Customer Reviews

John Parr

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This album came out in 1984, and one of my friends bought it and made a tape for me. I played the tape quite a bit until it was stolen in '93. I've lost touch with my friend, and I thought I would never get to hear this cool music again, until this release finally became available on CD. There's plenty of great music that will probably never come out on CD, and I figured this would be one of the great albums to be overlooked, but it's here. Yeah!

"Naughty Naughty" got some good airplay back in '84, and "Love Grammar" was on the radio some. But these are only two of the great songs on this CD. The whole CD is really good, with well-written and interesting songs written in the 80's hard-pop style with good keyboard and guitar work, as well as interesting lyrics that tell a story.

I was thinking who I might be able to compare this too, and the best I can come up with is Foreigner. I could hear Foreigner perform some of these songs - John Parr does sound a little like Lou Gramm.

John Parr did have a big hit with the theme from "St. Elmo's Fire" in '85 (I believe), and he released another CD a little later. The other CD didn't go anywhere, though - the tunes were not as catchy, and then he dropped from the scene. So this is one of those one-shot deals. If you're looking for good mid-80's hard pop, this is an excellent choice.

That's what my girlfriend recently said to me while we were listening to John Parr's "Don't Leave Your Mark On Me." I have to agree. I can imagine it at the olympics. All the other countries are introduced with their bland and boring national anthems. And then...Don't Leave Your Mark On Me. That would be the ultimate.

Actually, the song is quite good. As is the entire album. I wish I had owned this album in 1984, but I was pretty young and too busy listening to Michael Jackson's "Thriller" to take notice. I probably shouldn't have been into "Naughty, Naughty" at that point anyway though. Nonetheless, I wish I had discovered John Parr's music sooner. I saw a couple of his videos last year and then discovered that he was the one who did the "Man in Motion" theme from St. Elmos Fire. After that I was intrigued and decided to buy the "John Parr" album, kind of just for kicks, so I could blast "Naughty, Naughty" and what have you. But I ended up really enjoying the album and getting into his music. After that I ended up purchasing all of his other albums as well. Sometimes they are available through various sellers here at Amazon.com.

1986's "Running the Endless Mile" is a very underrated album. I guess it didn't do well commercially, which must by why some people tend to write it off. In my opinion, it's a more complete album than "John Parr". He showcases his versatility much more here. Parr also produced this album masterfully, and afterward went on to produce a lot of music for other artists. It's not as "in your face" as the "John Parr" album, but a great compliment to it and a very different look at Parr as a songwriter and musician. Also...there's another version of "Don't Leave Your Mark On Me" on this one - Mark II. It's a must if you're a fan of the first one, this is a completely different take on the song, and it's still quite awesome if I do say so.

The 2 albums that followed are harder to find, but not too hard if you do some searching for them. 1992 brought "Man With a Vision" and 1996 "Under Parr". Both have some very classic stuff for any fan of John Parr. Lots of great songs on both albums. "Man With a Vision" has some classic John Parr rock songs along with a few more ballad like numbers. It also includes "Restless Heart" from the soundtrack for "The Running Man". Parr bares his soul in "Under Parr" with touching ballads like "We All Make Mistakes Sometimes" and "Tell Me Your Secrets". "Under Parr" is a little less rock n roll than his 80's work, but very much a favorite album of mine. Both of his 90's albums though include a few songs that make "Naughty, Naughty" look like it was written by Raffi. Songs like "Dirty Lovin'", "Killer on the Sheets" and "Hours, Minutes, and Sex" really bring that dirty attitude from the "John Parr" LP to another level. But he excells in that style, so they're great.

Also in 1990, he was in "Paris" - a rock opera in which he played the title character.

Listening to "Under Parr" you can kind of get the impression that it is his final album, since he comes accross and seeming happy and content with his life now. I say good for him. Though I'd really love to hear some new music from him, and would probably kill to see him in concert. I'm really surprised there isn't more about John Parr on the internet. Because it seems that those who do like him like him with a passion.

The first Parr's song I ever listened was of course, "Naughty, Naughty". There was in 1984 and was the first song on a tape continuing with Don Henley's "All she wants to do is dance", then Glenn Frey's "The heat is on". I discovered this CD here on Amazon, and just listening the samples I instantly got back in time.
Everybody interested on the culture of that decade, (but not only them!), should not miss this CD, as this is one of the most representative for what we might call "the sound of 80's": no computer-generated tones, no digitized voice, no stupid lyrics, no play-back. Only voice, guitars, synths and nice lyrics.
When you're talking about Huey Lewis, Rick Springfield, Foreigner or Def Leppard, you must also talk about John Parr. That is, it's pure 80's spirit!

.... John creates a slick, quintessentially eighties sound, ably assisted by a superior line-up of musicians and superb production.

While critics, reviewers and fans alike are quick to compare John's work to the more consistently successful power-pop rocker, Rick Springfield, this resemblance is not always apparent. While John adopts a similar lyrical style of mock-dirty lyrics, his content is invariably darker and less innocent, a trait perpetuated by the often brooding and complex musical arrangements. Also, John integrates hooks that are not immediately obvious - perhaps explaining his limited chart popularity and the slight success of this particular release - but several listens ensure an enjoyable listening experience as one makes sense of the broad, dynamic instrumentation.

If your only exposure to John's music heretofore has been the aforementioned St. Elmo's Fire theme, you may be in for a surprise. While the lesser known, but occasionally recognised "Naughty, Naughty," and the enjoyable opener "Magical" retain the playful, optimistic lyrical and musical theme of the hit, the remainder of the album explores darker issues. One might say that the album, with the exception of "Somebody Stole My Thunder," chronicles the exploitation of love and the ups and downs of relationships. And while this is no "Tunnel of Love," John manages an admirably symbiotic relationship between serious subject matter and not unaccessible proficient rock/pop fair.

In true AOR style, John's stories on occasion imitate the foreboding lyrics of Tom Petty's work, tracing the bitter aftermath of a broken relationship in the atmospheric "Revenge," through love as a weapon in "She's Gonna Love You To Death." "Somebody Stole My Thunder" is second only to "Naughty Naughty" for its chorus's hook, drenched in wailing guitars, and upping the pace from the prior, plodding "Heartbreaker."

Ultimately, John is a true original, and I can't draw an honest comparison from any other artist to his sound as a whole. It's a crying shame that such a honed voice and individual stylistic flair was not better appreciated by the music audience at the time. Nowadays, the latest musical trend manages to snowball into everybody's CD player within weeks, leaving one pondering whether music is now a reflection of one's individual identity or just a socially acceptable bond to today's unquestioning audiences. I strongly recommend that you at least listen to this album, and make the most of a unique opportunity.

This piece is magnificent in AOR and rock FM style and very hard to find until this remaster! The voice is strong in Bryan adams or John waite style and the music recalls the mid80's sound ( same as Rick springfield, another star for me) which is not very popular in united states at present, unfortunately! But french fans exist! a very recommanded album with naughty naughty, love grammar, etc...all is good in this album. In fact J.P. made 4 album. This, first then runnin in endless miles (1986) 3* and man with a vision in 1992 or 93 3* (in europe) and a four worse than his usual production in 1996. Since 1996, no news, it's sad because what voice! Excuse me for the bad english (or american language)!

It never ceases to amaze me how many people have heard his songs but didn't know he did it. His best known work is the theme from St. Elmo's Fire, the song "St. Elmo's Fire (Man In Motion)", which was at the top of the charts in 1985.

This is his debut album. While not all songs are the greatest, by far the best and most popular is Naughty, Naughty. That song alone is worth the price of the CD.

I have heard most of the songs on this CD. Not too bad. As a whole the CD is pretty fair.

Take a listen to Naughty, Naughty. Chances are you have heard it at some point. If you like his guitar work and voice, then rest of the songs have a similar tone. Still for a debut album, he did a pretty good job.

If you like John Parr, besides Naughty, Naughty, check out St. Elmo's Fire (you still hear it on 80's radio stations sometimes, very good medium paced song), and the theme to The Running Man movie. The song is called "Running Away With You", but I've also seen it called "Restless Heart". Same song. It is played at the end of the movie.

Anyway, for the price you can't go wrong. Unfortunately, John hasn't been heard from in YEARS. The last work of his that I even read about was around 1992. He moved back to the UK where he came from. I wish he would put more music out. He has an excellent voice.

Im 1985, I was >again< loudly bemoaning the death of Rock and Roll that had occurred sometime around 1980, when "disco" and "punk" had interbred and created the vile "new wave." YUCK. However, Tina Turner's resurrection in 1984 DID give me faint hope that maybe...Anyway, winter, 1985...I was visiting my downstairs neighbor for purposes that probably aren't relevant here. And Sara, being some 10 years younger than me, was, of course, into "wave," or whatever oozed from her WAY-too-loud stereo, blaring "top 40." I was about to make a somewhat...yearning departure from her apartment, after our (ahem) "transaction" was complete: but, suddenly, emanating from her stereo, a FUNKY clavinet-"midi"ed-into-harpsichord song intro stopped me dead cold in my tracks. "Why'd you suddenly freeze like that?" Sara asked me. All I could reply was "Th' SONG..." All too soon, it ended, and the DJ announced the name of the song, "Naughty Naughty," and its performer, John Parr. I had to apologize to Sara that not ALL her choice of "listening material" was hideous, after all. The very next day, I purchased two singles, one for Sara, because she turned me on to the song, and one for me. And I noticed on its sleeve that the producer of the song - and the album - was none other than Peter Solley, the very final organ/keyboard player of the (please excuse the almost-sacrelige here) "Old Testament" Procol Harum. (you might remember..."A Whiter Shade Of Pale?"). That was all I needed. No matter that the guitar solos were..."inadequate," it WAS the eighties, after all. And a couple of years later, John Parr would do a song from the "St. Elmo"/something that wasn't too bad, either. 'course...I don't think Pete Solley had anything to do with IT, but then, Parr DID have a GREAT set of pipes in a era best with the likes of, say...Bon Jovi, for instance...

This cd is great for his fans,but the seller's asking way too much since you can get that cd on I-Tunes for $8.-.For that money you can buy all his songs & still have plenty of money to burn.It's not as if there's no other place to get his album(s).

Was this John Parr's greatest recording moment? Did he peak here? He wrote (or co-wrote) every song here, and he was at his peak of his musical powers, or so it seems... This is British-import-to-America John Parr's debut, the 1984 self-titled album "John Parr." 9 songs clocking under 50 minutes of high energy fun to mindlessly rock out to, and please understand, this is an album from 1984:

01. "Magical" - this is a Meat Loaf/Parr collaboration and it is a rocker. You did know that John first started out as a session player on Meat Loaf's "Bad Attitude" album? Well, talk about paying the guy back...! The first release, it got in the Top 100 in the US.
02. "Naughty Naughty" - the big breakout song for John, and this went Top 40 in many countries around the world and in the US hit the number one spot in the summer of 1984. It still shows all the signs of a 1980's hit - plenty of synth and guitars, and a man screaming out the lyrics at the speed of sound - wonderful!
03. "Love Grammar" - this third release and ballad/rocker made it as far as 89 in the US charts. It's like Journey lite, if you can get any lighter than that...
04. "Treat Me Like an Animal" - It's pretty obvious... it reminds me of those cheesy 80s horror movies, or the Rocky 3 soundtrack, but this guy was serious about it.
05. "She's Gonna Love You to Death" - reminds me of "Everytime You Go Away" by Paul Young, but I like this one better - more force, more guitar, more feeling.
06. "Revenge" - so far every song has had a little of the old wink-wink involved, but on this song John was dead serious in telling you his story! Yeah, walking the WIRE! Light my FIRE! Yeah!
07. "Heartbreaker" - the lyrics stand alone here - "I'm a dreammaker, I'm a heartbreaker, I love 'em, when I leave 'em, they cryyyyyy..." Oh yeah, make 'em cry, John...
08. "Somebody Stole My Thunder" - a private eye's view to a murder during World War 2? knives in backs on the tracks? Wow, John, wow...
09. "Don't Leave Your Mark on Me" - this has got to be one of the most cliched songs since - well, dare I say it? - Meat Loaf? Demons, darkness, daughters of the night, rain, a dungeon... need I say more? Oh yeah... the synths, baby, the synths...

(Now on my German import CD of this album that I bought many years back, it includes a tenth song, "St Elmo's Fire." We all know this song, but it was NOT included on the original 1984 release. When the album was released in late 1985 in West Germany (where I was) this song was on it.

"Elmo's" was a great hit for John Parr and was on no less than THREE different albums over 12 months in 1985 - the original soundtrack for the movie "St. Elmo's Fire", a now out-of-print collection of inspirational hits album in Canada (as it was originally written for a wheelchair-bound athlete named Rick Hansen who crossed the world to raise awareness for spinal injuries in 1985) and on an odd 1985 West German re-release with the song on it, just to cash in, apparently.

(I've been told this copy is worth a lot of money. I've pretty much worn it out over the years. Shame, I didn't know.)

Copies of this first release are going for a lot of money. I want to say great, but I think it's more for collectors than the actual average listener who may or may not collect stuff like this, like me.

I don't think this is worth over $100.00, the music is VERY dated and borderline horrible, but I can't help but want to drink and party when I hear it. Maybe it's because I've been listening to it for over 25 years (!) and it's simply a guilty pleasure for me.

Do yourself a favor before buying this - John Parr's many music videos are easy to find online - go check them out (and the music) and then come back here and decide if it's worth a 1/2 work packet to buy it.

Thanks for reading, and please feel free to check out my other reviews on Amazon...

1. Magical
2. Naughty Naughty
3. Love Grammar
4. Treat Me Like An Animal
5. She's Gonna Love You To Death - John Parr & Betsy Durkin Mathers
6. Revenge
7. Heartbreaker - John Parr & J. Downes
8. Somebody Stole My Thunder
9. Don't Leave Your Mark On Me - John Parr & J. Downs