Graham Parker will release a new live album Quality Footwear: Live At The Brook via Big Stir Records on 26th June 2026 Celebrating the 50th Anniversary of his recording career, Parker’s vinyl and streaming collection captures the singer-songwriter and his backing band The Goldtops onstage during his 2023 UK tour. The limited vinyl edition is available exclusively from the Big Stir Records online store (and at select dates of Parker’s 2026 solo tour) and as part of an LP/book bundle with the new trade paperback Graham Parker’s Howlin’ Wind by Jay Nachman.
It has been five decades since the 1976 release of his classic debut album Howlin’ Wind as well as its follow-up Heat Treatment. The songs from the 2023 live set with The Goldtops lean heavily into selections from those two LPs as well as Last Chance To Learn The Twist (released in 2023 by Big Stir).
Parker tells the tale of the record at hand: “On a short UK tour in September 2023, accompanied by The Goldtops (guitarist Martin Belmont, bassist Simon Edwards, keyboard player Geraint Watkins and drummer Jim Russell) and The Lady Bugs (backup singers Paige Stubley and Martha Evans), I had the show at the Brook, Southampton, professionally recorded. A few attempts at editing followed, but the idea from Big Stir Records to do a limited edition vinyl album made me rethink my approach. A live LP live works best with no loose ends, no rambling monologues, and by using only the very best performances, making it tight and intense. The result is Quality Footwear, which means of course that ‘Soul Shoes’ had to make the cut, especially with Brinsley Schwarz guesting on the track. I used my Parker Pinkie electric guitar and mostly left my acoustic on the stand, which helped to kick this thing up into high gear.”
Filling out the set list are some mid-career selections including Black Lincoln Continental and Get Started. Start A Fire both given rather intense interpretations. There’s also a surprise cover, keeping with the album’s footwear theme, of Boogie Shoes by KC and The Sunshine Band. Parker will be on the road as a solo act again with dates in the UK this Autumn. You can find details of dates and tickets here.
Big Stir Records is offering a bundled pairing of the Quality Footwear LP with the paperback edition of the book Graham Parker’s Howlin’ Wind, written by Nachman with the full participation of Parker and members of The Rumour. You can find pre-save / pre-order details at this link.
