GP's fifth studio album in 1980 and my first LP of his ever purchased. I bought it in a remainder bin and it was the first pressing which had the vinyl labels "up side" and "down side." Ten great songs, all winners and the triple-punch of No Holding Back, Devil's Sidewalk and Stupefaction to start the album is GP at his best, on all 8 cylinders.....The Horror!!
The Up Escalator
There's a big gap between being a rock & roll classicist and actually turning out classics. Specifically, it's the difference between reaffirming traditional rock truisms and reinvigorating them - between, say. Tom Petty, whose rich and ringing minianthems meld half-a-dozen heartfelt homages, and Graham Parker, who aims higher without thinking about it.
Album Review: "The Up Escalator," by Geoffrey Himes
Bruce Springsteen once called Graham Parker the only singer he'd pay money to see. Now Springsteen has gone even further and made a rare cameo appearance as a back-up singer on "Endless Night" from Parker's new album, "The Up Escalator" (Arista AL 9517).
1980
2016
THE HORROR!!
