Fifty years into his recording career, UK rock legend GRAHAM PARKER is still going strong, out on the road in the US and at home in 2026 and writing tunes of wit and wisdom that stand with his best. As part of our celebration of this milestone year, BIG STIR RECORDS brings you another live single, a scorching version of his mid-career gem “Black Lincoln Continental” recorded onstage with Parker backed by his current band THE GOLDTOPS, as a preview of a new limited-edition Vinyl LP and Streaming album drawn from his 2023 full band UK tour, soon to be announced. The single is out May 22 on all digital platforms worldwide and up for preorder and pre-save now:
https://orcd.co/grahamparker-blclive
GRAHAM PARKER remains a singular force on the rock and roll landscape. From his beloved 1976 debut album HOWLIN' WIND (the subject of a new, acclaimed book by rock writer Jay Nachman in collaboration with the singer) to 2023's acclaimed LAST CHANCE TO LEARN THE TWIST, he's rarely looked back or been far from the road. This year marks the 50th Anniversary of that debut (as well as, incredibly, his second LP HEAT TREATMENT), and while Parker pushes ever forward, the occasion warrants celebration. That will come in the form of the soon-to-be-announced album QUALITY FOOTWEAR: LIVE AT THE BROOK, from which the performance on this single is drawn. It features Parker's sly, soulful voice at its very best, backed by THE GOLDTOPS (longtime guitar-slinging sideman Martin Belmont, keyboardist Geraint Watkins, bassist Simon Edwards and drummer Jim Russell) and the backing vocals of The Lady Bugs (Paige Stubley and Martha Evans) recorded live at The Brook in Southampton, England, and mixed by Graham's current producer Tuck Nelson.
Originally featured on Parker's 1985 album STEADY NERVES, a record that's perhaps often overshadowed by the success of its followup THE MONA LISA'S SISTER, “Black Lincoln Continental” is a taut rocker and a longtime live favorite in both solo renditions and blazing full-band readings like this one. With much of the 2026 media focus on the beginning and the latest offerings in the GP catalog, the single reminds fans of the remarkable consistency of top-tier songwriting across the man's entire career. Of picking the track for standalone release, Parker says: “Out of the tunes recorded at that Southampton show, I’ve long had 'Black Lincoln' in my mind as a more surprise attack, being a bit less known. But bloody hell, that track is old school barrelhouse rocker intense and might just grab some old fans who love that aspect of me, but missed the song entirely when it originally came out. Plus, Nick Lowe once covered it on an album, just a few years after my version came out!”
It's a prime example of the acerbic wit that's characterized Parker's writing from the beginning and which still runs through his current work, and THE GOLDTOPS give this vehicle all the drive it demands. Stand by for more news on the new record, and catch GRAHAM PARKER on tour now and through the end of the year on his most expansive solo tour in years. To hear him now, live onstage or as captured on this single and the new album, it's clear that that there's much more in store.