The Mona Lisa's Sister

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The Mona Lisa's Sister
Studio album by Graham Parker
Released	April 1988
Recorded	?
Genre	Rock
Length	38:48
Label	RCA
Producer	Graham Parker & Brinsley Schwarz
Professional reviews
All Music Guide link Robert Christgau (C+) link Rolling Stone link Trouser Press (Favorable) link
Graham Parker chronology
Steady Nerves (1985) The Mona Lisa's Sister (1988) Live! Alone in America (1989)

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 Buddha Records in 1999 with a bonus track, "Ordinary Girl", the B-side to "Get Started. Start a Fire". The album debuted at #77 (US) May 28, 1988.

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

[edit] 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" - Cooke – 2:30

[edit] Bonus Track - 1999 Buddha Re-release

12. "Ordinary Girl"

[edit] Personnel

• Graham Parker - Lead & 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

• Jon Jacobs - Engineer
• Martin Edwards - Assistant Engineer
• Jack Drummond - Cover Painting
• Jolie Parker - Photographs