I was working for the distributor of his label (Mercury) and I was in a Tower Records. They started playing the first Elvis Costello record in the store and I thought it was a new Parker record. I think Elvis stole his thunder and lept over him. Perhaps there was only room for one angry British rocker at the time. Plus Elvis's label (CBS) had much more clout in the stores, radio stations and press.
Elvis wrote far better songs than Parker. He didn’t steal Parker’s thunder at all. He was just better. Parker couldn’t write the songs. He mocks commercial stuff like it’s easy to write, but it was beyond him to do it more than a couple of times. Elvis Costello was writing Almost Blue and Alison at 23......pop music is about hits. Adam and the Ants were bigger than Parker. He says he’s paying his dues now....that’s because it’s better than getting a proper job. It wouldn’t have mattered if he had put himself out more when he started he was always a mid placed 2nd division team, whereas Elvis was top 5 premiere league.
I couldn't agree more and I love GP quote in Rolling Stone in '88 about EC: he said about EC working with McCartney...well now Ringo and I are working on a concept album about hair salons! GP/EC were both on Stiff and made up rivals however GP got his music out first with mutual producer Nick Lowe so...let's blame Randy Newman! Jesus looks at the amount of people that praise GP! They were rivals but historically GP was first...EC went in 100 different directions...in retrospect GP had better street cred...EC playing in smaller shows is so cool
This is bittersweet for me. I love Graham Parker, and this is his own startling admission that he will never succeed on his ("hit record") terms. Music today, blows.
Those of us who were into Graham did it because we love it!!
Godspeed in getting it finished. This man's story needs to be told!
I was working for the distributor of his label (Mercury) and I was in a Tower Records. They started playing the first Elvis Costello record in the store and I thought it was a new Parker record. I think Elvis stole his thunder and lept over him. Perhaps there was only room for one angry British rocker at the time. Plus Elvis's label (CBS) had much more clout in the stores, radio stations and press.
Elvis wrote far better songs than Parker. He didn’t steal Parker’s thunder at all. He was just better. Parker couldn’t write the songs. He mocks commercial stuff like it’s easy to write, but it was beyond him to do it more than a couple of times. Elvis Costello was writing Almost Blue and Alison at 23......pop music is about hits. Adam and the Ants were bigger than Parker. He says he’s paying his dues now....that’s because it’s better than getting a proper job. It wouldn’t have mattered if he had put himself out more when he started he was always a mid placed 2nd division team, whereas Elvis was top 5 premiere league.
@@drinkwater319 Boy, aren't you bitter and twisted
I couldn't agree more and I love GP quote in Rolling Stone in '88 about EC: he said about EC working with McCartney...well now Ringo and I are working on a concept album about hair salons! GP/EC were both on Stiff and made up rivals however GP got his music out first with mutual producer Nick Lowe so...let's blame Randy Newman! Jesus looks at the amount of people that praise GP! They were rivals but historically GP was first...EC went in 100 different directions...in retrospect GP had better street cred...EC playing in smaller shows is so cool
Yay love this guy!
Wow, this has almost everyone I respect from the music industry in it.
I can't argue wtih this documentary, is there a longer version though?
He's got a write up in Mojo this month.. Hope that help raises some dough.
This is bittersweet for me. I love Graham Parker, and this is his own startling admission that he will never succeed on his ("hit record") terms. Music today, blows.
How do I get it?
Is there any update on the likelihood of this being released?
who's the woman at 1:12?
Legendary Rock DJ Meg Griffin.