Struck By Lightning [Original recording reissued, Import]

Graham Parker, Garth Hudson, Alien Sex Fiend | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (November 1, 1997)
• Original Release Date: 1991
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Original recording reissued, Import
• Label: Diablo Records UK
• ASIN: B000003BTL
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Audio Cassette  |  Vinyl
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #389,504 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. She Wants So Many Things

2. They Murdered The Clown

3. Strong Winds

4. The Kid With The Butterfly Net

5. And It Shook Me

6. Wrapping Paper

7. That's Where She Ends Up

8. A Brand New Book

9. Weeping Statues

10. Guardian Angels

11. Children And Dogs

12. Over The Border (To America)

13. When I Was King

14. Ten Girls Ago

15. The Sun Is Gonna Shine Again

Editorial Reviews

1991 album includes 'She Wants So Many Things', 'They Murdered The Clown' & 'The Kid With The Butterfly Net'.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Get Struck by... Graham who?!??!, October 22, 2004

By 

ewomack "ewomack" (MN USA) - See all my reviews
(TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Struck By Lightning (Audio CD)

Graham Parker sits prominently amongst our generation's best songwriters. Always critically acclaimed, he consistently cranks out quality material handled with intelligence, dignity, and integrity. So of course mass sales have eluded him. Nonetheless he still carries on, like Bob Dylan's never-ending tour, after some thirty years in the business. Along the way some absolutely amazing gems have resulted from his seemingly endless output. 1991's "Struck By Lightning" is one of these.

At least one of the best songs ever written graces this album: "They Murdered the Clown" mixes heavy rhythms with Parker's mambo-snake venom lyrics. Some of his nastiest lines lie in wait in the second verse. The circus organ and pounding guitar and drums make an amazing combination that combines the extremely danceable with the extremely disturbing. No one could accuse Parker of sugar-coating reality. He tells it like it is, and on this song he hits home with even more than the usual umph. "They Murdered The Clown" justifies this album alone, but of course much more awaits. Parker's ode to lost youth, "The Kid With the Butterfly Net" contains some nice violin riffs and a longing akin to Hank Williams' "I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry". The pleading "Wrapping Paper" could entice any partner to forgiveness: "Speak to me girl, speak to me darling; You're not a princess, I'm not Prince Charming". Many other of the album's songs will provide food for thought for years: "Children and Dogs", "Over The Border (To America)", "Weeping Statues", "When I Was King". Parker's trademark innovative songwriting and orchestration run throughout the entire album. The album's sound is unique; it's crisp and lively; it may be one of his best sounding albums.

For years "Struck By Lightning" languished in the category of "out-of-print". It looks like "Lemon Records" has brought it back. Parker's material, like his career, somehow survives major label indifference. Happily, most of it can still be obtained thanks to various independent labels. Parker shows no signs of slowing (he's probably now in his 50s); many consider his most recent material to be his best. If that is true, it can sit happily next to "Struck By Lightning".

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This Is What A Grown Man Writes About, March 4, 2008

By 

Mike B. - See all my reviews

This review is from: Struck By Lightning (Audio CD)

After his celebrated "Angry Young Man" recordings, Graham Parker married, settled down, and had kids. This record reflects his new-found maturity. As he's fond of saying on stage (to great laughter from the audience, who have grown up themselves): "I'm not an angry young man anymore - it was too exhausting."

Though earlier albums had sensitive songs here and there, this one is chock full of them. His meditation about his daughter growing up is the most beautiful and moving song he's ever written ("The Kid With The Butterfly Net"). In "Wrapping Paper", he requests that his wife "pull your skin like wrapping paper around my heart."

But before you think he's completely wimped-out, he hits you with the best rock song he's ever written. That would be "A Brand New Book", which features the lines "The words come out/Not "Twist and Shout"/'Cause that's not what a grown man writes about."

I've been listening to this for years, and every time I hear these 3 songs my jaw drops. I sit and marvel at how powerful and perfect they are, and think all over again "what an amazing songwriter!" In fact, Parker's had that effect on me for a long time. To this day I discover a line or a quick turn of phrase on one of his many recordings that I'd not noticed before - and I'm struck with wonder once again.

This is my favorite album of his, but it's hard to say that it's his best. There's too many contenders for that title that I hold in equal high esteem. If someone were to ask me which ones are "essential", I'd recommend (from his "angry" phase): "Howlin' Wind", "Heat Treatment", "Stick To Me", and "Squeezing Out Sparks". From his on-going more "thoughtful" phase: "The Mona Lisa's Sister", "Struck By Lightning", "Deepcut To Nowhere", and "Don't Tell Columbus." These are his most consistently good albums, although I feel they're all worth checking out. The quality of his output is very rare. Most artists have some bad albums, but Parker does not. Of his immediate peer group, the only other artist I can think of that's sustained such a long winning streak is Elliott Murphy.

Like Lou Reed's wonderful "Growing Up In Public" CD, this was the record on which Parker fully "came of age", addressing adult subject matter with wit, grace, and hope. I'm pretty sure I'll always collect him, and will grow old listening to him.

P.S. - If you ever have a chance to see him perform "live" - don't miss it!

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Right Up There With His Very Best, February 16, 2001

By A Customer

This review is from: Struck By Lightning (Audio CD)

I have nearly all of Graham's albums, and this one is tied for best. Just about every song is great. The few that aren't great are very good. (I must say, though, that it did take a number of listenings to grow on me before I fell in love with it.) It's not in the style of his 1970s stuff. If you loved Mona Lisa's Sister, you'll love this one too.