RCA Records Label
Graham Parker's 1988 release
of THE MONA LISA'S SISTER and subsequent US tour with his band
well-received critical acclaim throughout the country.
In the fall of that year,
Graham, wishing to continue to perform, decided to try a solo
acoustic tour for the first time in his life. The decision was
made after Graham met John Hiatt at a Marti Jones showcase appearance
at the Bottom Line. Hiatt shared his thoughts about the advantages
and pleasures of touring solo. Parker remembers thinking, "'I
should have a go at that.' People are always shouting out songs
I don't perform anymore like 'Hotel Chambermaid' and 'Lady Doctor.'
Doing them solo would give the songs new life."
That tour resulted in the
album GRAHAM PARKER/LIVE! ALONE IN AMERICA, a live recording
of his concert at the Theater of Living Arts in Philadelphia,
PA, in last October by Westwood One. Included are three new songs:
"Soul Corruption," "3 Martini Lunch" and "Durban
Poison." Also featured are Parker classics such as "White
Honey" and "You Can't Be Too Strong" and Graham's
version of Sam Cooke's "A Change Is Gonna Come.
We hope you enjoy listening
to Graham Parker's LIVE! ALONE IN AMERICA.
Best wishes,
Publicity Department
212/930-4340
213/468-4123
Reviews
"In the smoky club atmosphere
of Graffiti last night, Graham Parker pulled off a solo performance
that proved he doesn't need his back-up band to pound out his
timeless, angry message.
..."The new-found confidence
radiated from his performance last night. Complete with sunglasses,
vest and low-slung acoustic guitar, Parker easily cut through
the smoke with a well-rounded set list and his accomplished command
over the guitar ... For starters, he went back to his roots for
the chugging "White Honey" from "Howlin Wind,"
then wasted no time in jumping 12 years ahead into the spunky,
reggae-based "The Girl Isn't Ready." Both tunes came
off with force, quickly dispelling the idea that the solo performance
may limit Parker's ability to define the different time periods."
-- Michael Levans, The Pittsburgh Press (Pittsburgh, PA)
"...This latest decision
to tour in a guitar-only context is a back-to-school-days move
that suggests that Parker's self-reliance is at its peak. Indeed,
the one-time pub-rocker had all his assets with him at the University
of Rhode Island. In order of importance: songs, delivery, voice.
Those are the prerequisites for any singer/songwriter, and Parker's
true stance as such became obvious as he strummed through tunes
old and new. Yet it was impossible to mistake this solo trip
for a lighthearted folkie phase; Parker may have started with
an acoustic instrument, but the level of intensity rose as he
progressed up the volume scale ... And when Graham Parker begins
to feel at ease, he can really make you sweat."
-- Jim Macnie, The Newspaper (Providence, RI)
"... So, it made sense
for him to appear at a relatively small venue, and the full house
was treated to an intimate and focused solo performance by Parker
which touched upon his whole career ... it was clear that Parker
was mentally into the evening from the opening track -- a great
version of his early track 'White Honey' where his playfully raspy
croon was matched with plain acoustic strumming ... It all culminated
in a triumphant version of his Rumour-days classic 'You Can't
Be Too Strong.' By this evening-ending song, the audience was
ready to believe their long-suffering hero when he sang 'I ain't
gonna cry; I'm gonna rejoice.' After such a triumphant return
on his own terms, everyone was, in fact, legitimately rejoicing
with Graham Parker."
-- Wilfred Langmaid, Daily Gleaner (Toronto, Canada)
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