The Mona Lisa's Sister

Bought for leonarndos brother

always wanted this album worth the wait superb

A much needed remaster giving the bottom end some weight sorely miss

Great album

This was the first Graham Parker album I bought years ago and I was not disappointed. Now buying it again I am still impressed written as a reaction to Atlantic records wanting to provide a big name producer for his next album when Parker wanted to produce himself searching for a more stripped back personal style. When Atlantic would not play ball Parker got himself out of his contract and this album was the result.The album is beautifully written and performed with a small band including ex Attraction Pete Thomas [Parker came up at the same time as and is often compared to Elvis Costello] the album is full of great songs including 'Don't Let It Bring You Down', 'I'm Just Your Man' and 'Get Started. Start A Fire' these all show that Parker had regained his song writing prowess after a somewhat lacklustre series of albums in the 80's his next album 'Struck By Lightening' would be as equally strong as this one. So this is a great album by a songwriter regaining his muse and one of my favourite albums of the 80's.

This 1988 album by master British songwriter Graham Parker was, for me, a powerful return to form following a near-decade of meanderings in the musical wilderness following his controversial (and, some might say, inexplicable) split with ace support band, The Rumour. Whilst the principal strength of Mona Lisa's Sister emanates from (simply) the quality of the songs, the album's (predominantly acoustic) production, courtesy of Parker and band mainstay Brinsley Schwarz, is sharp and crystal clear, whilst Parker's lyrics here are particularly emotive, shot through with feelings of cynicism, ruefulness and regret.Although hitherto Parker had certainly not shied away from making known his feelings of frustration, here his brooding on what might have been (career-wise) seems to permeate throughout. Nowhere is this more evident than on the slow, crescendo-building song Success, on which Parker bemoans, 'The dreams and hopes of men are powered by addiction, and who am I to say that this is an affliction, when everybody gets suckered in and lives their lives like fiction, writing their own story of success`, before repeatedly spitting out the song's title with increasing venom. Similar sentiments are evident on the rockier album opener Don't Let It Break You Down, on which the man's great soul voice intones, 'Some people are in charge of pens that shouldn't be in charge of brooms, they have the nerve to rip up a man's life in a paragraph or two'. Here, we have further evidence (if any were needed) of the stature of Brinsley Schwarz's guitar playing, his 'less is more' style once again totally intoxicating, before he is given (slightly) freer rein with a brilliant solo on other album standout, Get Started, Start A Fire (Ducks Deluxe leader, Sean Tyla, at a recent gig I witnessed, was right in lauding his guest guitar player, Schwarz, as one of Britain's greatest ever).Indeed, Parker's band here sounds, certainly on the rockier numbers (which would also include the vibrant OK Hieronymus and Under The Mask Of Happiness), almost in the same league as The Rumour at their peak - no doubt, partly due to the tight rhythm section comprising Andy Bodnar's superb rolling bass and drums courtesy of ex-Rockpile man, Terry Williams, and ex-Attractions man, Pete Thomas. Similarly, Parker's voice has never been better, or sounded more soulful, particularly on the album's standout ballads, Success, the beautifully self-deprecating I'm Just Your Man and Blue Highways. Even the man's 'obligatory' reggae-fied number (not always my favourites, I'll admit), The Girl Isn't Ready, works quite well, and the album concludes, in something of a break from the otherwise dark mood, with a heartfelt and airy version of Sam Cooke's Cupid.A must-have album for any Parker aficionado, which along with Human Soul (my particular favourite) and Burning Questions, see the man at his post-Rumour peak.

This album - the first of four classics released between 1988 and 1992 - marked a real return to form for Parker after almost a decade of less than thrilling releases. The overblown production style which marred most of his mid-eighties output is eschewed here in favour of a more stripped down approach. There is not a dud on this CD; Back in Time, Ok Hieronymus, I'm Just Your Man, and Success are all Parker classics. A decade on and The Mona Lisa's Sister remains one of Parker's best and an essential addition to any CD collection.

Some brilliant songs. Back In Time is a sublime reflection on going back to childhood haunts, Success and Blue Highways have a lovely acoustic sound and inspired lyrics while The Girl Isn't Ready was the first grown-up song I'd ever heard about being a dad. Not a bad track on it and a deserved comeback for Parker at the time...

consegna velocissima . prodotto come richiesto.

The story is told in the liner notes of Graham Parker having diner with Ahmet Ertegun (Atlantic Records co-founder) and when Graham discussed doing an album that was based around "songs" and not "production" he was met with, let's call it an unenthusiastic response. Graham took tapes, and his desire to produce his music, and went RCA, and the Mona Lisa's Sister was made.Parker had a vision, and when the record was made he had created one of the best records of the 80's. His best album since Sparks, it ranks up there with his first 4 albums (I know people don't like Stick to Me--because of the production quality; but get above the bad production (it was a rush job) and it holds up with the other 3). This has soul, heart, and just some great songs.If you like Graham, get this album. If you don't know if you like Graham, get this album, trust me you will love it.

Great album. Bought the CD to replace the cassette I bought years ago.

great recording fast delivery and plays perfectly!!!!

Graham Parker at his finest. Surprisingly upbeat for the social commentary of the lyrics. If you like Parker, it is a must have. If you have never listened to him, this is, in my opinion, his best work, so I would start with this album. It will not disappoint.

One of my favorite bands. Love it.

I ve missed this album since I left my copy in CNY 15 years ago. I got started looking for Cupid -but the rest are great too

People. Yes I'm back. Did you really think I'd go away after Amazon took away my credit card? No chance. However, even I will admit that it took ALL of my power and my excellent smokey backroom negotiation skills to appear before you once again. You see? I still have the firm mission of saving humanity from itself. Selfless, I know. However, all do not appreciate my fine efforts. One time a heckler at one of my lectures asked who's going to save me from me. Then he threw a shoe which just missed my Seer's hat. The authorities wanted to arrest him, however I convinced them not to and hired him as my personal bodyguard. I cannot begin to tell you how many people are walking around today with a permanent heel mark on their forehead. See how things work out?Anyway, I am here to review Graham Parkers offering called "The Mona Lisa's Sister". I don't know what to tell you. This selection makes me feel like a cross between Humphrey Bogart in "The Treasure of Sierra Madre" and Leslie Howard in "The Petrified Forest". The perfect mix of trepidation and paranoia for all the conflicted. But, this is just a part of what you get when you sign on to experience Mr. Parker's world. Cynical, sly, acerbic, revealing. But there is much more to the total package. He is always looking for the hook that will expose society's joke illusions that many in life are unaware of. He questions the meaning of love, what true happiness consists of, and the enigma of bubble barricades that prevent us from, well, being us. Mr. Parker never accepts things at face value, and in doing so, makes us travel new roads of lyrical meaning and an enjoyable musical ride.The music here runs the gamut of rock/pop, reggae, folk with memorable hooks that make an impression from the very first listen. From the start, he gives you fair warning. With "Don't Let it Break You Down" he implores you to build up a resistence to all the depressing incidents that invade your life. The next jaunty tune, "Under the Mask of Happiness" exposes the illusion of a relationship. What is the true essence of happiness? Can beliefs deceive you - and others? Are we all wandering in the petrified forest? Don't include me. I've cut the trees down on my property long ago.Another topic he writes about is the useless excursion we all make looking back at the past. The depressing realization that things never remain consistent. "But all the old news is like print stains across your mind, when you try to go back in time", from "Back In Time". Quirky chosen topics like Hieronymus Bosch in "Ok Hieronymus" project how life is definitely a mix of heaven and hell. The theme of unhappiness and setting fire to it is never more evident than in "Get Started, Start a Fire". With Graham, you have to decipher the meanings, but he begs you to make sense of all the puzzle pieces he has given you. Appropriately, he doesn't give you the answers. He is just the messenger as envidenced by the classic song "Cupid".In closing, this has been a favorite of mine for a long, long time. Graham, in his own way, trys to save humanity. So we both are on the same page in this regard. If you notice, as testimony to just how clever this man is, the Mona Lisa's sister cover is a hidden self-portait of Graham. A definite take off of the theory Leonardo hid his face in the Mona Lisa. Leave it to me to discover such things!Get this - great album!sincerely, Humphrey Howard (Metamorpho ;))

The production is sparse and intimate. The songs deliver. The performance splendid. This is among my favorites.