The Parkerilla

The Parkerilla is a 1978 live double album by Graham Parker and The Rumour. It was recorded at Winter Gardens, Bournemouth, Manchester Opera House, Apollo Theatre, Oxford and The Palladium, New York City; and mixed at Rockfield Studios, Wales.

The Parkerilla
Live album by Graham Parker and The Rumour
Released	May 1978 (1978-05)
Recorded	Winter Gardens, Bournemouth Manchester Opera House Apollo Theatre, Oxford The Palladium, NYC
Genre	Pub rock, rhythm & blues
Length	53:18
Label	Mercury
Producer	Mutt Lange
Graham Parker and The Rumour chronology
Stick To Me (1977) The Parkerilla (1978) Squeezing Out Sparks (1979)

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic	[1]
Christgau's Record Guide	B−[2]
Rolling Stone (Greil Marcus)	(unfavorable)[3]

The album was recorded as a contractual obligation album as Parker had already signed with Arista and was preparing "Squeezing Out Sparks" for that label. The album was longer than a traditional record and Mercury elected to release it as a double album. The single "Hey Lord Don't Ask Me Questions" was a re-recording of a song from the first album (and slightly retitled) with the song occupying the fourth side.^[4]

The album met with a mixed reception from critics who were waiting for new material from Parker.^[4]

In 1991, Rolling Stone ranked The Parkerilla number 64 on its list of 100 greatest album covers.^[5] The cover photography was by Brian Griffin, with the artwork completed by Barney Bubbles.^[6]

Track listing

All tracks composed by Graham Parker; except where indicated

1. "Lady Doctor" 2:48
2. "Fool's Gold" 4:23
3. "Tear Your Playhouse Down" (Earl Randle) 3:50
4. "Don't Ask Me Questions" 5:00
5. "The Heat in Harlem" 7:35
6. "Silly Thing" 3:15
7. "Gypsy Blood" 5:15
8. "Back to Schooldays" 2:40
9. "Heat Treatment" 3:06
10. "Watch the Moon Come Down" 5:15
11. "New York Shuffle" 2:57
12. "Soul Shoes" 3:23
13. "Hey Lord, Don't Ask Me Questions" (new studio recording) 3:51^[1]

Charts

Chart (1978)	Peak position
Australia (Kent Music Report)[7]	22
United Kingdom (Official Charts Company)[8]	14
United States (Billboard 200)	144

Personnel

• Graham Parker – vocals, guitar
• Brinsley Schwarz – guitar, slide guitar, backing vocals
• Bob Andrews – organ, piano, keyboards, backing vocals, musical director, horn arrangements
• Martin Belmont – guitar, backing vocals
• Andrew Bodnar – bass guitar
• Steve Goulding – drums, backing vocals^[9]

The Rumour Brass

• Ray Beavis – tenor saxophone
• John Earle – tenor and baritone saxophone
• Chris Gower – trombone
• Dick Hanson – trumpet, flugelhorn^[9]

References

1. Deming, Mark. Graham Parker & the Rumour: The Parkerilla Review at AllMusic. Retrieved 7 October 2011.
2. Christgau, Robert (1981). "Consumer Guide '70s: P". Christgau's Record Guide: Rock Albums of the Seventies. Ticknor & Fields. ISBN 089919026X. Retrieved 10 March 2019. {{cite book}}: |website= ignored (help)
3. Marcus, Greil (15 June 1978). "Review: The Parkerilla". Rolling Stone.
4. Hendricks, Phil. Parkerilla CD sleeve notes. p. 2. {{cite book}}: |website= ignored (help)
5. "100 Greatest Album Covers of All Time". Rolling Stone. 14 November 1991. Retrieved 27 July 2017.
6. "Reasons to be Cheerful » Barney Bubbles discography: Album sleeves". www.barneybubbles.com. Archived from the original on 20 November 2009. Retrieved 17 January 2022.
7. Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (illustrated ed.). St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. p. 229. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
8. "GRAHAM PARKER & THE RUMOUR | full Official Chart History | Official Charts Company". Officialcharts.com. Retrieved 17 May 2021.
9. "The Parkerilla – Graham Parker & the Rumour, Graham Parker | Credits | AllMusic". AllMusic. Retrieved 17 May 2021.