Isn't it funny how you can listen to some albums and they sound as fresh as if they were released yesterday, but others sound like they've been gathering cobwebs for 30 years. After running this morning, I slipped in one of those nice Japanese remasters of XTC's classic Drums and Wires but it just didn't gel at all for me today. Been listening a lot to the new Futureheads that sounds a lot like this and really loving it, but for some reason the XTC beats sounded plodding and syncopated and the songs just all seemed kind of tired. Not at all what I wanted to hear today - so after it was about halfway through I had to get up and change CDs. So what to play? And then my eye caught a glimpse of Graham Parker's Heat Treatment laying in a stack on the floor and I immediately knew that was the one. This isn't the run-of-the-mill, crappy sounding, original old CD, but is the 2001 UK remaster that sounds very good in comparison. So into the player it goes and it's just one incredible gem after another. Dated? Maybe in 2204, but not 2004! What a great album! Yea, I know it's not the one that everyone calls his best (actually it's probably number 3 or even 4 on most lists) but it might be my favorite some days since it was my introduction to GP. And now it even has a couple great bonus tracks from the following Pink Parker EP. Just too cool

So what old classic have you been rediscovering lately?

I pretty consistently go back to those first four Graham Parker albums. Incredibly timeless stuff. And you're right, Davey, Heat Treatment usually takes the #3 spot behind Howling Wind and Squeezing Out Sparks, but all of 'em are stone cold classics IMO.

The old re-discoveries I've been delving into lately (and I've already posted about them in other threads) are Captain Beefheart (Clear Spot and Spotlight Kid sound better and more contemporary now than they ever have) and the Faces (the Five Guys Walked Into A Bar box set).

The Faces box features an amazing wealth of unreleased material - and much of it of a higher quality than some of their ragtag official albums. But the thing that stands out the most for me are the snippets of studio banter; the band sounds giddily drunk most of the time, shouting and joking to each other, immersed in good time chaos, and then the song will start and BAM those same drunken rogues suddenly tear your heart out with a sweet 'n' sensitive reading of "Jealous Guy" or some old R&B chestnut. It's an unbelievable about-face in emotion, and they do it time and time again, like flicking on a switch. Plus, the songs are so damn good - even my wife, who's a dyed-in-the-wool Rod Stewart loather, has started to come around and understand his long-ago cast off coolness. I really don't think there's ever been an artist who has so completely sold out their talent and virtually destroyed what should have been an unimpeachable legacy.

i've got mercury poisoning.

I'll always have a soft spot in my heart for "Steady Nerves" and the song "Wake Up Next To You" in particular.

The first Graham Parker song I heard was on the radio in Gainseville, FL in 1976, from the Pink Parker EP- Hold Back The Night. It sent me to the RECORD store where I found Heat Treatment. And now I think I have 95% of his commercially available stuff, but I guess I need to look for the UK remaster of Heat Treatment, since it has some Pink Parker on it.

Another undervalued genius. And, Davey, Mona Lisa's Sister still kicks ass for me.

I've got that Pink Parker EP. Came on pink vinyl. It was one of my more treasured finds from back in the day. "Hold Back The Night" is the standout on it, and that song has been widely available on more than a couple GP Best-Ofs.

Mebbe I should re-evaluate my holdings at 80%, then - don't do much commercial comp stuff-

NP: Mona Lisa's Sister on dollar vinyl- dang it's good.