Graham Parker

Graham Parker ( born November 18, 1950 in London ) is a British musician (guitar, vocals) and songwriter.

The beginnings

Although Graham Parker already dreamed as a teenager of a career as a rock musician, he had to after finishing school first stay afloat with jobs as a gas station attendant, truck driver or a rubber hose factory. From 1970, he played in several unsuccessful bands that were touring from Spain to Morocco. 1975 Parker returned back to London, where he was the head of the Stiff label Dave Robinson gave the opportunity to record some demos. In addition, Robinson Graham Parker made ​​with the newly formed band The Rumour known from the Brinsley Schwarz (guitar ), Martin Belmont (guitar ), Andrew Bodnar ( bass), Bob Andrews ( keyboards) and Stephen Goulding (drums) existed. You should henceforth form Parkers backing band for the next five years. Graham Parker & The Rumour played an economical and guitar stressed Blue Rock, at the same time strongly mingled with soul and rhythm and blues. Especially Parker's gravelly voice gave the songs their own special intensity. This music developed mainly on the stage their special effect, so that Graham Parker & The Rumour quickly developed into one of the most popular live bands in England.

The rise

Appeared in 1976 Graham Parker's first album Howlin ' Wind, which was produced by Nick Lowe. The album bribed by both experienced and yet loose playing style of The Rumour, as well as by Parker's disturbing songs. So he figured, for example in Do not Ask Me Questions from the church, while he, the English society and its education system criticized in Back To School Days. Pain, bitterness and fear attracted like a red thread through the songs by Graham Parker & The Rumour. Howlin ' Wind and the follow-up album Heat Treatment (1976 ) were commercial failures in spite of praise and recognition by the critics. Only the EP The Pink Parker ( 1977) earned the band the first singles chart success. At the turn of Nick Lowe -produced LP Stick To Me (1977 ) Graham Parker & The Rumour surprised with poppier and more generous arrangements and were better reflected reggae elements into their music. In 1979 the album Squeezing Out ​​Sparks, which sold well and was hailed by critics as Parker's hitherto best work. Also, the double live album Parkerilla (1978) and the LP The Up Escalator (1980 ) came from the public good. The latter should Parker's final collaboration with his long-time backing band The Rumour be, from whom he separated in August 1980.

The 1980s to the present day

The early 1980s, Graham Parker settled in New York, where he recorded the album Another Grey Area (1982 ), however, for which he earned poor reviews for the first time. With The Real Macaw he could rehabilitate a year later in the trade press again. At this time, however, Graham Parker's commercial descent had begun to " critically acclaimed ". Steady Nerves (1985) and Mona Lisa 's Sister (1988 ) was his last plates that could be placed in the LP charts. Parker lost his recording contract and had to publish it on ever smaller labels his highly acclaimed albums as the gentle folky 12 Haunted Episodes (1995). His disappointment he did in 1996 made ​​known on the album Acid Bubblegum in the song Sharpening Axes, in which he sang the line " The mass is not interested in me, and I am not interested in the mass." 2007 appeared the CD Do not Tell Columbus, and Imaginary Television was published on 16 March 2010. In the film The Trouble with 40 of the year 2012, Parker had a cameo. Paul Rudd plays in this film, the owner of a record label, which is on the verge of bankruptcy, and his last hope in Graham Parker sets.

Discography

Albums

  • Howlin ' Wind (1976 )
  • Heat Treatment (1976)
  • Stick To Me (1977 )
  • Parkerilla (1978)
  • Squeezing Out ​​Sparks (1979 )
  • The Up Escalator (1980 )
  • Another Grey Area (1982 )
  • The Real Macaw (1983 )
  • Steady Nerves (1985 )
  • Mona Lisa 's Sister (1988 )
  • Live! Alone In America ( 1989)
  • Human Soul (1989 )
  • Struck By Lightning ( 1991)
  • Burning Questions ( 1992)
  • Live Alone! Discovering Japan (1993 )
  • 12 Haunted Episodes (1995 )
  • Acid Bubblegum (1996 )
  • The Last Rock ' n Roll Tour ( 1997)
  • Deepcut To Nowhere (2001)
  • Blue Highway (2003)
  • From The Front Row Live
  • Your Country (2004)
  • Songs Of No Consequence (2005)
  • The Live Vandelay (2005)
  • Yer Cowboy Boot ( 2005)
  • Do not Tell Columbus ( 2007)
  • The Vertigo Singles Collection (2008)
  • Imaginary Television ( 2010)
  • Three Chords Good ( 2012)

DVD

  • Graham Parker Live
Dave Robinson (American football) Integrated Authority File
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