Alternative Milestones Episode 10 – Squeezing Out Sparks

Thu, Apr 4, 2024

This week I get to highlight one of my favorite albums ever, Graham Parker & The Rumour’s 1979 album Squeezing Out Sparks. They changed direction a bit, from the pub rock of their first 3 albums to join the Angry Young Men club with Elvis Costello & Joe Jackson. It’s criminal he’s not gotten more credit for his long career. Graham appeared as himself in fan Judd Apatow’s comedy This is 40, in a plot-line about that very thing.

Other highlights this week include:
Birthday milestones from ‘Til Tuesday, The Cars, Wall of Voodoo and Placebo
In Memoriam milestones celebrating the music of Shawn Smith and Kurt Cobain
Release anniversary milestones from Manchester Orchestra, Circa Waves, and Modest Mouse

Show archive

Playlist

'Til Tuesday, “Looking Over My Shoulder”

from Voices Carry (Expanded Edition)

Epic/Legacy - 1985

Placebo, “Beautiful James”

from Never Let Me Go

Placebo - 2022

Death Cab for Cutie, “Little Bribes”

from The Open Door - EP

Barsuk/Atlantic - 2009

Filter & The Crystal Method, “(Can't You) Trip Like I Do”

from Spawn: The Album

Immortal/Epic - 1997

Band of Skulls, “Asleep at the Wheel”

from Himalayan

Electric Blues Recordings - 2013

Graham Parker, “Nobody Hurts You”

from Squeezing Out Sparks + Live Sparks (Remastered)

Arista - 1996

Rush, “2112 Overture / The Temples of Syrinx”

from The Spirit of Radio: Greatest Hits (1974-1987)

Mercury Records - 2013

Orange Juice, “Bridge”

from Texas Fever - EP

Analogue Enhanced Digital Limited - 1984

Front Line Assembly, “Digital Tension Dementia”

from Gashed Senses & Crossfire

Roadrunner Records - 1989

Chevelle, “Take Out the Gunman”

from La Gárgola

Epic - 2014

Cloud Nothings, “I'm Not Part of Me”

from Here and Nowhere Else

Cloud Nothings Records - 2014

Manchester Orchestra, “Girl Harbor”

from Cope (Deluxe Version)

Loma Vista - 2013

The Cars, “Blue Tip”

from Move Like This

Hear Music - 2011

Lo Fidelity Allstars, “Battleflag (feat. Pigeonhed)”

from How to Operate with a Blown Mind

Skint Records - 1998

Squeeze, “Cool for Cats”

from Cool for Cats

EMI - 1979

Gary Numan & Tubeway Army, “Down in the Park”

from Replicas (1998 Remaster)

Beggars Banquet - 1998

Pearl Jam, “Animal”

from Vs.

Epic/Legacy - 1993

They Might Be Giants, “Am I Awake?”

from Indestructible Object - EP

Barsuk Records - 2004

The Plimsouls, “Zero Hour”

from The Plimsouls (Expanded Edition)

RCA/Legacy - 1981

Wall of Voodoo, “Back In Flesh”

from Dark Continent

I.R.S. Records - 2015

Nirvana, “Where Did You Sleep Last Night”

from With the Lights Out

Geffen - 2011

Midnight Oil, “Best of Both Worlds (Live at Goat Harbor 1/13/1985)”

from Best of Both Worlds - Oils on the Water (Live at Goat Island, 13th January 1985 and the Capitol Theatre, Sydney, 27th November 1982) [Deluxe Edition]

ABC Music - 2004