BIG STIR RECORDS presents a special new single spanning the full career of rock legend GRAHAM PARKER: the studio recording “Last Stretch Of The Road” from his acclaimed 2023 album LAST CHANCE TO LEARN THE TWIST, backed with a brand new live version of “Back To Schooldays” from his 1976 debut album Howlin’ Wind. Both tracks find the singer-songwriter backed by his current ace backing band THE GOLDTOPS, and they’re out on all digital platforms June 7 and up for pre-save/preorder now:
“Last Stretch Of The Road” is a marvel of song, and the near-title-track of LAST CHANCE TO LEARN THE TWIST (out now on Vinyl, CD and Streaming from Big Stir Records): the bittersweet title phrase appears at the end of the second verse, rhymed with a bit of Cockney slang in a move that’s pure Parker. The whole tune drips with GP‘s trademark wicked wit despite its dark subject matter of mortality and regret. The song echoes both early and late-period Dylan in its easygoing folk-inflected groove, but it’s Parker‘s inimitable lyric bite that’s made it a fan-favorite staple of his live sets, solo and with The Goldtops, since before the 2023 release of Last Chance. It’s been singled out as a highlight in many of the rapturous reviews of the record for the way it crystalizes the fresh approach taken by the veteran songwriter: short, sharp songs that hit as hard as anything in his considerable catalog.
The song had become iconic enough to serve as the opening number when Parker hit the road last Autumn in his native England backed by The Goldtops in exactly the same lineup from the record: Martin Belmont (guitar), Jim Russell (drums), Geraint Watkins (keys) and Simon Edwards (bass). Also on board, as on the LP, were backing vocal duo The Lady Bugs (Paige Stubley with Martha Evans covering Marietta Smith‘s parts) as the group performed most of the album along with a selection of Parker‘s classic catalog of tunes, going all the way back to the beginning as heard on the previously unreleased version of the classic and often-covered “Back To Schooldays” captured on tape and served up here as the B-side. It’s a throwback to the start of the road for Parker, and it’s a thrill to hear the same seasoned and utterly empathetic musicians heard on his latest album dig into a still-vital tune from his first.
Fans will have already noted that this isn’t the first single from LAST CHANCE TO LEARN THE TWIST to feature live tracks from the UK tour: the standalone release of the album’s “Sun Valley” featured a roaring rip through the album’s “Since You Left Me Baby” and a cover of Sinatra’s “That’s Life”. And they might well be wondering, based on the quality of the performances and recordings alike, if there’s more – perhaps even a full set or an album’s worth of highlights — yet to see the light of day. We at Big Stir Records can only say… well, yes. With his songwriting and vocal prowess stronger than ever, there’s plenty of road ahead for GRAHAM PARKER, and we’ll be delighted to share the next stretch of it with you… stand by for news later this year.
