– Graham Parker – Live At Hammersmith Odeon – 1982 – BBC Radio 1 –
After a number of notable but unsuccessful years fronting The Rumor, Graham Parker quit the band and went solo. It was then his fortunes changed and he achieved the success in the 80s which had eluded him in the 70s.
An influential musician from the start, Parker’s blue-collar image was very popular with Punk and New Wave audiences. And even early on he gathered considerable critical acclaim, it just didn’t translate to album sales.
But by the time of this concert on April 21, 1982, Parker was enjoying a great deal of success. His 1980 album The Up Escalator was his highest charting album and featured production by Jimmy Iovine with guest vocals by Bruce Springsteen. His follow up album, Another Grey Area had just been released and was being heavily supported by his label. Joining Parker on this concert are long-time collaborators Brinsely Schwarz on guitar George Small on keyboards and Kevin Jenkins bass with Michael Brown on drums.
Parker is still gigging around and still recording. The Rumor reunited in 2011 and recorded an album together in 2012.
The Parker/Rumour reunion continued into 2015, when their new album Mystery Glue was issued. It was followed by a short international tour, after which the reunion ended.
In April 2018, Parker signed with 100% Records, and released a brand new single titled “Dreamin'”. Later, in July 2018, Parker announced Cloud Symbols, his brand new studio album to be released on 21 September 2018. The album features Parker’s brand new backing band The Goldtops, which consists of Martin Belmont on guitar, Geraint Watkins on keyboards, Simon Edwards on bass, and Roy Dodds on drums. The album also features the Rumour Brass, making this their first appearance on a Graham Parker album since Stick to Me in 1977 and their first time working with Parker since the Squeezing Out Sparks tour in 1979. The album was initially to be produced by Neil Brockbank, but he died during the recording of the album and production duties for the rest of the album were passed onto Tuck Nelson and Parker himself.
He announced a solo, acoustic 40th Anniversary version of Squeezing Out Sparks, for an 13 April 2019 release. It also contains the non-album single, “Mercury Poisoning”.
In September 2023, Graham Parker & the Goldtops released a new studio album Last Chance to Learn the Twist. The Goldtops lineup now included drummer Jim Russell in place of Roy Dodds.
Things are still popping along.
Play loud – you survived so far.
