Rock and Roll with a Splash of Soul and Folk
Graham Parker and the Rumour
These guys released their first album when disco was near its peak. To a guy like me, who was not a fan of disco, it was a breath of fresh air.
Parker wrote good songs, and has a terrific rock and roll voice. His band, The Rumour, was first rate.
Their first album was “Howlin Wind” in early 1976. It was obviously influenced by the Rolling Stones and Van Morrison. It featured hard rock & roll, with a bit of folk-rock. Parker’s lyrics are passionate and often sarcastic. The album was produced by Nick Lowe (and a talented singer/songwriter in his own right), one of the best English producers at that time.
The critics absolutely loved “Howlin Wind”, and I did too. Nearly every track is good. One of my top 10 albums.
White Honey Apple Music Spotify
Between You and Me Apple Spotify
Not if it Pleases me Apple Spotify
Their second album, “Heat Treatment” was released late in the same year as the first. It wasn’t quite as good, but had the same passion and drive, but the production (without Lowe), was not as good. It had more of a soul music (Morrison) influence than the first. The critics were still positive.
Pourin’ It All Out Apple Spotify
Here is Graham Park and the Rumor in 1977, singing “Hold Back the Night” from “Heat Treatment”.
The critics liked his next two albums, but I was not as enthusiastic.
Official video of “Local Girls” from “Squeezing out Sparks”, their fourth album.
I quit listening to Parker’s music after 1980. He became a curmudgeon, and the passion and drive seemed gone.
When Parker appeared, he was overshadowed by Elvis Costello, who had a similar sound. Costello went on to have a better overall career, but Costello never made an album as good as “Howlin’ Wind”.