Search - Graham Parker & The Rumour :: Not If It Pleases Me: Live on the BBC

It pleases me.

Penguin Egg | London, England | 03/16/2002

(4 out of 5 stars)

"These songs were recorded in 1976 and 77 when Graham Parker & the Rumour were at their peak. The British Broadcasting Corporation recorded all these tracks. Half in the studio for a radio broadcast and the other half for a concert also broadcast. This CD is a timely reminded of just how good Graham Parker & the Rumour were. Parker may not have been the most powerful singer in the world (and very often his voice is drowned out by the band), but he sang his heart out with a soul inflected style that oozed passion. His main strengths lay in his song writing. Apart from Lieber and Stoller's Kansas City, all the songs are his. Like other songwriters from that period - Elvis Costello, Nick Lowe, Wreckless Eric, Steve van Zandt, - he was swinging rock music away from extended jams and focusing on actual songs, and what excellent songs he wrote: White Honey, Soul Shoes, Silly Thing, Gypsy Blood, New York Shuffle, and many others which all appear on this CD. The Rumour were the perfect foil for Parker. They match his passion with a real ability to play their instruments, especially the lead guitarist, Brinsley Schwarz, who has never played better than on this album. Listen to his blistering guitar on Soul Shoes or his Cooderesque accompaniment on Back Door Love to see what I mean. Graham Parker & the Rumour were always under-rated. Maybe this CD will rekindle interest in him. I hope so."

Should've Been Bigger Than Elvis Costello

Russell D. Melling | Coatesville, Indiana | 11/24/2009

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Rock and Rock is full of stories of artists who should've made it big and Graham Parker is one of them. A fiery Brit from South London with a raspy, soul-tinged voice, and a first rate back up band.

These BBC records made during the White Honey/Heat Treatment period, proved that Parker had all of the power and passion of the greats of rock and roll royalty."