Graham Parker - Squeezing Out Sparks
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On this week’s episode, we take on an “angry young man” and dive headfirst into what many consider Graham Parker’s finest artistic statement, 1979’s Squeezing Out Sparks.
By 1979, Parker, backed by a fantastic group of former pub rock musicians known as the Rumour, had recorded three albums of horn-infused soulful rock and roll, when he decided he needed to take a different direction. Having changed to a more supportive label in the US, he enlisted the production talents of Jack Nietzsche, a man known for his arrangements for the girl groups produced by Phil Spector. Perhaps surprisingly, this album is stripped down, focusing on the talents of his backing band, with guitar hooks galore and music you can dance to, but with an added urgency due to Parker’s lyrics, which were remarkably biting, acerbic, and witty.
Overlooked by the music-buying public to a certain extent, but not by critics, Squeezing Out Sparks is a remarkable album by a musician at the height of his creative talent.
THINGS WE DISCUSSED ON THIS EPISODE
Brinsley Schwarz was a Pub Rock mainstay and well respected band. Brinsley Schwarz (guitars, vocals) and Bob Andrews, Piano, organ, vocals) were both in the Rumour. Brinsley Schwarz’s bass player, Nick Lowe, produced Graham Parker’s debut as well as his third LP. Watch Brinsley Schwarz performing “Hooked On Love” from their 1973 LP Please Don't Ever Change.
Graham Parker and the Rumour.
(L to R) Andrew Bodnar, Graham Parker, Brinsley Schwarz, Bob Andrews, Steve Goulding and Martin Belmont.
“Mercury Poisoning” was the first song recorded for their new US label, Arista. Originally released as a grey label promotional single to protect their new label because the song was about Parker’s disdain for his previous label, the single was eventually made available to the record-buying public by sending off the proof of purchase code on Squeezing Out Sparks.
In March of 1977, Graham Parker and the Rumour toured the UK with another horn-based outfit: Southside Johnny and the Asbury Jukes.
That same month, Graham Parker and the Rumour’s version of the Trammps single "Hold Back The Night” from The Pink Parker EP hit number 30 on the UK Singles Chart which landed them an appearance on Top of the Pops performing their
Watch Graham Parker and the Rumour (including the Rumour Brass) in all their glory performing “Stick It to Me” live in 1978.
Watch the video for “Local Girls.”
The first line of the song “Protection” quotes Sir Winston Churchill, who was in fact quoting Jonathan Swift. Here is some behind the scenes footage of Churchill in January 1950 preparing a newsreel message for the British public intended for the following month's general election where he utters those very words.
Graham Parker has played with the New York based band The Figgs off and on since 1996. They even release a live album together. Here they are performing “Turn It Into Hate” off of his 1996 LP, Acid Bubblegum.
And just for the heck of it, and because its so dang fun, here’s Graham Parker and the Figgs performing a cover of the Ramones’ “Sheena is a Punk Rocker” in 2001.
