The Mona Lisa's Sister

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.

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]

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 Editors (16 November 1989). "The 100 Best Albums of the 1980's". Rolling Stone. No. 565. {{cite magazine}}: |author= has generic name (help)
  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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