He Will be Prosecuted

1n 1977 Ian Dury and Graham Parker were on fire. Conveniently, both had the punk tag loosely attached to them - more for their attitude than their music it has to be said - and both used it as a launch pad to grow still further their fan base. And the pair had the foresight to employ graphics wizz Barney Bubbles to help sell their wares - his artwork and designs (remember the Blockheads logo, that was Bubbles) were integral to the punk and new wave scene and could be seen strewn all over the music press, on swathes of record sleeves, and, indeed, anywhere frequented by Bill Stickers.

Ian Dury, 1977 #BarneyBubbles pic.twitter.com/z5LWDZEKaT

— John Medd (@JohnMeddUK) January 15, 2020

@ItsGrahamParker 1977#BarneyBubbles pic.twitter.com/zeWf2ZLoXJ

— John Medd (@JohnMeddUK) January 15, 2020

You Can't be too Strong

Phonogram RIP

Unlike other stand alone record labels, Phonogram was never a label per se, but an umbrella company with a host of catch all labels in its stable including Philips, Mercury, and Vertigo. As with so many other labels and imprints it was subsumed by Universal Music; any identity these labels retain today is purely nostalgic. Which is probably why I paint them.



One of Vertigo's star players from the seventies was the maverick Graham Parker. His silky skills provided the perfect counterpoint to the emerging punk and new wave. I love this song.

Graham Parker - You Can't be too Strong (1979)

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Postscript 12.11.19

I've been meaning to post this for a while - it's just Parker and his acoustic guitar recreating the same song 40 years later (he replicated the whole album that way as an anniversary type thang).

Taking a Flyer

Exhibit 'A'

Also Exhibit 'A'

In November 1977 Graham Parker was criss-crossing the UK promoting his Stick to Me album; you may remember the advertising space his record company took out in all the weekly music rags - Sounds, NME, Melody Maker etc. What you may not remember is that the following month The Next Band, a none too shabby power trio, were playing Grantham Guildhall; I doubt very much that you'll have heard of them, but I think you'll recognise the flyer I liberated that night. As far as I'm aware Next were not in any way related to Mr. Parker, but they obviously took a shine to his artwork.

Postcard from New York

Lumberjacks of the world unite

A big thank you to the delightful Amy Rigby for letting me borrow her photograph of Nick Lowe, Wreckless Eric and Graham Parker taken in New York this summer. That three of the most influential movers in the UK pub rock, punk & new wave scene of the late 70s are still shakin' on the hill is testament to the fact these veterans are, 30+ years on, making some of the best records of their careers. But here at Medd Towers we have to ask - who got these men dressed?