Beginning in the late 1960s and early 1970s, Parker sang in small-time amateur English bands such as the Black Rockers and Deep Cut Three, while working in dead-end jobs at a glove factory and a petrol station. In late 1974 he placed an ad in Britain’s "Melody Maker" music mag seeking like-minded musicians and he began performing professionally. In 1975, he recorded a few demo tracks in London with Dave Robinson, who would shortly found Stiff Records and who connected Parker with his first backing band of note.
Graham Parker & the Rumour (with Brinsley Schwarz and Martin Belmont on guitar, Bob Andrews on keyboards, Andrew Bodnar on bass and Steve Goulding on drums) formed in the summer of 1975 and began doing the rounds of the British pub rock scene. Their first album, Howlin' Wind, was released to acclaim in 1976 and rapidly followed by the stylistically similar Heat Treatment. A mixture of rock, ballads, and reggae-influenced numbers, these albums reflected Parker's early influences (Motown, The Rolling Stones, Bob Dylan) and contained the songs which formed the core of Parker's live shows -- "White Honey", "Soul Shoes", "Lady Doctor", "Fool's Gold", and his early signature tune "Don't Ask Me Questions", which hit the top 40 in the UK. Like the pub rock scene he was loosely tied to, the singer's class-conscious lyrics and passionate vocals signaled a renewal of rock music as punk rock began to flower in Britain.
Parker preceded the other "new wave" English singer-songwriters, Elvis Costello and Joe Jackson. Early in his career his work was often compared favorably to theirs, and for decades journalists would continue to categorize them together, long after the artists' work had diverged. Characteristically, Parker would not hesitate to criticize this habit with caustic wit.
The first two albums' critical acclaim was generally not matched with LP sales. Graham Parker and the Rumour appeared on BBC television's Top of the Pops in 1976, performing their top 30 hit version of The Trammps' "Hold Back the Night".
At this point, Parker began to change his songwriting style, reflecting his desire to break into the American market. The first fruits of this new direction appeared on Stick To Me (1977). The album broke the top 20 on the UK charts but divided critical opinions.
Energized by his new label, Arista, and the presence of legendary producer Jack Nitzsche, Parker followed with Squeezing Out Sparks (1979), widely held to be the best album of his career. For this album, The Rumour's brass section, prominent on all previous albums, was jettisoned, resulting in a spare, intense rock backing for some of Parker's most brilliant songs. Of particular note was "You Can't Be Too Strong", one of rock music's rare songs to confront the topic of abortion, however ambivalently.
Squeezing out Sparks is still ranked by fans and critics alike as one of the finest rock albums ever made. Rolling Stone named it #335 [1] on their 2003 list of the 500 greatest albums of all time. In an early 1987 Rolling Stone list of their top 100 albums from 1967-1987, Squeezing Out Sparks was ranked at #45, while Howlin' Wind came in at #54 [2].
Although marginally less intense than its predecessor, 1980's The Up Escalator was Parker's highest-charting album in the UK and featured glossy production by Jimmy Iovine and guest vocals from Bruce Springsteen. Nevertheless it was Parker's last album with the Rumour, although guitarist Brinsley Schwarz would join most of the singer's albums through the decade's end.
The 1980s were Parker's most commercially successful years, with well-financed recordings and radio and video play. Over the decade, the British press turned unkind to him, but he continued to tour the world with top backing bands, and his 1985 release Steady Nerves included his only US Top 40 hit, "Wake Up (Next to You)". The singer began living mostly in the United States during this time.
In early 2011, Parker reunited with all five original members of The Rumour to record a new album. The record, titled Three Chords Good, was released in November 2012.
Brand of New Book
Graham Parker Lyrics
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F see bb f
I once read the story of somebody's life I had a few moments to spare
F see bb f
He was a good man who lived with his wife with the usual kids in his hair
Dm g dm g
There was happiness a lot of weirdness and a sprinkle of tragedy
I pulled it by chance from a second hand bin
Bb see
But it could've been written just for me
Chorus
F bb f bb
Because the words came out not twist and shout
F bb see
Cause that's not what a grown man writes about
F bb f bb
That chapter's over, let it blow over
F bb see see f
I found that I've become the owner of a brand new book
F bb see f
A brand new book (then)
F bb see dm
I've travelled far and I've travelled wide and I guess I'll be travelling on
Fill another suitcase up with possessions and put on a badfinger song
I've got much more than most people have and a little less than a few
But you can't measure these things by weight
They either drag you down or they lift you
Repeat chorus (then) bridge
Dm bb f bb
I don't read between the lines I'm not ready for what I'll find
Dm bb
I don't believe that love is blind
G g see
It just can't see straight, it just can't see straight oh yeah
See see d
Read all about it, read all about it yeah
F bb see f
A brand new book (twice)
I read that book for an hour or two and then I looked up at the night sky
I saw the big dipper and then the big bopper and I realised how much time had gone by
Every page had something to say but one thing that struck me as true
The clock just keeps ticking as if you're not there
Man it either drags you down or it lifts you chorus
/pre>
The song "A Brand New Book" by Graham Parker is about finding a new chapter in life and moving on from the past. The first verse talks about reading someone else's story, only to realize that it could have easily been their own. Parker describes the ups and downs of life that come with happiness, weirdness, and tragedy. However, the idea of the brand new book represents the chance to start over and make a new path in life.
The chorus emphasizes the idea that the past is over and it's time to move on. The words that come out now are different from the past, and it's important to leave those old chapters behind. The bridge highlights the idea that love isn't blind, it simply can't see straight, meaning that people often overlook red flags and continue to move forward. In the end, the book is a reminder to live in the present and to let go of the past.
Overall, the song is a message of hope and resilience, encouraging the listener to embrace new beginnings and to look forward to what's to come.
Line by Line Meaning
I once read the story of somebody's life I had a few moments to spare
I read a book about someone's life during some free time
He was a good man who lived with his wife with the usual kids in his hair
The man in the story had a family and a normal life
There was happiness a lot of weirdness and a sprinkle of tragedy
The man had experienced some good times and bad times in his life
I pulled it by chance from a second hand bin
I randomly found the book in a second hand store
But it could've been written just for me
The story seemed like it was written specifically for me
Because the words came out not twist and shout
The book was not a fun, lighthearted read
Cause that's not what a grown man writes about
The story was about serious, grown-up topics
That chapter's over, let it blow over
I'm moving on from that part of my life
I found that I've become the owner of a brand new book
I have a new perspective on life and a fresh start
I've travelled far and I've travelled wide and I guess I'll be travelling on
I've been to many places and will continue to explore
Fill another suitcase up with possessions and put on a badfinger song
I'm packing up my things and getting ready to move on to the next adventure
I've got much more than most people have and a little less than a few
I have some things in life, but not as much as some and more than others
But you can't measure these things by weight
The value of things in life can't be measured by their physical weight
They either drag you down or they lift you
Things in life will either weigh you down or lift you up emotionally
I don't read between the lines I'm not ready for what I'll find
I'm not ready to face hidden meanings or truths in life
I don't believe that love is blind
Love is not ignorant, it's just not always rational
It just can't see straight, it just can't see straight oh yeah
Love can be confusing and unclear at times
Read all about it, read all about it yeah
Experience life to the fullest and learn from it
I read that book for an hour or two and then I looked up at the night sky
I spent some time reflecting on my own life while reading the book
I saw the big dipper and then the big bopper and I realised how much time had gone by
I noticed the passing of time and thought about how much I've experienced
Every page had something to say but one thing that struck me as true
The book had many lessons and insights, but one stood out as particularly true
The clock just keeps ticking as if you're not there
Time marches on regardless of whether or not you're ready for it
Man it either drags you down or it lifts you
Time can either pull you down or help you rise above your circumstances
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: GRAHAM THOMAS PARKER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind