Struck by Lightning
Studio album by
Graham Parker
Released1991
GenreRock, pop
LabelDemon
RCA[1]
ProducerGraham Parker
Graham Parker chronology
Human Soul
(1989)		 Struck by Lightning
(1991)		 Burning Questions
(1992)

Struck by Lightning is a solo album by the English musician Graham Parker, released in 1991.[2][3] It was Parker's best selling album of the 1990s, reaching number 131 on the Billboard 200 albums chart.[4]

Production

Produced by Parker, Struck by Lightning was recorded in Woodstock, New York.[5][6] Jay Ungar, Larry Hoppen, and Garth Hudson contributed to the album.[7][8][9] Pete Thomas played drums; Cindy Cashdollar played lap steel and dobro.[10][11] John Sebastian played autoharp on "She Wants So Many Things".[12] Parker played all of the guitar parts.[13]

Many of the album's songs are about getting older and family life.[14] "Ten Girls Ago" references Parker's former drug addiction.[15] "They Murdered the Clown" and "When I Was King" are about the music business.[16]

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[17]
Calgary HeraldB[18]
Chicago Tribune[19]
Los Angeles Times[20]
Orlando Sentinel[12]
Rolling Stone[21]
The Tampa Tribune[7]
Vancouver Sun[10]

The Milwaukee Sentinel wrote that "Parker is obviously trying to stake out his own vision of what a middle-aged rock musician ought to be."[22] The Boston Globe determined that, "musically, he's still playing in the melodic pop area that's been his stomping ground for some time."[23] The Los Angeles Times stated that "Dylan's John Wesley Harding, Smokey Robinson and early Van Morrison are among the key stylistic and spiritual touchstones here."[20]

The Austin American-Statesman concluded that Struck by Lightning "completes his transformation from British firebrand to Woodstock family man, though it retains both the emotional edge and lyrical incisiveness that have long distinguished his best work."[24] The Chicago Tribune wrote that the album "sounds as intimate as a living-room jam session."[19] The Calgary Herald deemed the songs "solid, workmanlike efforts."[18]

Track listing

CD Version:

  1. "She Wants So Many Things" 6:08
  2. "They Murdered the Clown" 3:54
  3. "Strong Winds" 3:52
  4. "The Kid with the Butterfly Net" 3:53
  5. "And It Shook Me" 3:42
  6. "Wrapping Paper" 3:38
  7. "That's Where She Ends Up" 3:10
  8. "A Brand New Book" 3:28
  9. "Weeping Statues" 3:21
  10. "Guardian Angel" 3:24
  11. "Children and Dogs" 3:50
  12. "Over the Border (To America)" 3:08
  13. "When I Was King" 4:18
  14. "Ten Girls Ago" 3:28
  15. "The Sun Is Gonna Shine Again" 3:55

Vinyl version:

Side One

  1. "She Wants So Many Things" 6:08
  2. "They Murdered the Clown" 3:54
  3. "Strong Winds" 3:52
  4. "The Kid with the Butterfly Net" 3:53
  5. "And It Shook Me" 3:42
  6. "That's Where She Ends Up" 3:10

Side Two

  1. "A Brand New Book" 3:28
  2. "Weeping Statues" 3:21
  3. "Wrapping Paper" 3:38
  4. "Ten Girls Ago" 3:28
  5. "I'm into Something Good" 1:52
  6. "Over the Border (To America)" 3:08
  7. "The Sun Is Gonna Shine Again" 3:55

Bonus EP, Side One

  1. "Guardian Angels"
  2. "Children and Dogs"

Bonus EP, Side Two

  1. "When I Was King"
  2. "Museum Piece"
  3. "Museum of Stupidity"

Charts

Chart (1991) Peak
position
United States (Billboard 200)[4] 131

Personnel

  • Graham Parker - vocals, acoustic guitar, electric guitar, harmonica
  • Andrew Bodnar - bass
  • Pete Thomas - drums, percussion
  • Arranged by Andrew Bodnar, Graham Parker, Pete Thomas
Technical
  • Mastered by George Marino
  • Engineer [assistant] – John Yates
  • Engineer [overdubs] – Chris Andersen
  • Engineer, Mixer – David Cook
  • Cover design – Wynn Dan
  • Photography by Jolie Parker

References

  1. ↑ Abbott, Jim (15 February 1991). "In the Bin". Calendar. Orlando Sentinel. p. 23.
  2. ↑ "THE LAST OF THE LITERARY - The Washington Post".
  3. ↑ "Picks and Pans Review: Struck by Lightning". PEOPLE.com.
  4. 1 2 "Graham Parker Struck By Lightning Chart History". Billboard.
  5. ↑ McCarty, Patrick (14 March 1991). "Parker's Latest Captures Emotions with Eloquence". Richmond Times-Dispatch. p. A18.
  6. ↑ Burliuk, Greg (6 April 1991). "Struck By Lightning Graham Parker". Magazine. The Kingston Whig-Standard. p. 1.
  7. 1 2 Garcia, Wayne (1 March 1991). "Sparks fly on 'Lightning'". Tampa Bay Times. The Tampa Tribune. p. 20.
  8. ↑ "Music". Part II. Newsday. 18 February 1991. p. 40.
  9. ↑ Dafoe, Chris (9 March 1991). "Graham Parker, Struck by Lightning". Toronto Star. p. H8.
  10. 1 2 Mackie, John (28 March 1991). "Recordings: Less angry, perhaps, but this rock still bites". Vancouver Sun. p. D16.
  11. ↑ Gilbert, Calvin (15 February 1991). "Graham Parker Struck by Lightning". Fun. The Advocate. Baton Rouge. p. 5.
  12. 1 2 Gettelman, Parry (5 April 1991). "Graham Parker". Calendar. Orlando Sentinel. p. 25.
  13. ↑ Pick, Steve (7 August 1992). "Parker Again Shines As Rock's Idea Man". St. Louis Post-Dispatch. p. 4F.
  14. ↑ Racine, Marty (10 March 1991). "Graham Parker struck by optimism". Zest. Houston Chronicle. p. 10.
  15. ↑ Varga, George (17 February 1991). "Graham Parker 'Struck by Lightning'". The San Diego Union-Tribune. p. E6.
  16. ↑ Ferman, Dave (2 March 1991). "Lightning Strikes Again". Life. Fort Worth Star-Telegram. p. 1.
  17. ↑ "Struck by Lightning - Graham Parker | Songs, Reviews, Credits". AllMusic.
  18. 1 2 Tremblay, Mark (10 March 1991). "Recent Releases". Calgary Herald. p. F3.
  19. 1 2 Kot, Greg (21 February 1991). "Recordings". Tempo. Chicago Tribune. p. 7.
  20. 1 2 Boehm, Mike (24 February 1991). "Graham Parker 'Struck by Lightning'". Calendar. Los Angeles Times. p. 62.
  21. ↑ Wild, David (7 March 1991). "Struck by Lightning". Rolling Stone.
  22. ↑ Tianen, Dave (18 January 1991). "Introspective 'Lightning' strikes Graham Parker". Feature. Milwaukee Sentinel. p. 24.
  23. ↑ Sullivan, Jim (14 February 1991). "Recordings". The Boston Globe.
  24. ↑ McLeese, Don (21 February 1991). "Hinton, Parker restore faith in music". Onward. Austin American-Statesman. p. 6.
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