Sunday April 24, 2022 “Wake Up (Next To You)” Graham Parker & the Shot
I’ve gotta say right at the beginning that I thought that I knew Graham Parker songs but I heard this tune on the radio a while back and was confused when the DJ back announced that it was Graham Parker. I immediately did some research just to convince myself that he was right…turns out the DJ was right, Graham Parker.
Graham Parker was one of the most celebrated singer/songwriters to emerge from England's pub rock scene in the early '70s. His music combined driving rock & roll, touches of folk-rock, an indignant passion, biting sarcasm, and bristling anger. Like his contemporary Elvis Costello, who likely usurped Parker's musical personna, he was an in your face angry young rock and roller. His gritty pub-rock style actually belies today’s “Wake Up (Next to You)”.
Parker said that he sought to emulate Smokey Robinson and avoid sounding "slushy" on this song. He explained, "This is everything I wanted to write, nothing about worrying about what Graham Parker is supposed to write about. Smokey Robinson could have written this. My aim is to write something like 'Just My Imagination' or 'Being with You.' That's perfect songwriting. They're love songs, but nothing about them is embarrassing or cringe-inducing."
Parker said of his singing on the track, "That breathy voice, I wrote the song like that. It was in my imagination, and when it came to recording, I could do it, with a bit of tuning up and stuff. To further emphasize his Smokey Robinson sound Parker included a “Just My Imagination” instrumental section mid-song.
Stay safe and well…and I never really understood parenthetical song titles, how do you think we are supposed to interpret them?.