The Up Escalator  by Graham Parker

In 1980, Graham Parker entered the studio to record The Up Escalator, his fifth album and the last with the legendary band The Rumour. Musically, the album moves between pub rock, new wave, and classic rock, maintaining Parker's intense, almost angry performance. It was released in May 1980 by Stiff Records in the UK and Arista in the USA.

The production was entrusted to the top Jimmy Iovine, who brought a cleaner, "American" rock sound, influenced by his recent collaborations with Bruce Springsteen and Tom Petty. The recordings featured Brinsley Schwarz, Martin Belmont, Andrew Bodnar, and Stephen Goulding, while Danny Federici from the E Street Band added his characteristic instrument. One of the album's most iconic moments is Bruce Springsteen's own participation in the vocals of the song "Endless Night."

Despite high expectations and the fact that it reached No. 11 on the UK charts, the album did not achieve the commercial success of its predecessor, Squeezing Out Sparks. The main single "Stupefaction" failed to enter the charts, which accelerated the breakup of the Rumour shortly after the album's promotional tour. Global sales are estimated at about 50,000 copies, although it remains a favorite work of critics and the artist's die-hard fans.