DISCOGRAPHY: Graham Parker singles

Please send updates/corrections/comments to: Johannes.Deininger@rz.uni-regensburg.de


Unless otherwise noted, the comments refer to the B-sides. When the tracks are just the LP-versions, then there's no comment at all. Included are (mostly) just UK and US releases, I'm not aware of any GP single from another country that would have included an otherwise unavailable track.

(*) Track not to be found (in this form) on a regular album
(**) Track not to be found on a regular album, reissue or compilation


SILLY THING b/w I'M GONNA USE IT NOW (*)
(Vertigo 6059 135 (7"), 3/26/1976, UK)

- The B-side later was available on "The Best Of Graham Parker And The Rumour," Vertigo 1992, on the 2 CD compilation "Vertigo" from 1996, and on the 2001 Universal reissue of "Howlin' Wind."


SOUL SHOES (*) b/w WHITE HONEY
(Vertigo 6059 147 (7"), 7/2/1976, UK)

- This version of "Soul Shoes" has an added brass part and has only been rereleased in 2016 on the "These Dreams Will Never Sleep" box set.


SOUL SHOES b/w YOU'VE GOT TO BE KIDDING
(Mercury 73834 (7"), 1976, USA) Mercury promo
SOUL SHOES (edit, 3:03) (**) b/w SOUL SHOES (edit, 3:03) (**)
(Mercury DJ463 (promo 7"), 1976, USA)


SILLY THING (live) (*) b/w KANSAS CITY (live) (*)
(Vertigo GPS 1 (7"), 10/22/1976, UK)

- Available free with the first 5000 copies of "Heat Treatment," both tracks taken from "Live at Marble Arch."


HOTEL CHAMBERMAID b/w DON'T ASK ME QUESTIONS (live) (*)
(Vertigo 6059 158 (7"), 10/29/1976, UK)

- Taken from "Live at Marble Arch." I got a copy of the New Musical Express from November 13th 1976, where this is (Tony Parsons) single of the week, "Heat Treatment" is album of the week, and the title story is about GP as well.


HEAT TREATMENT b/w BACK DOOR LOVE
(Mercury 73876 (7" & promo 7"), 1976, USA)


POURIN' IT ALL OUT b/w HELP ME SHAKE IT
(Vertigo 6059 161 (7"), 1/21/1977, UK)


PINK PARKER EP: HOLD BACK THE NIGHT (*) / (LET ME GET) SWEET ON YOU (*) b/w WHITE HONEY (live) (*) / SOUL SHOES (live) (*)
(Vertigo Park 001 (7"), 3/11/1977, UK)
(Mercury EP 74000 (7") and MK 28 (promo 12"), 3/1977, USA)
(Vertigo EP 6831 040 (12"), 1978, Australia)
HOLD BACK THE NIGHT (*) b/w HOLD BACK THE NIGHT (*)
(Mercury DJ-491 (promo 7"), 1977, USA)
HOLD BACK THE NIGHT (*) b/w (LET ME GET) SWEET ON YOU (*)
(Vertigo DINK-001 (jukebox promo 7"), 1977, UK)

- Live tracks again taken from "Live at Marble Arch." All four songs from the EP are included on the 2 CD compilation "Vertigo" from 1996, the studio tracks again on the 2001 Universal reissue of "Heat Treatment." The two studio tracks were recorded in late January or early February 77 at Dierks studio, Cologne, on a day off from a tour of Europe, with Brian Robertson of Thin Lizzy stepping in for Brinsley Schwarz, who had jaundice.


NEW YORK SHUFFLE b/w THE BLEEP (**)
(Vertigo 6059 185 (7"), 11/4/1977, UK)

- This is actually a "bleeped" version of "The Raid" from "Stick To Me." Although it's a different mix or take, this one's no must have.


STICK TO ME b/w ???
(Vertigo demo 7", UK)

- Who knows more about this UK item?


STICK TO ME b/w HEAT IN HARLEM (edit, 4:12) (**)
(Mercury 73970 (7"), 1977, USA)
STICK TO ME b/w STICK TO ME
(Mercury DJ-531 (promo 7"), 1977, USA)

- They edited out the second verse of "Heat In Harlem" and then faded much sooner at the end. It's the same take as on "Stick To Me."


HEY LORD, DON'T ASK ME QUESTIONS b/w WATCH THE MOON COME DOWN (live)
(Vertigo 6059 199 / Park 002 (7"), Park 12 (12"), and Jumbo 5 (promo 12"), 3/1978, UK)

- "Hey Lord" is the studio version from "The Parkerilla." The B-side is the live version from "The Parkerilla," too.


MERCURY POISONING (*)
(One-sided Arista promo-12", SP-41, 2/1979, USA)

- Later available on many compilations and on the Razor & Tie reissue of "Another Grey Area." It was recorded at the end of the SOS sessions. Graham says: "Mercury Poisoning was recorded at Lansdowne but Jack N had left by then. He decided the album was done but I wanted to record the tune as perhaps a B side or spare track or something. We still had some studio time and I wanted to use it. I can't recall if the engineer Jack brought with him (Mark Howlett) stayed around to record it or whether it was the studio tape operator who handled it. The brass section was brought in and Bob Andrews did the horn arrangement."


PROTECTION b/w I WANT YOU BACK (ALIVE) (*)
(Vertigo 9198 101 (12") and 6059 219 (7"), 3/1979, UK)

- "I Want You Back (Alive)" is also available on the Universal reissue of "Squeezing Out Sparks," the Razor & Tie reissue of "The Real Macaw" and many compilations. And despite the name this is the studio version. It was recorded before the SOS sessions. Graham says: "That was recorded in a mobile studio Dave Robinson had and was probably used for some Stiff recordings. It was called the China Shop I believe. We performed the tune in a rehearsal room and the truck was outside recording. Basically, Dave was at the helm and somehow I got the credit for being producer. I also remember we were recording it just before we started Sparks and on that session in that rehearsal room was the first time we met Jack. He'd just arrived in England and came along to say Hi to us all and shortly after we started Sparks. We were actually due to use a different studio, a more well known rock studio, I can't recall which one, but Jack didn't like the set up and asked to see more choices. He walked into Lansdowne and liked the feel of the place and they had time free. Lansdowne seemed a bit off the rock n roll map to me but lots of middle of the road acts seemed to favour it."


DISCOVERING JAPAN b/w LOCAL GIRLS
(Vertigo 6059 226 (7"), 5/1979, UK)


LOCAL GIRLS b/w I WANT YOU BACK (ALIVE) (*)
(Arista AS 0420 (7"), 5/1979, USA, and Arista promo 12" SP-54, 1979, USA)
LOCAL GIRLS (mono) b/w LOCAL GIRLS (stereo)
(Arista promo 7" AS 0420, 1979, USA)
I WANT YOU BACK (ALIVE) (*) b/w MERCURY POISONING (*)
(Arista AS 0439 (7" & promo 7"), 1979, USA)
(Arista SP-65 (promo 12"), 1979, USA) (???)

- The cover of the former 7"-single says only "I Want You Back," just as the Jackson Five original was called. The latter single was (only?) available free by sending the catalog number from the back of the US-issue of "Squeezing Out Sparks" to Arista.


STUPEFACTION b/w WOMEN IN CHARGE (**)
(Stiff BUY 72 (7"), 4/1980, UK)
(Arista AS 0523 (7"), 1980, USA)
STUPEFACTION (mono) b/w STUPEFACTION (stereo)
(Arista AS 0523 (promo 7"), 1980, USA)
STUPEFACTION b/w PARALYSED
(Stiff BUY 72 (7"), 1980, UK)

- "Women In Charge" is now available in a completely different mix on the Razor & Tie and Universal reissues of "Up Escalator" and the Music Club "Stiffs and Demons" compilation. In the UK it was also an extra track on the tape version of "Up Escalator" on Stiff Records in 1980. And "Stupefaction" really was released with two different B-sides under the same number (Stiff BUY 72) in the UK.


LOVE WITHOUT GREED b/w MERCURY POISONING (live) (*)
(Stiff BUY 82 (7"), 6/27/1980, UK)

- The B-side is taken from "Live Sparks," now available on the Stiff box set from Demon/Rhino and on the "A Hard Nights Day" Stiff compilation from MCA UK.


NO HOLDING BACK b/w ENDLESS NIGHT
(Arista AS 0549 (7" & promo 7"), 1980, USA)

- "Endless Night" is falsely called "Endless Nights" on the label.


TEMPORARY BEAUTY b/w NO MORE EXCUSES (version, 2:43) (no vocals) (**)
(RCA 100 (7"), 2/15/1982, UK)
(Arista AS 0652 (7") and Arista SP-118 (promo 12"), 1982, USA)
TEMPORARY BEAUTY (mono) b/w TEMPORARY BEAUTY (stereo)
(Arista AS 0652 (promo 7"), 1982, USA)

- The instrumental version of "No More Excuses" has an added banjo. The UK 7" version of "Temporary Beauty" is edited a bit at the end. How about the US 7" versions?


YOU HIT THE SPOT b/w HABIT WORTH FORMING (*)
(Arista AS 0687 (7"), 1982, USA)
YOU HIT THE SPOT (mono) b/w YOU HIT THE SPOT (stereo)
(Arista AS 0687 (promo 7"), 1982, USA)
YOU HIT THE SPOT (extended version 3:50) (*) b/w YOU HIT THE SPOT (album version 3:30)
(Arista SP130 (promo 12"), 1982, USA)

- The extended version of "You Hit The Spot" also was included on the "Look Back In Anger" LP compilation, Arista ALB-6-8391. To my ears this version seems to be a bit speeded up. "Habit Worth Forming" is a great song. Interestingly it was cowritten by Andrew Bodnar. It would have fitted much better as a bonus track to the "Another Grey Area" reissue than "Mercury Poisoning." Also appeared on the original US Arista cassette version of "Another Grey Area," and was included in 1997 on the "Temporary Beauty" compilation.


NO MORE EXCUSES b/w YOU HIT THE SPOT (live) (*) / ANOTHER GREY AREA (live) (**)
(RCA 243 (7"), 7/1982, UK)

- Live tracks taken from "BBC In Concert," 1982. "You Hit The Spot" is now available on the "BBC Live In Concert" CD.


LIFE GETS BETTER b/w ANNIVERSARY
(RCA 346 (7"), 7/1983, UK)
LIFE GETS BETTER (*) b/w (TOO LATE) THE SMART BOMB (Dance Track) (**) / ANNIVERSARY
(RCAT 346 (12"), 7/1983, UK)

- The 12"-version of "Life Gets Better" features an added intro, now available on the Rhino "Anthology." And this extended version of "(Too Late) The Smart Bomb" runs for 5 minutes.


LIFE GETS BETTER b/w BEYOND A JOKE
(Arista 9065 (7"), 1983, USA)
LIFE GETS BETTER (mono) b/w LIFE GETS BETTER (stereo)
(Arista AS 1 9065 (promo 7"), 1983, USA)

- "Life Gets Better" should be, unlike the UK issue, the album version without the intro.


YOU CAN'T TAKE LOVE FOR GRANTED b/w GLASS JAW
(RCA 361 (7"), 10/1983, UK)


YOU CAN'T TAKE LOVE FOR GRANTED (edit, 3:45) (**) b/w YOU CAN'T TAKE LOVE FOR GRANTED (album version, 4:38)
(Arista promo 12" ADP-9098, 1983, USA)


WAKE UP (NEXT TO YOU) (single edit, 4:00) (**) b/w BRICKS AND MORTAR (**)
(Elektra 7-69654 (7"), 4/1985, USA)
WAKE UP (NEXT TO YOU) (single edit, 4:00) (**) b/w WAKE UP (NEXT TO YOU) (single edit, 4:00) (**)
(Elektra 7-69654 (promo 7"), 1985, USA)
WAKE UP (NEXT TO YOU) b/w WAKE UP (NEXT TO YOU) (single edit, 4:00) (**)
(Elektra promo 12" ED 5040, 1985, USA)


BREAK THEM DOWN (edit, 3:56) (**) b/w EVERYONE'S HAND IS ON THE SWITCH
(Elektra EKR 6 (7"), 4/1985, UK)
As above, plus: BRICKS AND MORTAR (**) b/w TOO MUCH TIME TO THINK
(Elektra EKR 6F (double 7"), 4/1985, UK)
BREAK THEM DOWN (CHECKED SHIRTS, RADIOS, BARBED WIRE 6:18) (**) b/w EVERYONE'S HAND IS ON THE SWITCH
(Elektra EKR 6T (12"), 4/1985, UK)

- The 7" edit of "Break Them Down" doesn't have the electronic effects at the beginning and a faster fade out. The 12" version is longer than the album version, and has more added effects at the beginning.


WAKE UP (NEXT TO YOU) (**?) b/w CANNED LAUGHTER
(Elektra EKR 13 (7"), 6/1985, UK)
WAKE UP (NEXT TO YOU) b/w CANNED LAUGHTER / LOCKED INTO GREEN
(Elektra EKR 13T (12"), 6/1985, UK)

- Is the A side on the 7" the single edit from the US single?


THE WEEKEND'S TOO SHORT (edit, 3:52) (**) b/w THE WEEKEND'S TOO SHORT (edit, 3:52) (**)
(Elektra ED 5078 (promo 12"), 1985, USA)


GET STARTED, START A FIRE (edit, 3:58) (**) b/w ORDINARY GIRL (*)
(RCA 8639-7-R (7"), 1988, USA)
GET STARTED, START A FIRE (edit, 3:58) (**) b/w GET STARTED, START A FIRE (edit, 3:58) (**)
(RCA 8639-7-R (promo 7"), 1988, USA)
GET STARTED, START A FIRE b/w GET STARTED, START A FIRE (edit) (**) (???)
(RCA 8336-1-RD (promo 12"), 1988, USA)

- "Ordinary Girl" later also was included on the "Best Of Graham Parker 1988 - 1991" CD (RCA 66097, USA) and on the Buddha and Universal reissues of "The Mona Lisa's Sister."


DON'T LET IT BREAK YOU DOWN (remix by John Agnello, 3:35) (**) b/w DON'T LET IT BREAK YOU DOWN (remix by John Agnello, 3:35) (**)
(RCA 8685-1-RDAA (promo 12"), 1988, USA)


I'M JUST YOUR MAN b/w I DON'T KNOW
(Demon 7" and promo-7" D 1059P, 7/1988, UK)

- I also have a copy of this single with issue number D 1058P that has a wrong B-side, a non GP song by Thin White Rope called "Macy's Window," though "I Don't Know" is claimed as the B-side on the label.


CUPID b/w BLUE HIGHWAYS
(Demon 7" and promo-7" D 1061P, 11/1988, UK)


BIG MAN ON PAPER b/w EVERYTHING GOES / SUGAR GIVES YOU ENERGY / DADDY'S A POSTMAN / GREEN MONKEYS / EVERYTHING GOES REPRISE
(RCA promo 12" and promo CD-single 9144-2-RDJ, 1989, USA)


EVERYTHING GOES (lengthened Version, 3:28) (*) b/w THAT THING IS ROCKIN' (*)
(RCA 9178-1-RDAB (promo 12") and 9178-2-RDJ (promo CD-single), 1990, USA)

- The A-side adds an extra verse at the end. The B-side also was available on the US-RCA "Best Of" CD. Both songs were included as bonus tracks to the UMC reissue of "Human Soul."


THE KID WITH THE BUTTERFLY NET / STRONG WINDS / GUARDIAN ANGELS / MUSEUM OF STUPIDITY (*) / WRAPPING PAPER
(Demon GP12/1 (12") and GPCD1 (CD-EP), 1991, UK)

- "Museum Of Stupidity" originates from the Demon UK vinyl issue of "Struck By Lightning" and now can be found on the Rhino "Anthology."


RELEASE ME (edit, 3:36) (**)
(Capitol promo CD-single DPRO 79390, 1992, USA)
RELEASE ME (edit, 3:37) (**) / PLATINUM BLONDE / SHORT MEMORIES
(Demon CD-single GPCD2, 8/92, UK)

- In my ears the "Release Me" edit is just a shorter version of the song.


HERE IT COMES AGAIN / SUBSTITUTE (*) / CLASS ACT (*)
(Capitol C2 0777 7 15939 2 5 (CD-single), 1992, USA)

- The cover of the Who's "Substitute" is was available as a hidden bonus track on the Demon UK CD release of "Burning Questions." Both "Substitute" and "Class Act" now can be found on "The Official Art Vandelay Tapes" and on the UMC reissue of "Burning Questions."


CHRISTMAS CRACKER EP: CHRISTMAS IS FOR MUGS (*) / NEW YEAR'S REVOLUTION (*) / SOUL CHRISTMAS (duet with Nona Hendryx) (*) / CHRISTMAS IS FOR MUGS (demo) (**) / NEW YEAR'S REVOLUTION (demo) (**) / SOUL CHRISTMAS (demo) (**)
(Dakota Arts CD-EP 1104 40001 2, 11/29/1994, USA)
(Demon CD-EP, 12/1994, UK)

- The three non-demo versions can also be found on the "No Holding Back" three CD box from Demon.

From the GP Q&A #3: Jon Tiven, a noted producer/songwriter/musician, approached me about writing a Christmas song for a project that was supposed to include a number of artists doing seasonal tunes, either new, or traditional. I jumped right in and wrote a number "Soul Christmas" I think in about 5 minutes, and when Jon told me the project had fallen through I just kept right on writing and ended up with three songs, from whence came my idea to do an EP which I eventually entitled "Graham Parker's Christmas Cracker."
    I happened to be in-between deals at that time and a company that was just about to go into operation, Dakota, picked up the idea and ran with it. Unfortunately, the thing was done too late in the year and Christmas records' marketing is being planned in June, not Sept/Nov, when we were making the record, and so the whole thing slipped through the cracks. Poor old (young and ill-fated, more like) Dakota, I think, were unaware of just how poorly my records sell, and coupled with everyone involved's inexperience with the very high-powered Christmas marketing scenario, Dakota collapsed before they had really begun. Ah, it's such a kick to contribute so fundamentally to the demise of a budding corporation! I live for this stuff!

    One year later, in 1995, "New Year's Revolution" was released on the Jon Tiven produced compilation "Holiday Heroes" on Soul Purpose records. Check the album's track list and promo material.


3 HAUNTED EPISODES: DISNEY'S AMERICA / HONEST WORK / HAUNTED EPISODES
(Razor & Tie promo CD-single RTS 713, 1995, USA)


DISNEY'S AMERICA / POLLINATE / HAUNTED EPISODES
(Grapevine promo CD-single CDGPS202, 1995, UK)


GET OVER IT AND MOVE ON / IN BLOOM
(Razor & Tie promo CD-single RTS 728, 1996, USA)


5 LOOSE SCREWS: AREA 51 (IN YOUR HEART) / SEARCH ENGINE / HARRIDAN OF YORE / THE END OF FAITH / 2000 FUNERALS
(Quake CD-EP QR004, 9/2011, USA)

- An EP featuring five songs previously unavailable on any Graham Parker album. For the first time on CD: Area 51 (In Your Heart), Search Engine, The End of Faith, 2000 Funerals, plus Harridan of Yore, which was only available on the compilation album “For a Decade of Sin”.


Cloud Symbols Acoustic EP: DREAMIN’ / MAIDA HILL / EVERY SATURDAY NITE
(100% download, 12/7/2018, UK)

- Acoustic versions of three songs from the Cloud Symbols album. Digital only.


NIXON'S RULES / NIXON'S RULES EXTENDED
(100% 7" and download, 11/22/2019, UK)

- Recorded in August 2017 by Graham Parker with Mike Gent on guitar, Pete Hayes on drums and Jon Powhida on bass. More info on it in GP's blogspot.


HUMANS ARE THE MUTANT VIRUS / 3D PRINTER
(100% download, 5/2022, UK)

- Both songs written during corona lockdown and recorded in early 2022.


THEM BUGS / THE OLOGIST SONG
(Big Stir download, 6/2/2023, USA)


Thanks for their contributions to:

Kirk Anderson, Dag Balsvik, Robert Barany, Huib Beulen, Chris Friedrich, Craig Frischkorn, Moe Magid, Jim Mason, Helen Milner, Colm K. Mulcahy, Kari Niemela, Robert Ross, Eddie Thornley


Back to GP discographies