b. 1950
English rocker who rose out of Britain's
pub scene about the same time as
Elvis Costello,
Nick Lowe,
Dave Edmunds, and
Joe Jackson.
Parker's first two albums received critical acclaim, but only marginal commercial success. Critics panned his next few efforts, but 1979's Squeezing Out Sparks met with both critical and commercial success -- rising to #18 on the British charts and #40 in the U.S. He followed up with another strong album, The Up Escalator, but rarely touched the charts again. After The Up Escalator Graham dropped his backup band, The Rumour, and began performing solo.
Of his solo works, 12 Haunted Episodes and Struck By Lightning have received the best reception.
With 1996's Acid Bubblegum Parker was back in full-fledged rock mode with a new young backup band, The Figgs. He has toured all over the world both with backup bands and solo.
Personally, I'd recommend Squeezing Out Sparks and Struck By Lightning to someone that wants to become familiar with his work.
Album - CD Releases
Howlin Wind (1976)
Heat Treatment (1976)
Old Grey Whistle Test (1977)
Stick to Me (1977)
The Pink Parker (1977) EP
The Parkerilla (1978)
Squeezing Out Sparks (1979)
The Up Escalator (1980)
High Times (1980)
Another Grey Area (1982)
The Real Macaw (1983)
It Don't Mean a Thing If It Ain't Got That Swing (1984)
Anger: Classic Performances (1985)
Pourin' It All Out: The Mercury Years (1986)
The 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)
Live On the Test (1994)
12 Haunted Episodes (1995)
Live From New York, NY (1996)
BBC Live In Concert (1996)
Acid Bubblegum (1996)
The Last Rock 'N' Roll Tour (1997)
Not If It Pleases Me (1998)
Loose Monkeys (1999)
Deep Cut To Nowhere (2001)