Album Review: "The Last Rock 'n' Roll Tour"

Rock Beat Int'l #11, Summer 1997, by Geoff Cabin


The shows that Graham Parker did with the Figgs last fall were among the best of his career. Fortunately, one of those shows was captured on tape and has now been released on disc.

The Last Rock 'n' Roll Tour was recorded at Bogies in Albany, New York on November 24, 1996 and provides a good representation of the shows that Parker did with the Figgs.

The Figgs are a perfect match for Parker. They are probably the most hard-rocking band that Parker has played with since the Rumour and they give Parker's sound an aggression and energy that it has often lacked in recent years.

The Last Rock 'n' Roll Tour draws heavily from Parker's last studio album, Acid Bubblegum, including seven songs from that album. Among these songs the highlights are razor-sharp versions of "Impenetrable" and "She Never Let Me Down." The Last Rock'n'Roll Tour also includes a good cross-section of songs from throughout Parker's career. These range 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 include covers of Chuck Berry's "Around and Around" and Prince's "Cream."

The Last Rock 'n' Roll Tour showcases Graham Parker at his very best.


Copyright 1997 by Geoff Cabin
from Rock Beat Int'l #11, Summer 1997, p. 26

Reproduced with kind permission from Geoff Cabin.

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