Hi Everyone,

Hope you are all enjoying your summer vacations and that wherever you are the sun is shining. Being England it hasn't shone that much but today it is BEAUTIFUL. Lots and lots of news for you, so here goes .....

As we all know Graham Parker has just finished his long touring schedule. It included UK, Europe and USA and Canada. Hope lots and lots of you made it to a gig near your town. Lots of people have written to me saying how much they enjoyed the concerts and I have also been sent some reviews from all over the World - some of these are set out below and on the following pages:

EDINBURGH I would also be very thankful if you could convey my many many thanks to G.P. and the band for their recent return to the "gig" scene. I am of course referring to Sunday night in Edinburgh at the Playhouse. The set was played with such a fervour and intensity that I have not enjoyed myself at a gig in a long while. My only dissapointment of the whole night was waking up the next morning wondering how long it will be before we can expect another cracker of a gig like we had seen the night before. Yours excitedly Fan Club Member Roy Stutt
	BRISTOL LOCARNO: MAY 13TH HAVING JUST returned from the cancelled Soul Dynamight show at the Brixton 'Fair' Deal (Wilson Pickett may you rot in hell!) I was suitably geared up for a night of no holding back from Graham. Like most fans, I suspect, I'm dissapointed that he is now using session musicians - Carlos Alomar looked like he'd just arrived from a Kraftwerk video. Graham seemed nervous and anxious early on but soon started pouring it all out after the excellent 'Nobody Hurts You' and 'Jolie Jolie'. By the end Graham was really going for it and the audience readily responded by calling him back for three encores climaxing with a superb 'Endless Night'. Although I still miss the horn section it was a great show and the new material came across a lot better than on record. What's more Graham actually looked to be enjoying himself which was a relief after reading recent interviews. Mark Hollingsworth. Fan Club Member
SOUTHAMPTON Also tell Graham his concert in Southampton was excellent, and that his band were one of the best I've ever seen. Yours faithfully Fan Club Member J. Sharp

Welcome waiting Graham Parker, Odeon, New Street, Birmingham Birmingham fans have not forgotten Graham Parker, despite the fact that he has not toured for more than two years. Nor should they - for he thoroughly deserved the warm welcome here. The Rumour, his former band, have gone and have been replaced by five top backing musicians who turned on a tight show that lasted an hour and a half. Parker himself, thin, with a receding hairline and the sort of anonymous features which mean that probably no one would recognise him without the dark glasses makes a riveting front-man on stage. Comparisons with Elvis Costello are inevitable. Elvis may have become the big star, while Parker remained more of a cult figure. But for my money he is by far the better performer. The show was a mix of old favourites and new material from Another Grey Area, his latest album which he put together during last year in America. The latest single, Temporary Beauty, was one of the highlights. Like the best Graham Parker songs, itgrows on you slowly - but then you find you can't get it out of your head. But there was enough older material to satisfy the most ardent fan, the sound was cryslal clear, and the harmonies strong, balancing Parker's powerful vocals. The crowd were on their feet right from the start, and brought the band back for two encores, which evidently delighted Parker. He has them joining in enthusiastinally to Stupefaction and Don't Ask Me Questions to end the night. JACKIE BAILEY BIRMINGHAM EVENING MAIL, APRIL 7	CHICAGO SUN-TIMES, MAY 17 Asia plays it safe, while Parker plays it only way he can Thursday night, there was plenty of the best of Parker, from the rousing version of "Discovering Japan" that opened the show to the riveting encore of "Don't Ask Me Questions" that finished it. Of the more familiar material, "Passion Is No Ordinary Word" bristled with bone-slashing immediacy, while "Heat Treatment" simply burned. As for the newer songs, from his vastly underrated "Another Grey Area" album, "Dark Side of the Bright Lights" was a particular standout, showing Parker's voice at its most supple without sacrificing any insistence.
PETER OLLERENSHAW FROM SHEFFIELD REVIEWS - MANCHESTER APOLLO APRIL 3 Three friends and I went across to Manchester to see the GP concert on April 3rd and I thought that you and perhaps the fan club members might like to share my reflections on the concert. By the time John Watts and band came on stage (7.45) the Apollo was still about half full but despite this he gave a good performance mixing new songs with some from his past with Fischeer-Z. However with the Apollo now full and well and truly warmed up the lights went down and on they came. A brief tune- up and straight into Discovering Japan. Graham sporting new flying V guitar and flanked by the new band is still in fine voice. The excellent set consisted of all the songs from Another Grey Area and a sprinkling of earlier songs such as the welcome rendition of White Honey. After about one hour and fifteen minutes the set proper was over but much enthusiasm brought him back for Stupefaction, Endless Night and Hey Lord Don't Ask Me Questions. Introductions of the band (which Graham informs us is called "THE ENGLISH BOYS FROM WINDSOR") brought particularly loud cheers for Brinzley. As for highlights, it was all fantastic with my particular favourites being Love Without Greed, Another Grey Area, Passion Is No Ordinary Word, Howlin Wind and Big Fat Zero plus the aforementioned encores. My only disappointment was that the concert ended. Peter..
RUMOUR HAS FLOWN, BUT PARKER STILL SPARKLES The new band featuring Rumour holdover Brinsley Schwarz and former Bowie ally Carlos Alomar on guitars, better showcases Parker because the arrangements are-more tailored, allowing the nuances in Parker's music to be experienced. As a result, you leave the concert feeling you've sampled Parker's artistry as welt as his passion. If he can figure out how to restore both elements to his records, Parker may finally break through to the wider audience he has so long deserved. SAN FRANCISCO L.A. TIMES

The only way I thought to find out what was happening with GP at this very moment was to go and visit him. We arranged everything and chose the same day to meet in London as the IRA had chosen to blow the place to bits !! Nothing happened to me (well the bus I was travelling on was diverted around Regents Park, that bomb had just gone off, and got lost and refused to go any further, then a guy who was travelling on the bus decided that he would be 'bus driver' and at that point I got off, after missing the bomb I didn't fancy being in a bus crash..... I got lost after that and eventually got to GP an our late... That's all nothing too exciting, oh and the car's steering wasn't quite up to form, but that's another story.) After reviving myself we settled down to have a chat and GP wrote a few lines for you all .......

Hi.

     GP here. Just been chatting to Iris about the tour and telling her how much I enjoyed being on stage again. I also gave her one or two anecdotes that she will relay to you in the newsletter. If there are smudges on this postcard it's because I'm eating Guacamole and Nachos which are types of Mexican food.

See you, GTParker

The Mexican food was delicious (prepared for us by Jolie) and as GP says there were a few 'Tour' stories to tell you. Every tour has a catch phrase, well most anyway, this tour was no exception, Graham would wake up in the morning and scream 'YODEL HEADS' and this stuck so then everyone everywhere became a Yodel Head..

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In NEW YORK There were touts selling tickets outside the Ritz at twice their proper price. Graham Parker who was with Jolie and Manager Alan Parsons were trying to get in the front door, GP took his glasses off and one of the touts, not recognising him, asked him and Alan if they wanted tickets,... I wonder if the tout ever found out who he was !!

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Also in America in ST. LOIS GP and Lighting Technician Mill Rakik got lost on their way to the venue, again Graham took off his famous spex and followed the crowds of people that 'looked' as though they were going to a GP concert .... Did you think that you saw Graham Parker and wasn't sure - it probably was him .....

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Road Managers: Ernie & Kenny

The picture of Graham and Carlos and the picture on the right was taken by Sahra Beaumont who crossed the channel to see Graham and 'The Boys from Windsor' in action in PARIS - She says that the show was fantastic and she really enjoyed meeting Graham and the boys after the show. Ernie and Kenny (pictured right) were caught taking a break after the show, it looks as though they needed one too!!

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The story from STOCKHOLM - SWEDEN was that the travel agent had completely messed up the Hotel bookings and upon their arrival in Stockholm Graham and the Band found their accommodation was to be a conference room. It was quite a large one holding about twenty beds but when you are used to a room of your own (especially as GP's wife was with him) it was a bit of a shock. However it turned out that everyone, in the end really enjoyed themselves, Graham was woken at 5 am (after being asleep only for a short while) by Brinsley and Kevin picking on the sleeping Michael Braun, GP thought that he would brighten things up by starting an ice fight. This turned into a pillow fight etc. etc.... Eventually everyone settled down and got some shut eye before getting up at 7 a.m. to go back on the road..

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A number of people have written in to me saying that they missed seeing GP in BERLIN. It turns out that President Reagan had decided to go to Berlin the same time as GP and a peaceful demonstration turned into one that was not so peaceful with the police throwing tear gas everywhere. Members of Graham's road and lighting crews were trapped with the equipment in the Metropole, the venue was in the middle of the demonstration area. Eventually when things died down the crews managed to escape with the equipment.

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Due to bad storms in BOLOGNE-ITALY at the time Graham and the band were due to play there, the gig was called off. The only gig the Promoter could offer GP instead was as support to Rory Gallagher - not being quite their cup of tea they turned it down. The Promoter then finds out that 'the Gang of 4' had pulled out as support to 'The Police' in Milan so the Promoter offered the gig to GP which he accepted straight away and ended up playing an amazing set in front of 50,000 people, they really went down a storm as well as they did in '79 when GP and the Rumour supported The Police at the Rockpalast in Germany.

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The last story to tell you is when Graham was on holiday in Cannes he was swimming in the sea and was wondering why it was slightly empty. He casually noticed people on the shore waving and shouting and thought it was a bit odd then found out what it was all about, he was bitten by a jelly fish !! They had been trying to warn him about the fish with all the yelling and waving - after being treated at the Police Station, that's where they keep emergency treatments for jelly fish stings, all was well........

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- Photograph taken at Hammersmith Odeon by Michael Laake - Surbiton -

RECORDS

In the last Newsletter I passed comment on rotten reviews by Alan Jones and Company. Here it is for those that missed it, with a letter in answer written by Ian Fox who has since joined the Fan Club .....

WIN!

COMPETITION TIME AGAIN - all you have to do this time is to take a photograph colour or black and white depicting Graham Parker's song title "Paralyzed". (it's not completely my idea, a variation on someone else's) For a bonus prize (GP's suggestion) take another photograph and GP will decide which of his songs this picture depicts!!

* Prizes *      * Prizes *      * Prizes *      * Prizes *      * Prizes *      * Prizes *      * Prizes *      * Prizes *      * Prizes *

The first prize for "Paralyzed" will be a live tape recorded at Hammersmith Odeon, London which was broadcast on Radio 1 on June 6th by the BBC. Also runners up will receive a copy of the single 'No More Excuses' B side 'You Hit the Spot' and 'Another Grey Area' (Live Versions), released 4 weeks ago on RCA 243. The prize for the mystery photo will be a surprise !! (don't forget to write on a seperate piece of paper what song the picture depicts so that I can judge GP for you!). Send your entries in an envelope marked 'Competition' to me as soon as you can so that we can find a winner in time for the next newsletter due out in November. All entries will be judged by Graham Parker. Now is the time to finish off those last bits of film from holiday, so get clicking......

A lot of people have been writing to me, from all over the World asking where they can get copies of GP's old and rare album's and singles. The only suggestion I have is to go to the Record Fairs or second Hand record shops or write to the address opposite and maybe they can help you.

<-------<-------<-------

Another item in demand is videos - Greg Turnbull from Sunderland is interested in in any videos you may have of GP that you wish to swop/sell or just loan so he can copy them (he has the facilities). Contact him at: 29 Rockville, Fulwell, Sunderland, Tyne & Wear, England.

G. Parker «another grey area» (RCA) Gli ultimi due anni sono costati molto a Graham Parker, uno dei musicisti più amnirati e validi della nuova Inghilterra. In qesto lasso di tempo trascorso dopo l'incisione dell'ultimo gioiellino «the up escalator» (1980), Parker ha perso i Rumours, sua band da ormai dieci anni, passata alla corte di mr. Garland Jeffreys, e si e quindi trovato a dover ricostruire dal niente una band. Inciso al Record Plant di New York, «Another grey area», settimo album in ordine cronologico, continua la tradizione Parkeriana, pur aggiustando il tiro verso bersagli un tantino differenti da quelli degli anni passati. La nuova lineup, probabilmente provvisoria, comprende Nicky Hopkins al piano (onnipresente), George Small alle tastiere, Hugh McCraken alla chitarra, David Brown pure alla chitarra, Doug Stegmeyer al basso, Michael Braun alla batteria, più Jack Douglas, Paul Prestopino e Kurt McGettrick come guests. «Another grey area», propone canzoni tutte uscite dalla magica penna di Graham Parker, e, pur denotando una lucidita sempre viva, manca forse di quella grinta «animalesca» che da sempre aveva contraddistinto i lavori di Parker. L'uso costante del piano e forse l'elemento che ha addolcito oltre misura un tipo di suono da sempre vissuto sulla grinta dei Rumours e sulla genialita compositiva di Parker. Abbiamo l'impressione che certe songs sarebbero potute essere suonate con piglio piü deciso, dando alla musica quella carica necessaria er fare di un buon prodotto come «Another grey area» un grandissimo disco. Mancando il pezzo di spicco come «Don't ask me questions» o «Devil sidewalks», «Another grey area» punta con buoni risultati ad una omogeneitä tra i brani. Uno degli episodi più azzeccati in assoluto ci sembra «You kit the spot», un funky reggae stile Johansen e nipotini. Ottimo pure il piglio pianistico di «Its all worth nothing alone», Clapton insegna, il reggae di «crying for attention» e «another grey area», il calipso di «thakless task». Se «Fear not» e «big fas hero» riportano al tipico modello sonoro di Parker, le altre canzoni sono un tantino leggerine. Per Graham Parker, «Another grey area», pur essende un buon album, e un album di transizione; speriamo che il nostro lo dimostri coi fatti in un vicino futuro. Fabio nosotti This article from Italy's l'ultimo Buscadero 'Rock Magazine April 5 - was sent in by Daniele Ghisoni. No translation - get your phrase books out !! .................. Where are they now ...................... Andrew Bodnar: Has been working with Wreckless Eric and recently auditioning with The Pretenders and the Thompson Twins. Also recently passed his driving test .... look out. Steve Golding: Is also very busy at the moment working with The Associates and also recently spotted on Top of the Pops drumming for Roxy Music. Bob Andrews: Working with and producing artistes on Stiff Records. Martin Belmont: Has been busy touring and recording with Carlene Carter and Nick Lowe. Brinsley Schwartz: Recently finished touring with GP and is resting and fishing at the moment.

MANEDENS SINGLE   GRAHAM PARKER: Temporary Beauty (RCA) Det er herlig ä hore Parker igjen. Som stemmen til en savnet venn. En som virkelig betyr noe. "Temporary Beauty" er en midtempo ballade, med en sterk melodi, som tikker avgarde. Parker gjor-varmusikk. Singelen fikk det til a smelte utenfor vinduet mitt. En hel LP kan kanskje jage denne bedritne vinteren for godt. Parker Got Soul. The above article does come with translation done and sent in by Dag Balsvik - Norway. "Wonderful to hear Parker again. Like the voice of a missed friend. One that you reailly care for. Temporrary Beauty is a midtempo ballad, with a strong melody. Parker's making springtime music. The single made the snow outside my window melt. A full album might chase away this damned winter. Parker got soul.

MAILORDER

We have limited supplies of the following items, owing to the short supply it will have to be a first come first served basis.

Posters   Big black/white photo one side and colour the other 'Another Grey Area' Tour '82. $1.00 / £0.50 each      p&p -       20p UK 50p Eur $1.50 USA

Badges   Triangular enamell 'Another Grey Area' Tour '82. £0.50 each      p&p -       16p UK 20p Eur $1.50 each inc. p&p

Book   'The Great Trouser Mystery' by Graham Parker. $3.00 / £1.75 each      p&p -       60p UK £1.80 Eur $5.00 USA

   Clearance Items:

Programmes   10 only    GP's tour in 1977 with Southside Johnny & the Ashbury Jukes. £0.50 each      p&p -       20p UK 50p Eur $2.00 each inc. p&p

That is all the mail order offers for the moment, we are trying to get some more photographs and some new sweatshirts together in time for the next newsletter, more news then on that.

Graham Parker You have to do your best to come up to par Come straight off the production line like a car, Til everything you put on is a put-on, And you don't know who's face you're gazing upon Could be anyone you're sending out there tonight, It isn't any wonder all the lights are too bright Chorus And (baby) you need temporary beauty And hope to God that it doesn't rain You need temporary beauty Even though it might be love in vain The world is full of little people like you They have to read a book to learn what to do They hang around in second-hand stores for clothes And every kind of pressure steps on their toes Love doesn't fall out of a magazine You mustn't always believe what you see Repeat chorus Ah, ah, ah, ah, temporary beauty Ah, ah, ah, ah, temporary beauty Ah, ah, ah, ah, temporary beauty You might be the sweetest little girl in your heart But still the world ignores that and tears you apart You think of the parties you'll never attend You dream of someone who's more than a friend Love doesn't jump out of a magazine You mustn't always believe what you see Repeat chorus to fade Words and music by Graham Parker Reproduced by permission Street Music Ltd. On RCA Records

At last I have copies of lyrics for the following albums: 'Howlin Wind' 'Stick to Me' 'Heat Treatment' 'Squeezing Out Sparks' 'Up Escalator' 'Another Grey Area' At the moment these are copies - maybe at a later date we can have them printed in a booklet of sorts. Prices are as follows: - 60c/30p each album 20p p&p UK 30p p&p Eur. $1 p&p USA or $2/£1.50 all albums 35p p&p UK £1 p&p Eur. $2 p&p USA *    *    *    *    *    *    *    *    *    * MEMBERSHIP - MEMBERSHIP - MEMBERSHIP 617 711 739 706 050 104 720 730 015 085 292 045 237 008 731 351 320 197 411 719 078 120 065 298 250 305 709 300 145 119 712 099 062 718 717 117 607 732 733 251 168 135 322 243 If your number appears above - your time is up (please ignore this if you have recently renewed your membership). Please join us again for another year. Let me have your name address and membership number when you write. Cheques/PO for £2.00 ($3.00) made out to Iris Wolfe/for GP fan club. In return I will send you something to go with the items you first received when you joined.

That's all the news and information I have for you at the moment. Graham's manager here in London told me today that GP has returned to New York and is busy writing new material and hopefully we will see the start of a new album by the end of the year.

If you come across any interesting information on GP in your country send it on and I will try and use it in a Newsletter. (I had a letter from Israel today !!)

We have had quite a few new members join us recently - Welcome - Hope you like the newsletter, drop me a line with any new ideas that you may have.

Don't forget to re-join if your membership expires before the end of November. More goodies are on the way.....

NL5/Aug '82

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