''Stick to Me'' is the third studio album by English singer-songwriter

Graham Parker Graham Thomas Parker (born 18 November 1950) is an English singer-songwriter, who is best known as the lead singer of the British band Graham Parker & the Rumour. Life and career Early career (1960s–1976) Parker was born in Hackney, East L ...

and his first group,

the Rumour The Rumour was an English rock band in the late 1970s and early 1980s. They are best known as the backup band for Graham Parker, whose early records (from 1976 to 1980) were credited to Graham Parker & The Rumour. However, The Rumour also ...

Background

Parker, interviewed by Steve Hammer, recalled the making of the album:

Critical reception

Rolling Stone ''Rolling Stone'' is an American monthly magazine that focuses on music, politics, and popular culture. It was founded in San Francisco, San Francisco, California, in 1967 by Jann Wenner, and the music critic Ralph J. Gleason. It was first kno ...

'' critic

Dave Marsh Dave Marsh (born March 1, 1950) is an American music critic, and radio talk show host. He was an early editor of ''Creem'' magazine, has written for various publications such as ''Newsday'', ''The Village Voice'', and ''Rolling Stone (magazine), ...

found that ''Stick to Me'' lacks highlights on the level of the best songs from Parker's previous releases and criticized its production, which he said "obscures the songs' drive and power, making murky some of the most lucid music around." Critical opinion of ''Stick to Me'' generally ranks it below their first two albums, ''

Howlin' Wind ''Howlin' Wind'' is the debut album by English singer-songwriter Graham Parker and his band the Rumour, released in 1976. The Rumour are mainly former pub rock scene musicians, including guitarist Brinsley Schwarz and keyboardist Bob Andrews o ...

'' and ''

Heat Treatment Heat treating (or heat treatment) is a group of industrial, thermal and metalworking processes used to alter the physical, and sometimes chemical, properties of a material. The most common application is metallurgical. Heat treatments are also ...

''. An undeniable shortcoming is the sound: the sessions suffered from a production mishap. The original recording was ruined, and all the songs needed to be rerecorded hastily. This accounts for the absence of bonus tracks on reissues – there weren't any leftovers.

Track listing

All songs written by

except as indicated. # "

Stick to Me ''Stick to Me'' is the third studio album by English singer-songwriter Graham Parker and his first group, the Rumour. Background Parker, interviewed by Steve Hammer, recalled the making of the album: Critical reception ''Rolling Stone'' c ...

" – 3:29 # "

I'm Gonna Tear Your Playhouse Down "I'm Gonna Tear Your Playhouse Down" is a song written by Memphis-based songwriter Earl Randle, and first recorded in 1972 by soul singer Ann Peebles. The song was also a hit in 1984 for English singer Paul Young. Ann Peebles version Produced ...

" (Earl Randle) – 3:26 # "Problem Child" – 3:25 # "Soul on Ice" – 3:01 # "Clear Head" – 2:58 # "The New York Shuffle" – 2:58 # "Watch the Moon Come Down" – 4:49 # "Thunder and Rain" – 3:15 # "The Heat in Harlem" – 7:00 # "The Raid" – 2:39

Personnel

– vocals, guitar * Brinsley Schwarz – guitar * Bob Andrews – organ, piano, keyboards, backing vocals *

Martin Belmont Martin Belmont (born 21 December 1948) is an English rock and country-blues guitarist, best known for being a founding member of Graham Parker & The Rumour. Life and career Belmont was born in Bromley, Kent, England. After working as a roadie ...

– guitar, backing vocals *

Andrew Bodnar Andrew Bodnar is an English bass player who grew up in Clapham, South London. He and drummer Steve Goulding (The Rumour, The Mekons, etc) met and began playing together as a rhythm section while still at school. They spent their teenage years au ...

– bass guitar *

Steve Goulding Steve Goulding (born 1954) is an English drummer, who has played as a member of Graham Parker and The Rumour, The Associates, Poi Dog Pondering, The Waco Brothers, Sally Timms and the Drifting Cowgirls and The Mekons. He also played the drums ...

– drums, backing vocals Additional personnel * John Altman – saxophone *Ray Beavis – saxophone *

David Bedford David Vickerman Bedford (4 August 1937 – 1 October 2011) was an English composer and musician. He wrote and played both popular and classical music. He was the brother of the conductor Steuart Bedford, the grandson of the composer, painter ...

– arrangements * John Earle – saxophone *Chris Gower –

trombone The trombone (german: Posaune, Italian, French: ''trombone'') is a musical instrument in the Brass instrument, brass family. As with all brass instruments, sound is produced when the player's vibrating lips cause the Standing wave, air column ...

*Dick Hanson – trumpet *Darryl Leeque – percussion

Charts

References

{{Authority control Graham Parker albums 1977 albums Albums produced by Nick Lowe Mercury Records albums Vertigo Records albums