![]() ![]() The CD reissue is packaged with Live Sparks, originally available onlyĪs a promotional item, which gathers together concert performances from twoĭates on the 1979 tour. The song opens with theĭid they tear it out with talons of stealĪnd give you a shot so that you didn't feelĭon't give it a name, don't give it a face Gripping song filled with disturbing imagery. Some, I don't see any political message here. Ill-fated romantic encounter ultimately leading to an abortion. The emotional heart of this albumĪnd perhaps Parker's best song ever, is a very moving ballad, 'You Can'tīe Too Strong.' The singer is relating a very personal tale of an There is not a weak track on this recording, though 'Discovering Japan,' 'Passion is No Ordinary Word' and 'Nobody Hurts You' areĪbsolutely sublime. ![]() The album contains several great rockers, the best of them including, Jackson was something of a hit (I believe the only one of his career). 'Local Girls,' which sounds very much like early Elvis C or Joe Traces of R&B, represented a substantial departure from his previous Reggae-inspired choppy rhythms of the New Wave Era with only minimal ![]() Squeezing Out Sparks, easily his best album, was produced by legendary Though I understand that several of his recent recordings are quite I think the last Parker album that I bought was the Real Macaw, His later (post Sparks)Īlbums were much less impressive and I stopped paying attention aroundġ985. Still appealing rendition a few years later). Tear Your Playhouse Down' (compare with Paul Young's much lamer, yet 'The Heat in Harlem,' 'Soul on Ice,' and a ferocious cover of 'I'm Going to It features some of his greatest songs including Was a little over the top and received lukewarm critical appraisal, but These 2 recordings rival (and probably surpass) the best of MinkĭeVille (a similarly inclined great vocalist of that era). Morrison inspired (from Them to Tupelo Honey) angst filled passionate R Hisįirst three studio recordings Howling Wind, Heat Treatment, and Stick Song which became something of his signature tune prior to Sparks). His first album) and 'Don't Ask me Questions' (a less than magnificent Only heard two songs on the radio, 'Fools Gold' (a magnificent song off Squeezing Out Sparks was my first real exposure to Parker and inspired I was a huge Graham Parker fan for a few years till the mid 1980s. Pub rock groups such as Brinsley SchwarzĪnd Ducks Deluxe (featuring Nick Lowe) played stripped down workingĬlass roots rock at a time when glam rockers such as T-Rex and Davidīowie (circa Ziggy Stardust) dominated the UK music scene. Veterans pub rockers, most of whom played in a band led by (Rumour Those other bands with the possible exception of Rockpile. The Rumour, his backup band on most of hisįirst 6 or 7 albums were much tighter and better musicians than any of Magnificent album that ranks with Clash's London Calling and maybeĮlvis Costello's first album as the best recordings of an era filled Of my favorite albums of the first Punk Rock/New Wave era. I originally bought it on LP when it came out in 1979 (I was 18 or 19) and it is one I recently picked up the new (1996) CD reissue of Graham Parker's Squeezing Out Sparks. Graham Parker's Squeezing Out Sparks by Dave Kaufman (November 1997) ![]()
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