I’ve been listening to a lot of Graham Parker since last May when I posted his debut album Howlin’ Wind. If I had to compare him with someone…it would be Elvis Costello and Joe Jackson but with a touch of Van Morrison and The Band sprinkled in here and there.
In an interview, Parker revealed that the inspiration for the song came from his own personal experience. He was deeply in love with his wife at the time and wanted to express his love for her through his music. The song was written in just 20 minutes. He said he wanted to emulate Smokey Robinson on this song.
The song was released in 1985 and is the only Parker song to get into the Billboard Top 40. The song was on the album Steady Nerves. Parker wanted William Whittman as producer but his record company Electra did not like that choice. They went into the studio just to do a few tracks as a test and they sent Electra this track…and they approved Whittman.
Whittman was no slouch… As a producer and engineer his credits include Cyndi Lauper, Joan Osborne, The Hooters, and The Outfield. He also played bass in the Cyndi Lauper Band, recording and touring internationally, and also serves as the Musical Director.
The song has a nice feel to it. It’s been covered by David Bowie and Elvis Costello just to name a few.
The song peaked at #39 on the Billboard 100 and #94 in Canada in 1985. Graham Parker didn’t use Rumour as his backing band on this one. His backing band on this album included Brinsley Schwarz, George Small, Kevin Jenkins, Mike Braun, and Huw Gower.
Wake Up (Next To You)
I can’t have no objection to the world outside
I don’t have no complaints against life’s one way ride
I know I’m sleeping with an angel and this devil’s in luck
Wake up, wake up, wake up, wake up, wake up
I’ve been dreaming for too long
I guess something’s always wrong unless I
Wake up next to you
I wanna wake up next to you
The summer’s left a spell on us, magic and gold
The tarmac’s cracked and shimmering up on the road
I know I’m walking with an angel down a hot avenue
Wake up, wake up, wake up, wake up, wake up
I’ve been dreaming for too long
I guess something’s always wrong unless I
Wake up next to you, I wanna wake up
Wake up next to you
You know what I’m gonna do
I’m gonna pick up the telephone right now
And I’m gonna call Information
And I’ll say to them
“Where is she right now?
‘Cause I want her and I need her”
And I wanna hear her say
“Hey, baby, wake up”
Wake up next to you, I’m wanna wake up
Wake up next to you
Where is she right now?
‘Cause I want her and I need her
And I wanna hear her say
Wake up, wake up, wake up
Gonna wake up, wake up, wake up
Gonna wake up, wake up, wake up
Gonna wake up, wake up, wake up
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“Howlin’ Wind” is a great album. And, OMG, “Wake Up” has Smokey Robinson all over it – love it and would be curious to hear it from Smokey!
BTW, did you know Parker just released a new album, “Last Chance to Learn the Twist”? It’s billed as Graham Parker & The Goldtops. Based on the first few bars of the first track, I have a feeling it’s a great album – sometimes you just know. I’ll definitely check it out!
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Thanks for the heads up, have to check that out!
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I’ve been listening to it and really like what I’ve heard thus far!
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To be honest I bought hi first six albums but then got into a very sporadic listening mode. It’ll be nice to revisit. Such an underrated talent.
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No I didn’t know that…I will have to check it out Christian.
Yes it does have a Smokey feel…he did a great job.
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A very sweet song.
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I’m a bit of a GP fan and while I like the tune and the sentiment it’s not one of my favourites. Still a day listening to GP is a day well spent!
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I probably heard it back in the day but not sounding familiar… not bad at all. I think Elvis Costello is most directly comparable to him, but I don’t know why that would have blocked his path to success as some say.
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I like a lot of his stuff better than Costello… yea I don’t get it either….and I like Costello a lot.
During that debut album is where I would hear the Joe Jackson and Van.
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I wake up and I see a Parker gem posted from my friend Max. He is just plain good. The sax solo is perfect. ‘I know I’m walking with an angel” gets the romantic side of CB. Especially when you mean those words. I like the little Peter Wolf rap he does. Parker really puts his feelin this (like he always does). Keep up these posts fella.
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Thanks CB… when I heard the song I thought Smokey…and then reading that is what he wanted… was pretty cool. He does it in his own way and doesn’t copy Smokey but gives you just the feel of Smokey. That is genius to me.
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In your listening to GP you are going to find and hear all sorts of influences. Like you he hits me like The Band, Van, Bruce that way but saying that he puts it through his talent and gives us Graham Parker music. Keep them coming Max.
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“I’m sleeping with an angel and this devil’s in luck” what a great lyric! Thanks for the introduction to this tune.
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All I can reiterate is what others above have said- it is so Smokey. Goes to show you can be influenced without ripping the guts and skeleton out of your muses song and then call it yours.
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Yes….just getting the feel can be tricky but he did it.
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