The Mona Lisa's Sister
Studio album by
Graham Parker
ReleasedApril 1988
Recorded1987–1988
GenreBlues rock, soul, rhythm and blues, reggae fusion
Length38:48
LabelRCA
ProducerGraham Parker & Brinsley Schwarz
Graham Parker chronology
Steady Nerves
(1985)		 The Mona Lisa's Sister
(1988)		 Live! Alone in America
(1989)
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[1]
Robert ChristgauC+[2]
Rolling Stone[3]
Trouser Press(Favorable)[4]

The Mona Lisa's Sister is a 1988 album by Graham Parker. It was Parker's first album for RCA following an acrimonious split with Atlantic and the first he produced himself (with Brinsley Schwarz). The "stripped-down" sound of the album garnered critical acclaim and presaged a back-to-basics trend in rock music in the 1990s. It was re-released by Buddah Records in 1999 with a bonus track, "Ordinary Girl", the B-side to "Get Started. Start a Fire". The album debuted at #132 on Billboard 200 Album chart on 28 May 1988, peaking at #77.

In 1989, it was ranked #97 on Rolling Stone magazine's list of the 100 best albums of the 1980s.[5]

Track listing

All song by Graham Parker except (11)

  1. "Don't Let It Break You Down" – 3:34
  2. "Under the Mask of Happiness" – 3:34
  3. "Back in Time" – 3:24
  4. "I'm Just Your Man" – 3:41
  5. "OK Hieronymus" – 4:15
  6. "Get Started. Start a Fire" – 5:08
  7. "The Girl Isn't Ready" – 3:32
  8. "Blue Highways" – 2:35
  9. "Success" – 3:48
  10. "I Don't Know" – 2:47
  11. "Cupid" - (Sam Cooke) – 2:30

Bonus track – 1999 Buddha re-release

  1. "Ordinary Girl"

Bonus tracks – 2016 Expanded Edition

  1. "Ordinary Girl"
  2. "Durban Poison"
  3. "Burning on a Higher Flame"
  4. "There's a Ghost in My House"

Charts

Chart (1986) Peak
position
Australia (Kent Music Report)[6] 81
United States (Billboard 200)[7] 77

Personnel

  • Graham Parker - lead and backing vocals, acoustic guitar, producer
  • Brinsley Schwarz - electric guitar, backing vocals, percussion, producer
  • Andrew Bodnar - bass guitar
  • James Hallawell - keyboards
  • Terry Williams - drums
  • Pete Thomas - drums on (4) and (7)
  • Andy Duncan - drums on (9)
  • Christie Chapman - backing vocals
Technical
  • Jon Jacobs - engineer
  • Martin Edwards - assistant engineer
  • Jack Drummond - cover painting
  • Jolie Parker - photographs

Notes

  1. ↑ "The Mona Lisa's Sister - Graham Parker | Songs, Reviews, Credits". AllMusic. Retrieved 13 July 2020.
  2. ↑ Christgau, Robert. "Robert Christgau: CG: Graham Parker". RobertChristgau.com. Retrieved 13 July 2020.
  3. ↑ DeCurtis, Anthony (19 May 1988). "The Mona Lisa's Sister". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 13 July 2020.
  4. ↑ "Graham Parker (and the Rumour)". Trouser Press. Retrieved 13 July 2020.
  5. ↑ "The 100 Best Albums of the 1980's". Rolling Stone. No. 565. 16 November 1989.
  6. ↑ Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (illustrated ed.). St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. p. 229. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
  7. ↑ "Squeezing Out Sparks – Graham Parker > Charts & Awards > Billboard Albums". allmusic.com. Billboard. Retrieved 7 January 2012.
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