Howlin' Wind
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''Howlin' Wind'' is the debut album by English singer-songwriter Graham Parker and his band the Rumour, released in April 1976. The Rumour were mainly former pub rock musicians, including guitarist Brinsley Schwarz and keyboardist Bob Andrews of the band Brinsley Schwarz; Parker's recent jobs included working as a petrol pump attendant. The music is a blend of
rock and roll Rock and roll (often written as rock & roll, rock-n-roll, and rock 'n' roll) is a Genre (music), genre of popular music that evolved in the United States during the late 1940s and early 1950s. It Origins of rock and roll, originated from African ...
, R&B,
reggae Reggae () is a music genre that originated in Jamaica during the late 1960s. The term also denotes the modern popular music of Jamaica and its Jamaican diaspora, diaspora. A 1968 single by Toots and the Maytals, "Do the Reggay", was the first ...
and
folk music Folk music is a music genre that includes #Traditional folk music, traditional folk music and the Contemporary folk music, contemporary genre that evolved from the former during the 20th-century folk revival. Some types of folk music may be ca ...
, behind Parker's searingly intelligent lyrics and passionate vocals. Critics likened Parker's spirit to British
punk rock Punk rock (also known as simply punk) is a rock music genre that emerged in the mid-1970s. Rooted in 1950s rock and roll and 1960s garage rock, punk bands rejected the corporate nature of mainstream 1970s rock music. They typically produced sh ...
, then in its early stage, and retrospectively to that of singer-songwriters
Elvis Costello Declan Patrick MacManus (born 25 August 1954), known professionally as Elvis Costello, is an English singer, songwriter, record producer, author and television host. According to ''Rolling Stone'', Costello "reinvigorated the literate, lyrical ...
and Joe Jackson, who would release their debut records within a few years of ''Howlin' Wind''. Many of the album's songs became live staples for the group, especially the reggae-tinged "Don't Ask Me Questions", which dismisses a malevolent God. "Back to Schooldays" demonstrates why Parker was categorised as "angry young man" by journalists throughout his career: Parker plans retribution against an education system that promised him that "it was like a film out here" when "it's a real horror show, boys". The title track "Howlin' Wind" bracingly announces Graham Parker's career aim: "I'm gonna howl". "Between You and Me" dates from 1975, when Parker, before meeting the Rumour, recorded demo versions of a few of his songs for Dave Robinson, future founder of
Stiff Records Stiff Records is a British independent record label formed in London by Dave Robinson (music executive), Dave Robinson and Jake Riviera. Originally active from 1976 to 1986, the label was reactivated in 2007. Established at the outset of the p ...
. These tracks were shopped to labels and played on radio. The album's liner notes explain that "A subsequent recording of the song did not match the feel of the original ... here it is!" ''Howlin' Wind'' was reissued in the United Kingdom in 2001 on Vertigo/Mercury, with one bonus track.


Critical reception

Reviewing ''Howlin' Wind'' for ''
Rolling Stone ''Rolling Stone'' is an American monthly magazine that focuses on music, politics, and popular culture. It was founded in San Francisco, California, in 1967 by Jann Wenner and the music critic Ralph J. Gleason. The magazine was first known fo ...
'', critic Teri Moris praised the Rumour's "raw efficiency" and "the directness of the playing and arranging", while concluding that the album primarily succeeds due to Parker's skills as a songwriter and arranger. ''Howlin' Wind'' finished fourth in ''
The Village Voice ''The Village Voice'' is an American news and culture publication based in Greenwich Village, New York City, known for being the country's first Alternative newspaper, alternative newsweekly. Founded in 1955 by Dan Wolf (publisher), Dan Wolf, ...
''s 1976
Pazz & Jop Pazz & Jop was an annual poll of top musical releases, compiled by American newspaper ''The Village Voice'' and created by music critic Robert Christgau. It published lists of the year's top releases for 1971 and, after Christgau's two-year abse ...
critics' poll of the year's best albums, following Parker's later released ''
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 a ...
'' in the second spot.


Track listing

All songs written by Graham Parker # "White Honey" – 3:33 # "Nothin's Gonna Pull Us Apart" – 3:21 # "Silly Thing" – 2:51 # "Gypsy Blood" – 4:37 # "Between You and Me" – 2:25 # "Back to Schooldays" – 2:54 # "Soul Shoes" – 3:13 # "Lady Doctor" – 2:50 # "You've Got to Be Kidding" – 3:30 # "Howlin' Wind" – 3:58 # "Not If It Pleases Me" – 3:12 # "Don't Ask Me Questions" – 5:38


Bonus Track (2001 Reissue)

# "I'm Gonna Use It Now" – 3:11


Personnel

* Graham Parker – vocals,
acoustic guitar An acoustic guitar is a musical instrument in the string family. When a string is plucked, its vibration is transmitted from the bridge, resonating throughout the top of the guitar. It is also transmitted to the side and back of the instrument, ...
, Fender rhythm guitar ;The Rumour * Brinsley Schwarz – guitar,
Hammond organ The Hammond organ is an electric organ invented by Laurens Hammond and John M. Hanert, first manufactured in 1935. Multiple models have been produced, most of which use sliding #Drawbars, drawbars to vary sounds. Until 1975, sound was created ...
, backing vocals * Bob AndrewsLowrey organ, Hammond organ, piano, backing vocals * Martin Belmont – guitar, backing vocals * Steve Goulding – drums, backing vocals * Andrew BodnarFender bass ;Brass * Stewart Lynas – brass arrangement * Herschel Holder – trumpet * Dave Conners – first tenor saxophone *Brinsley Schwarz – second tenor saxophone * Danny Ellis
trombone The trombone (, 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 lips vibrate inside a mouthpiece, causing the Standing wave, air c ...
* John "Viscount" Earle – baritone saxophone ;Additional personnel * Paul Bailey – guitar on 5 * Dave Otway – drums on 5 * Paul Riley – bass guitar on 5 * Noel Brown –
slide guitar Slide guitar is a technique for playing the guitar that is often used in blues music. It involves playing a guitar while holding a hard object (a slide) against the strings, creating the opportunity for glissando effects and deep vibratos that ...
on 6,
dobro Dobro () is an American brand of resonator guitars owned by Gibson and manufactured by its subsidiary Epiphone. The term "dobro" is also used as a generic term for any wood-bodied, single-cone resonator guitar. The Dobro was originally a gui ...
on 11 *
Dave Edmunds David William Edmunds (born 15 April 1944) is a Welsh retired singer, songwriter, guitarist and record producer. Although he is mainly associated with Pub rock (United Kingdom), pub rock and New wave music, new wave, having many hit record, h ...
– guitar on 6 * Ed Deane – slide guitar on 7 *Stewart Lynas –
alto saxophone The alto saxophone is a member of the saxophone family of woodwind instruments. Saxophones were invented by Belgians, Belgian instrument designer Adolphe Sax in the 1840s and patented in 1846. The alto saxophone is pitched in the key of E♭ ( ...
on 8


References

{{Authority control Graham Parker albums 1976 debut albums Albums produced by Nick Lowe Mercury Records albums Reggae rock albums Vertigo Records albums