In the late 1970s with the Rumour backing him, Graham Parker delivered the news with a defiant snarl and a band capable of turning every inquisition into a grand last stand. 1979’s Squeezing Out Sparks established his critical reputation but a series of label mishaps scattered his commercial momentum. He continued to write scathing commentaries, but he couldn’t muster traction. By the 1980s, Parker turned to studio players and record producers to find the musical fire. For 1985’s Steady Nerves, Parker was joined by his newly commissioned group The Shot and producer William Wittman. No longer the angry young man, but happily married and heading towards middle age, Parker had to redefine his voice. With his new team in place, he brings forth his R&B side with the Smokey Robinson-influenced mid-tempo “Wake Up Next to You,” the slickly produced love affirmation “Mighty Rivers” and the political charge of “Break Them Down.”  “When You Do That To Me” and “The Weekend’s Too Short” retain Parker’s emotional edge, but the production’s emphasis on superfluous keyboards and exaggerated drum beats clearly dates the album as the product of the 1980s.