Graham Parker And His Rumours have a new album out! It’s called Mystery Glue! Everything’s fine so far. Here’s the PR release, or some of it:
“Written in Parker’s second home of New York and recorded in just six days in the legendary RAK Studios in London, Mystery Glue is a real return to form for this seminal British songwriter and powerhouse band, which features its original lineup of Parker, Bob Andrews, Brinsley Schwarz, Martin Belmont, Andrew Bodnar and Stephen Goulding.”
Hurrah! Or, not. The “form” I remember is passionate. Parker: pissed-off and spitting about something. Didn’t matter what. This isn’t a return to that. This is a collection of mid-paced songs that would sit cosily next to late-career sessions from Nick Lowe, Mark Knoplfler … any of these geriatric UK rockers nodding out wistfully in the twilight of their years. There’s an audience for this, and it’ll be gratefully received by them. They may even flap a hand weakly on their rug-covered knees. But the list of things Parker can (and should) be pissed off with is getting longer as he grows older. He should be a cantankerous old git, snarling at the new doctor down the clinic, railing at the council, arguing with the “young people” in their baggy clothes. But he’s this mid-paced “mature artiste”, surrounding himself with some of the most competently boring and underachieving musicians in the universe (‘powerhouse” MY ARSE), damn his eyes. When he picks up the kazoo on the “jokey” last track he’s outstayed his welcome. Get the fuck angry again, Graham, or fuck the fuck off.
The other Nostalgia Biscuit on today’s Tea Tray Of Music is John Lodge’s latest album, 10,000 Light Years Ago. Older readers (hi, Mike!) will remember that the Moody Blues were indeed formed 10,000 light years ago. Fellow Moodies Ray Thomas and Mystical Mike Pinder join him on his second solo outing, the last being 1977’s Natural Avenue. So he hasn’t exactly been in a rush. Entire civilisations have risen and fallen in the interim. Google Glass has come and gone. The Sinclair C5 is no more. But the album sounds very much like a Moodies album from back when your hair was still good in the back, which is no bad thing. The closest he gets to rap is Pinder’s Otherworldly Versifying at the start of the title track, which is mercifully brief. Chris Spedding’s guitar soars over swathes of Mellotron. The swivel-eyed intern at his PR company writes “John Lodge has painted a variety of moods on a fine musical canvas” which sounds like an authentic Roy Carr review, and it’s true! There’s an obligatory “good time rock” number, a couple of ballads, some not-quite ballads, and the “light-hearted” track eschews the kazoo (FFS, Parker!) for tasty ‘twenties violin. Even the couple of songs I thought were shite I find forgiveable after a couple of spins, and the best of this is really very bloody nice indeed. The album, incredibly, is THIRTY MINUTES LONG. Perhaps he had to go for a nap or something. Maybe he’ll wake up and finish it sometime, but if he doesn’t, he’s left us with a very creditable piece of work. His voice is fine, even once reaching his trademark falsetto. Production is full and detailed, not just five old mates strumming behind him in the studio (FFS, Parker!).
So there you have it. As you were.
Completely with you on GP – such a sad, sad record.
But dear god, John Lodge. Listened to one third of it before I died.
“10,000 Light Years” is never going to make my Top 100 albums, but for what it is, and the circumstances that produced it, it’s not going to disappoint Moodies fans, and I suppose I’m one. Its faults are more the faults that are inherent to “this sort of music” rather than this particular album. For those that like this sort of thing, this is the sort of thing they like. I can’t see the Parker album pleasing anybody but the most easily-pleased.
“A return to form” 4 words to cause you to approach with caution.
The Kiss Of Death. Like Jeff Beck in that respect.
A light year is a measure of distance not of time (don’t you watch The Big Bang Theory?). From my point of view, I do wish The Moddy Blues were formed 10,000 light years away. Then, I may never have heard them.
I’ll Go Now.
Congratulations! You have won the Smart Trout award for rising to the cleverly embedded bait. Don’t dig the Magnificent Moodies, Tig? Surprised, and yes, disappointed. Fine band.
I much prefer GP. I don’t need any more than his first few albums, though. Do I ?
I’ve only kept three- Howlin’ Wind, Heat Treatment, and Squeezing Out Sparks. They’re great. The first seven or so Moodies albums are consistently good.
The only useful purpose I can see for The Moddies is to send me to sleep &, currently, I have no problem getting off to sleep. It’s just the nightmares that wake me in the small hours, drenched in a pool of cold sweat, as though I have been lying on a mortary slab and all the ooze has settled with gravity.
Fuckin` hell Tigger, first you`re suffocated then you`re sent to sleep and have nightmares and in danger of drowning in your own sweat. Don`t fuckin` listen if you don`t like it and stick to that MC Hammer stuff that you do like.
Me I love the Moodies but it`s a pity about GP though, I was looking forward to that, I don`t think I`ll bother now.
No. You misunderstand me. My nightmares are an everyday thing. Sorry, every night. The Blues would rock me off to sleep if I did take the trouble to listen but they don’t bring on the nightmares.
As it is, I have no use for a Blues album as I get off to sleep quite promptly, thank you. So, yes, I don’t fucking listen.
I’ve just dug out Squeezing Out Sparks. I remember, at the time, being disappointed GP’s spiky edges were sanded off by the glossy production. As Saucepot suggests, he is at his best rough-arsed and unreasonable. However, it sounds pretty good to my old ears today.
I’m a big fan of The Up Escalator. It has ‘The Beating Of Another Heart’ on it. One of his best songs. Plus ‘Endless Night’, a nice duet with Springsteen.
That’s a good one.
I think it’s so good that I’d have struggled to pick out it’s highlights. But, although I think it’s GPs last great album, there’s at least another great compilation from his more recent albums, there are several fine tracks on The Mona Lisa’s Sister and Don’t Tell Columbus. If they hadn’t been so stupidly cheap on EMusic I would probably never have heard them but that would certainly have been my loss.
The odd thing about claiming the new one (which I haven’t heard yet) is a return to form rather denigrates the 2013 GP & The Rumour album which I thought was rather good.
@johnw I liked the previous GP/Rumour album as well, the only bad point was the cover. This new one sounds good also.
Personally I want GP, John Hiatt, Tom Petty etc. to keep churning out similar sounding albums, always happy to listen.
Perhaps the album should be called 10,000 Light Years Away, but because light travels at err the speed of light, it takes 10,000 years to travel from an object 10,000 light years away. We see the object as it was 10,000 years ago.
That`s what I thought, but where is it?
Millions and millions to choose from.
http://www.atlasoftheuniverse.com/nebclust.html
(Nebulae / star clusters within 10,000 light years)
Oh, I thought you was on about a particular one.
I will ignore the snidey GP references, at the same time cautiously ignoring any temptation to check it out for myself: his 2013 LP was a decent enough curtain call to his catalogue. Hell, everyone has put out a shite album too hastily*, no doubt urged on by agents and promoters. (Personally I’d add anything by a Blue Moody as too soon also.)
*Now there’s a thread for ya!!
Actually, Burtram Saucepot, resent the charge against the Rumour. OK, so some of their pizazz may have moulted, but Mr Belmont is certainly no stayathome elderdude, grooming his memories: his trademark jerks are in evidence across the pubs and clubs on a nightly basis. One month last year I saw him in 4 separate line-ups, from the aforementioned Rumour, to Cambridge Folk Festival and any genre in-between. Won’t hear any ill against him.
The do’s are fair. M. Lepassage-Arriere. Except for the “snidey” word. No greater fan hath GP than I. Of all the UK rockers (okay – use another word if you want), he had grit and spunk aplenty, a winning way with a tune, and inspired his band. So I’m more sad than anything else. It’s like his career is one long Unplugged Clapalonga-Layla. A pox on this mid-tempo nodding-dog plod.
Hmm, will get back to you on that one, as I am off to see the Old Sock himself tonight. Not so much a huge fan, but if he’s off, I may as well, as he’s retiring, and I haven’t before been to Albert’s Hall.
Funnily enough, the last time I saw him was at Blackbushe, along with a certain Mr Parker…….
Queation of Balance and Seventh Sojourn were wonderful records. Less enamoured of the others but still some good stuff. Great harmonies and tracks like Ride my See Saw and singer in a Rock n Roll band well errr rocked.
Now sing after me just open your eyes and realise the way it’s always been ……
Saw GP such a long time ago. Oh my.
1978? Fairfield Halls.
I went with Tobes. Of course. I went everywhere with him.
And Paul. And his sister. Caroline. I
was 18. She was 17.
GP and crew were great.
We jumped up and down.
We sang along, shouted along really.
“Hey Lord, Don’t Ask Me Questions”. “Sometimes, I Feel Like Pouring It Out”
Like Punk! Just with tunes!
And then “Watch The Moon Come Down”
And it happened. Caroline and I kissed.
Paul didn’t speak to me on Monday at school.
“My sister!” he shouted weeks later.
GP was great that night. That year.
Maybe for two years.
Of course, he should get the old band back together.
The long tail. “This is 40”.
He can make a living
Should make a living.
He should tour.
You know what, I might go.
Might get back in touch with Paul.
Long time since I saw him
Longer still since I saw his sister.
Oh my.
Time.
Marvelous @fin59! A poem.
Not every day that Mr Saucecraft awakens the Muse in this way, eh?
Your OP was a great read too, HP. I too would prefer GP as a “cantankerous old git.”
No why would that be?
John Earle had one of the greatest taches in the history of rock.
That is all.
I’d certainly rather look at his tache than listen to any of his tedious ‘songs’, that’s for sure.
Got a video of earlyish Moody Blues . The voices are fine but the look! Simply appalling.
Overtight white flares stretched across fat arses and tight body shirts highlighting their love handles pouring over the top of the aforementioned overtight flairs.
Bouffant hair and moustaches.
I had to look away.