Rewind: 1979 - Squeezing Out Sparks - Graham Parker and The Rumour

When it was released in March 1979, 'Squeezing Out Sparks' became Graham Parker's most successful album. In the UK it peaked at #18 and in the USA #40.

Although not named on the album sleeve, The Rumour did actually play on the album and were credited on the disc label. The Rumour  horn section by the way might have been absent from this album but they were very present on the recording of 'London Calling' by The Clash, also released in 1979.

 

Village Voice voted it the #1 album of 1979 and Rolling Stone Magazine's list of top albums from 1967-1987 had the album listed at #45. 

On their list of the 500 Greatest Albums of All Time it was sitting pretty at #335.

Previous releases by Graham Parker and The Rumour had been noted for their particular brand of white boy soul that infused them (listen to previous album 'Stick To Me'), this album was a bit of a departure from that formula.

This still remains one of my favourite and oft played albums by Graham Parker and The Rumour.

Not all the links below are for the actual recordings that appeared on the album but I have tried to find as many as I could that are.

Side One

1. "Discovering Japan" – 3:32
2. "Local Girls" – 3:44
3. "Nobody Hurts You" – 3:42
4. "You Can't Be Too Strong" – 3:21
5. "Passion Is No Ordinary Word" – 4:26

Side Two

1. "Saturday Nite Is Dead" – 3:18
2. "Love Gets You Twisted" – 3:02
3. "Protection" – 3:54
4. "Waiting for the UFO's" – 3:08
5. "Don't Get Excited" – 3:04

Live Videos from 'Squeezing Out Sparks Tour'.

Local Girls (The Agora, Georgia 15/05/79).

Protection (The Agora, Georgia 15/05/79).

Heat Treatment  (The Agora, Georgia 15/05/79).

Nobody Hurts You  (The Agora, Georgia 15/05/79).

I Want You Back (The Agora, Georgia 15/05/79).
Mercury Poisoning (unsure of venue).

Audio Live

The Old Waldorf, San Francisco 9th April1979.

I Want You Back.

Nobody Hurts You.

Protection.

Hey Lord, Don't Ask Me Questions.