GRAHAM PARKER and the Rumour
The Complete History - Part Nine

By Geoff Cabin

      Graham Parker's next album, Acid Bubblegum, was released by the Razor & Tie label in September 1996. Parker was backed on the album by former Rumour bass player Andrew Bodnar, former Blondie keyboard player Jimmy Destri and drummer Gary Burke, who had played with Joe Jackson.1
      After the acoustic, folk-based sound of Parker's prior studio album, 12 Haunted Episodes, Acid Bubblegum found Parker returning to the rock format. It also found Parker at his most biting and sarcastic.
      On "Turn It into Hate," Parker railed against the state of the world, telling listeners "You're just dreamin' anyway / if you don't get irate." On "Sharpening Axes," he delivered the classic Parker line "I don't appeal to the masses / and they don't appeal to me" and then declared "I can't suffer any more fools / I'm gonna keep on sharpening axes / Till I've got the sharpest tools." Elsewhere on the album, "Beancounter" attacked corporate culture, while "Obsessed with Aretha" was an hilarious slander of Aretha Franklin.
      One of the best tracks on the album was "Impenetrable," which combined an insinuating dance groove and menacing atmosphere with lyrics filled with dark, sinister imagery. "Character Assassination" mined similar territory with equally successful results.
      Parker did show a more tender side on a couple of tracks. "She Never Let Me Down" was a beautiful, soulful ballad reminiscent of the earlier Parker song, "Wake Up (Next to You)." "Girl at the End of the Pier" was a sad, gorgeous ballad.
      Acid Bubblegum was an excellent album, one of Parker's best post-Rumour albums.
      Parker toured in support of Acid Bubblegum backed by a young pop/punk band called the Figgs. The band consisted of Mike Gent on guitar and vocals, Guy Lyons on guitar and vocals, Pete Donnelly on bass and vocals, and Pete Hayes on drums.
      The Figgs were a perfect match for Parker, and the shows on the tour were outstanding. The Figgs were probably the most hard-rocking band that Parker had played with since the Rumour, and they gave Parker's sound an aggression and energy that it had often lacked in recent years.
      The tour with the Figgs resulted in a live album entitled The Last Rock 'n' Roll Tour, which was released in April 1997. The album was recorded on the last night of the tour at Bogies in Albany, New York on November 20, 1996 (although the album credits list the date as November 24).2
      The Last Rock 'n' Roll Tour provided a good representation of the shows that Parker did with the Figgs. The album drew heavily on Acid Bubblegum, including seven songs from the earlier album. Among those songs, the highlights were razor-sharp versions of "Impenetrable" and "She Never Let Me Down." The Last Rock 'n' Roll Tour also included a good cross section of material from throughout Parker's career. These ranged from some of Parker's better-known songs such as "Soul Shoes," "Fool's Gold" and "Local Girls" to lesser-known songs such as "Take Everything," "Daddy's a Postman" and "Weeping Statues." In addition, the encores included covers of Chuck Berry's "Around and Around" and Prince's "Cream."
      In spite of the album title, the tour that produced the album was not really Parker's last rock 'n' roll tour - he toured again with the Figgs in support of the album.

      Over the course of the past several years, a few albums of excellent archival material by Graham Parker have been released. The first, Live on the Test, was released in June 1994 on the Windsong label in the UK. The album is drawn from appearances that Parker and the Rumour made on the BBC TV show The Old Grey Whistle Test in March 1977 and March 1978.3 In May 1996, BBC Live in Concert also was released on the Windsong label in the UK. The album contains material originally recorded for broadcast on the BBC and drawn from concerts by Parker and the Rumour in March 1977 and April 1979, a concert by Parker and a post-Rumour band in April 1982, and solo, live-in-the-studio performances by Parker in 1990 and 1991.4 A third album of archival material, Not If It Pleases Me, was released in March 1998 on the Hux label in the UK. The album was subsequently released by Hux in the U.S. in June 1998. The album, which features Parker backed by the Rumour, contains two live-in-the-studio sessions recorded for the John Peel show on BBC Radio 1 in 1976 and seven songs from a concert at the Hippodrome Golders Green in 1977.5 Finally, this March Parker released Loose Monkeys on his own UpYours label, available through Razor & Tie's web site at "www.razorandtie.com". The album contains demos and outtakes from 1983 to 1996. We'll have a complete review next issue.
      That's it for now. We'll try to keep you up-to-date on any Graham Parker news in the future.

End Notes

  1. Anonymous, musician and production credits for Acid Bubblegum.
  2. Anonymous; musician and production credits for The Last Rock 'n' Roll Tour.
  3. Anonymous; musician and production credits for Live on the Test.
  4. Anonymous; musician and production credits for BBC Live in Concert.
  5. Anonymous; musician and production credits for Not If It Pleases Me.

Bibliography

  1. Anonymous; "Graham Parker"; Mercury Records promotional biography; 1976.
  2. ---; "Graham Parker and the Rumour"; Graham Parker and the Rumour (concert program from March 1977 British tour); Top-Billing Publications, Ltd.; February 1977; p. 2 - 5.
  3. ---; musician and production credits for Howlin' Wind by Graham Parker; Mercury Records; 1976.
  4. ---; musician and production credits for Heat Treatment by Graham Parker and the Rumour; Mercury Records; 1976.
  5. ---; musician and production credits for The Pink Parker by Graham Parker and the Rumour; Mercury Records; 1977.
  6. ---; musician and production credits for Max by the Rumour; Mercury Records; 1977.
  7. ---; musician and production credits for Stick to Me by Graham Parker and the Rumour; Mercury Records; 1977.
  8. ---; musician and production credits for The Parkerilla by Graham Parker and the Rumour; Mercury Records; 1978.
  9. ---; musician and production credits for CD reissue of Squeezing Out Sparks/Live Sparks by Graham Parker and the Rumour; Arista Records; 1996.
  10. ---; musician and production credits for Frogs, Sprouts, Clogs and Krauts by the Rumour; Arista Records; 1979.
  11. ---; musician and production credits for The Up Escalator by Graham Parker and the Rumour; Arista Records; 1980.
  12. ---; musician and production credits for Purity of Essence by the Rumour; Stiff Records; 1980.
  13. ---: musician and production credits for Purity of Essence by the Rumour; Hannibal Records; 1981.
  14. ---; musician and production credits for Another Grey Area by Graham Parker; Arista Records; 1982.
  15. ---; musician and production credits for The Real Macaw by Graham Parker; Arista Records; 1983
  16. ---; musician and production credits for Steady Nerves by Graham Parker and the Shot; Elektra Records; 1985.
  17. ---; musician and production credits for The Mona Lisa's Sister by Graham Parker; RCA Records; 1988.
  18. ---; musician and production credits for Live! Alone In America by Graham Parker; RCA Records; 1989.
  19. ---; musician and production credits for Human Soul by Graham Parker; RCA Records; 1990.
  20. ---; musician and production credits for Struck By Lightning by Graham Parker; RCA Records; 1991.
  21. ---; musician and production credits for Burning Questions by Graham Parker; Capitol Records; 1992.
  22. ---; musician and production credits for Live Alone! Discovering Japan by Graham Parker; Demon Records; 1993.
  23. ---; musician and production credits for Live on the Test by Graham Parker and the Rumour; Windsong; 1994.
  24. ---; musician and production credits for Graham Parker's Christmas Cracker by Graham Parker; Demon Records; 1994.
  25. ---; musician and production credits for 12 Haunted Episodes by Graham Parker; Razor & Tie; 1995.
  26. ---; musician and production credits for Live From New York by Graham Parker and the Episodes; Nectar Masters; 1996.
  27. ---; musician and production credits for BBC Live in Concert by Graham Parker; Windsong; 1996.
  28. ---; musician and production credits for Acid Bubblegum by Graham Parker; Razor & Tie; 1996.
  29. ---; musician and production credits for The Last Rock 'n' Roll Tour by Graham Parker and the Figgs; Razor & Tie; 1997.
  30. ---; musician and production credits for Not If It Pleases Me; Hux; 1998.
  31. ---; "The Rumour"; Arista Records promotional biography; 1979.
  32. ---; "sources/personnel" listed in the booklet included with Passion Is No Ordinary Word: The Graham Parker Anthology: 1976 - 1991; Rhino Records; 1993.
  33. ---; untitled essay; Graham Parker and the Rumour (concert program from November 1979 Australian tour); Playbill; 1979; p. 10 -13.
  34. ---: untitled promotional essay for The Mona Lisa's Sister by Graham Parker; RCA Records; 1988.
  35. Belmont, Martin; liner notes for CD reissue of Ducks Deluxe/Taxi to the Terminal Zone by Ducks Deluxe; Mau Mau Records; 1991.
  36. Birch, Will; "Cheers: Raise a glass to the regulars: in his usual chair, lan Dury; hogging the jukebox, Nick Lowe; jockeying up to the oche, Graham Parker and Elvis Costello; ordering pork scratchings, Wilko Johnson. And there's Ace, Chilli Willi, Eggs Over Easy, the Hot Rods, Kokomo... Yes, it's the story of Pub Rock, served by our host, Will Birch."; Mojo; May 1996; p. 74 - 96.
  37. ---; liner notes for Naughty Rhythms: The Best of Pub Rock; EMI/Premier; 1996.
  38. Borack, John M.; "Graham Parker Is No Ordinary Dude"; Goldmine; April 15, 1994; p. 15 - 48.
  39. Cooper, Mark; "Forgiven?"; Q; January 1989; p. 12 - 13.
  40. Considine, J.D.; "Parker's Still Pretty Angry"; The Baltimore Sun, circa July 1985.
  41. ---; "Graham Parker Is 'Stuck With' Solo Tour"; The Baltimore Sun; October 2, 1988; p. 1 N and 6N.
  42. de Whalley, Chas; liner notes for Don't Mind Rockin'Tonite by Ducks Deluxe; RCA Records; 1978.
  43. Dopson, Roger; liner notes for Live on the Test by Graham Parker; Windsong International; 1994.
  44. ---; liner notes for CD reissue of Nervous on the Road/New Favorites of... by Brinsley Schwarz; Beat Goes On Records; 1995.
  45. Drozdowski, Ted; "Why Won't Graham Parker Just Go Away?"; Pulse; May 1991; p. 73 - 74.
  46. Frame, Pete; Rock Family Trees; Omnibus Press; 1993.
  47. Guterman, Jimmy; untitled article in the booklet included with Passion ls No Ordinary Word: The Graham ParkerAnthology: 1976 - 1991; Rhino Records; 1993.
  48. Handelman, David; "Graham Parker's Shades of Success: New Wave's Angry Young Man Is Older and Wiser"; Rolling Stone; June 30, 1988; p. 31 - 34.
  49. Heatley, Michael; liner notes for Live From New York by Graham Parker and the Episodes; Nectar Masters; 1996.
  50. Hepworth, David; "Parker Pummels Your Plexus!"; New Musical Express; November 13, 1976.
  51. ---; "Turning on the Endless Night"; The Face; circa June 1980.
  52. Hewitt, Paulo; "The Beating of a Rock'n' Roll Heart"; Melody Maker; June 21, 1980; p. 30 - 31.
  53. Himes, Geoffrey; "Graham Parker: Rock's Last Angry Man Reflects on Life After the Rumour"; Musician; June 1982; p. 48 - 54.
  54. ---; "Graham Parker's Solo Act: The Angry Rocker Tackling 'Musical Fascism'"; The Washington Post; October 14, 1992; p. C7.
  55. Johnson, Dean; "The Real Graham Parker Stands Up!"; Boston Rocker; October 11, 1983; p. 27 and 44.
  56. Jones, Allan; "On the Down Escalator"; Melody Maker; April 17, 1982; p. 11.
  57. Joseph, Frank; "Brinsley Schwarz, Parker's Spark"; Musician, circa fall 1983; p. 80, 88 and 90.
  58. Kent, Nick; "Going Down on the Up Escalator"; New Musical Express; July 12, 1980; p. 30.
  59. Lanham, Tom; "Graham Parker: A Legendary Crank Turns Soft?'; Pulse; June 1995.
  60. Marcus, Greil; "The Graham Parker Rumor: A Search for Fool's Gold on Rte. 66"; Rolling Stone; December 29, 1977; p. 47 - 52.
  61. ---; "Graham Parker's Tale of Fear and Drama"; Rolling Stone; May 17, 1979; p. 66 - 68.
  62. Maslin, Janet with Malcolm MacPherson; "Mighty Mite"; Newsweek; January 31, 1977; p. 71 - 72.
  63. McCann, lan; The Stiff Records Story (booklet included in The Stiff Records Box set); Demon Records/Rhino Records; 1993.
  64. McCormick, Moira; "On the Road: Graham Parker and the Rumour: Marquee"; Sounds; June 19, 1976.
  65. McGrath, T.J.; "Graham Parker: Squeezing Out All the Sparks"; Dirty Linen; June/July 1994; p. 23 - 25 and 98.
  66. Milward, John; "Parker's Brand of Pub Rock"; Performance: The International Talent Weekly, September 3, 1976.
  67. Morthland, John; "Things Begin to Happen for Graham Parker"; Rolling Stone; circa winter 1977.
  68. Muirhead, Bert; Stiff: The Story of a Record Label: 1976 - 1982; Blandford Press; 1983.
  69. Parker, Graham; "Graham Parker" (autobiographical/promotional essay for Burning Questions); Capitol Records; 1992.
  70. ---; liner notes for The Best of Graham Parker and the Rumour, Vertigo Records; 1992.
  71. ---; liner notes for BBC Live in Concert by Graham Parker; Windsong International; 1996.
  72. ---; liner notes for CD reissue of Squeezing Out Sparks/Live Sparks by Graham Parker and the Rumour; Arista Records; 1996.
  73. ---; liner notes for No Holding Back by Graham Parker; Demon Records; 1996.
  74. ---; liner notes for Vertigo by Graham Parker; Vertigo Records; 1996.
  75. Robbins, Ira; liner notes for CD reissue of Squeezing Out Sparks/Live Sparks by Graham Parker and the Rumour; Arista Records; 1996.
  76. Robson, Andy; "The Righteous Brother"; Vox; April 1991; p. 38.
  77. Rogers, Sheila; "Random Notes: Parker's Stinging 'Success'"; Rolling Stone; May 5, 1988; p. 11.
  78. Rowland, Mark; "Graham Parker: Better Living on the Up Escalator: A Corrosive Would-Be Commercialist Finds Some Hard-Won Satisfaction and a Hard-Edged New Band"; Musician; circa summer 1985; p. 38 - 44.
  79. Salewicz, Chris; "Believe Everything You Hear"; New Musical Express; November 13, 1976.
  80. Scoppa, Bud; "Pub Rock: Grass Roots on the Other Side of the Fence"; Crawdaddy, October 1975; p. 70 - 73.
  81. Scully, Alan; "Parker Goes Beyond His 'Angry Man' Reputation"; The Baltimore Sun: "Maryland Live" section; May 26 - June 1, 1995; p.5.
  82. Snow, Mat; "Phone Home: Graham Parker"; Mojo; issue #16; p. 21.
  83. Spotnitz, Frank; "Wake Up! Graham Parker Has Something To Say": Rolling Stone; July 18/August 1, 1985; p. 22 - 23.
  84. Stewart, Tony; "This Page has confidence and sniffs. It's (sniff) Graham Parker, the Singing Petrol Pump Attendant himself. And watch it - this boy could be going places! Tony Stewart told you first (or possibly second or third)."; New Musical Express; May 1, 1976; p. 12 and 38.
  85. ---; "The On-Going Story of Little Men in Glasses"; New Musical Express; April 22, 1978.
  86. Waugh, Bob; "The Island-Ear Interview"; The Island-Ear; June 4 - 17, 1985, p. 10 - 11.
  87. Whitburn, Joel; Joel Whitburn's Top Pop Albums: 1955 - 1992; Record Research, lnc.; Monommee Falls, Wisconsin; 1993.
  88. Young, Jon; "Graham Parker Wants You... To Get Stuck!"; Trouser Press; January 1978; p. 16 - 18.

Copyright 1999 by Geoff Cabin
from Rock Beat Int'l #16, Spring 1999

Reproduced with kind permission from Geoff Cabin.

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