Crawl
7. Wall of Grace
8. Stick to Me
9. Passion Is No Ordinary Word
10. Watch the Moon Come Down
11. Railroad Spikes

Disc: 6
1. Hotel Chambermaid
2. Protection
3. Pourin' It All Out
4. Back to Schooldays
5. Local Girls
6. White Honey
7. Fool's Gold
8. Heat Treatment
9. You Can't Be Too Strong
10. Don't Ask Me Questions
11. Hold Back the Night
12. Soul Shoes

Disc: 7
1. White Honey (Live at the Brook, Southampton, 2015)
2. Stop Cryin' About the Rain (Live at the Brook, Southampton, 2015)
3. Thunder and Rain (Live at the Brook, Southampton, 2015)
4. Howlin' Wind (Live at the Brook, Southampton, 2015)
5. Long Emotional Ride (Live at the Brook, Southampton, 2015)
6. Get Started. Start a Fire (Live at the Brook, Southampton, 2015)
7. Pub Crawl (Live at the Brook, Southampton, 2015)
8. Wall of Grace (Live at the Brook, Southampton, 2015)
9. Stick to Me (Live at the Brook, Southampton, 2015)
10. Passion Is No Ordinary Word (Live at the Brook, Southampton, 2015)
11. Watch the Moon Come Down (Live at the Brook, Southampton, 2015)
12. Railroad Spikes (Live at the Brook, Southampton, 2015)
13. Hotel Chambermaid (Live at the Brook, Southampton, 2015)
14. Protection (Live at the Brook, Southampton, 2015)
15. Pourin' It All Out (Live at the Brook, Southampton, 2015)
16. Back to Schooldays (Live at the Brook, Southampton, 2015)
17. Local Girls (Live at the Brook, Southampton, 2015)
18. You Can't Be Too Strong (Live at the Brook, Southampton, 2015)
19. Don't Ask Me Questions (Live at the Brook, Southampton, 2015)
20. Hold Back the Night (Live at the Brook, Southampton, 2015)
21. Soul Shoes (Live at the Brook, Southampton, 2015)
22. Hey Lord Don't Ask Me Questions (Live On 'Top of the Pops') - Graham Parker
23. New York Shuffle (Live On 'Top of the Pops') - Graham Parker
24. Hold Back the Night (Live On 'Top of the Pops') - Graham Parker
25. Stick to Me (Live On 'The Old Grey Whistle Test', 1978) - Graham Parker
26. Problem Child (Live On 'The Old Grey Whistle Test', 1978) - Graham Parker
27. Back Door Love (Live On 'The Old Grey Whistle Test', 1978) - Graham Parker
28. Thunder and Rain (Live On 'The Old Grey Whistle Test', 1978) - Graham Parker
29. Turned Up Too Late (Live On 'The Old Grey Whistle Test', 1978) - Graham Parker
30. Fool's Gold (Live On 'The Old Grey Whistle Test', 1978) - Graham Parker
31. Saturday Nite Is Dead (Live On 'The Old Grey Whistle Test', 1978) - Graham Parker
32. I'm Gonna Tear Your Playhouse Down (Live On 'The Old Grey Whistle Test', 1978) - Graham Parker
33. Don't Ask Me Questions (Live On 'The Old Grey Whistle Test', 1978) - Graham Parker
34. Soul Shoes (Live On the Old Grey Whistle Test', 1978) - Graham Parker

[paulc]

Disc: 1
1. I Got My Soul - Graham Parker
2. That's When You Know - Graham Parker
3. Sunny Side Down - Graham Parker
4. The Raid - Graham Parker
5. Between You and Me
6. Don't Ask Me Questions
7. Howlin' Wind
8. Nothin's Gonna Pull Us Apart
9. Soul Shoes (Single Version)
10. Pourin' It All Out
11. Black Honey
12. Turned Up Too Late
13. Stick to Me
14. Watch the Moon Come Down
15. Thunder and Rain
16. The Heat in Harlem

Disc: 2
1. Lady Doctor
2. Gypsy Blood
3. Fool's Gold
4. Nobody Hurts You
5. You Can't Be Too Strong
6. Passion Is No Ordinary Word
7. Love Gets You Twisted
8. Empty Lives
9. You Hit the Spot - Graham Parker
10. You Can't Take Love for Granted - Graham Parker
11. Wake Up (Next to You) - Graham Parker and The Shot
12. Back in Time - Graham Parker
13. Under the Mask (Of Happiness) - Graham Parker
14. Big Man On Paper - Graham Parker
15. The Kid With the Butterfly Net - Graham Parker
16. Weeping Statues - Graham Parker

Disc: 3
1. Just Like Joe Meek's Blues - Graham Parker
2. Disney's America - Graham Parker
3. Honest Work - Graham Parker
4. Sharpening Axes - Graham Parker
5. Blue Horizon - Graham Parker
6. Cheap Chipped Black Nails - Graham Parker
7. Cruel Lips - Graham Parker with Lucinda Williams
8. Nation of Shopkeepers - Graham Parker
9. Bad Chardonnay - Graham Parker & The Figgs
10. England's Latest Clown - Graham Parker
11. 1st Responder - Graham Parker
12. Long Emotional Ride
13. Live in Shadows
14. What Do You Like? - Graham Parker with Punch Brothers
15. Flying Into London
16. Going There

Thanks, quite a few glaring omissions there
Mercury Poisoning
Hold back the night
Get started, start a fire
The girl isn't ready
Blue Highways
Durban Poison
Syphilis & Religion

[Rocky]

Paul maybe time for some more coffee.

All of these songs are on there. Mercury Poisoning, Hold back the night, Get started, start a fire.

[Kudzu Guillotine]

Paul maybe time for some more coffee.

All of these songs are on there. Mercury Poisoning, Hold back the night, Get started, start a fire.

I think he's referring to the original studio recordings, which is why he quoted the first three discs in his response (they're anthologies of Graham solo and with the Rumour). Discs 4, 5 and 6 are live recordings. Disc 7 is a DVD of a live show.

[paulc]

Paul maybe time for some more coffee.

All of these songs are on there. Mercury Poisoning, Hold back the night, Get started, start a fire.

I think he's referring to the original studio recordings, which is why he quoted the first three discs in his response (they're anthologies of Graham solo and with the Rumour). Discs 4, 5 and 6 are live recordings. Disc 7 is a DVD of a live show.

I was, but more coffee is always welcome.
Although I've got 90% of the studio songs already, I'll still buy it for the live stuff.
Shame its not released until after I see him & Brinsley in London.

[whatwouldcooleydo?]

I know, I know, Google is my friend, but ......... how much is the Graham box going for?

[Kudzu Guillotine]

I know, I know, Google is my friend, but ......... how much is the Graham box going for?

GrahamParker.com

[whatwouldcooleydo?]

I know, I know, Google is my friend, but ......... how much is the Graham box going for?

GrahamParker.com

with all due respect,

[whatwouldcooleydo?]

the answer is that it's $100 at Amazon, only place I looked

[Kudzu Guillotine]

I know, I know, Google is my friend, but ......... how much is the Graham box going for?

GrahamParker.com

with all due respect,

In the length of time it took you to type your initial post (and insult me), you could have looked up the price of the box yourself. Said with all due respect.

[whatwouldcooleydo?]

GrahamParker.com

with all due respect,

In the length of time it took you to type your initial post (and insult me), you could have looked up the price of the box yourself. Said with all due respect.

you are 100% correct.......but where's the fun in that?

[Kudzu Guillotine]

you are 100% correct.......but where's the fun in that?

I'm not here to be a dick or to be shitty to other people. That isn't fun to me. If you're too lazy to take 5 seconds to look it up, that's on you.

[whatwouldcooleydo?]

you are 100% correct.......but where's the fun in that?

I'm not here to be a dick or to be shitty to other people. That isn't fun to me. If you're too lazy to take 5 seconds to look it up, that's on you.

[Kudzu Guillotine]

you are 100% correct.......but where's the fun in that?

I'm not here to be a dick or to be shitty to other people. That isn't fun to me. If you're too lazy to take 5 seconds to look it up, that's on you.

I suggest that you apply that to yourself. I was helpful to you. In turn, you told me to go fuck myself.