In an ideal world Graham Parker would be as feted and recognised as both Elvis Costello and Joe Jackson, two other singers from the New Wave with whom he often compared, yet his recording career predates both of them. “Hey Lord, Don’t Ask Me Questions” is a solid gold classic, and when I saw him support Dylan at the Hammersmith Odeon back in 1991 someone shouted out for that from the audience and his face just lit up. “I do requests!” he shouted and went straight into it. To be honest, Dylan was awful that night, and Parker was the one saving grace (that and discovering Thunder were coming again soon so I bought tickets for that show at the box office as soon as they announced it).

Although he departed from The Rumour in the early Eighties, they did get back together some years back, but for the last few years he has been working with a new band, and this is the second to be credited to Graham Parker & The Goldtops (bassist Simon Edwards, drummer Jim Russell, guitarist Martin Belmont and keyboard player Geraint Watkins) with frequent contributions from the Easy Access Orchestra horns and backing vocal duo The Lady Bugs. This is an album straight from the days when artists released what they wanted with no considerations whatsoever for commerciality, just writing the songs which came naturally to them. Influenced by the likes of Dylan, yet with a New Wave approach to music combined with a deep love of traditional soul, it is an incredibly diverse album with Graham’s acoustic guitar and heartfelt vocals at the core of everything. Parker has always had a deft control of the English language, and his lyrics are always incredibly important. It feels as if he comes to the studio with the vocals and guitar completed and the rest of the band then add their pieces, as the songs are already fully formed, and the guys are there to add nuances. When I saw him it was just him and an acoustic, and even on his first album back in 1976, “Between You and Me” was actually his demo as The Rumour could not do anything better.

This is a polished release, but it is also a raw outpouring from someone who is timeless, bringing in elements from the Sixties (love the electric twang on “Lost Track of Time”), and is all the better for it. Although he is now in his seventies, Parker is still releasing music full of angst and passion, packed with lyrics which show his sharp insights into the world around him. Long may it continue.

Rating: 8/10

Links:
https://www.grahamparker.net
https://www.bigstirrecords.com/