GRAHAM PARKER

At a time when such terms as rewarding and cortipelling can rarely be applied to rock albums, Parker's "Howlin' Wind" bristles with the kind of bold artistic promise to make even the most disheartened cynic believe rock can matter again.

-- Robert Hilburn, Los Angeles Times


The album ("Howlin' Wind") owes its success to Parker's ability to ally a compelling melody with an Arrangement that strengthen's the hook, and lyrics that more than hold their own.

-- Teri Morris, Rolling Stone


Parker is an ice-age rocker, totally unaffected by the last ten years of absurd British pop. Due to some unknown tremors, he has reawakened and it's a shot of beautiful rock'n roll history.

-- Mitchell Glazer, Crawdaddy Magazine


(Parker) has enough singing and songwriting talent to become an important artist.

-- Gary Kenton, Circus Magazine


Parker and his band pump out roots rock, from blues to reggae, with a punchy enthusiasm and polish gained from incessant gigging on England's pub circuit.

-- John Milward, Performance Magazine


Graham Parker and the Rumour played what was perhaps the most exciting set an opening act has performed at the Bottom Line.

-- Ira Mayer & Barry Taylor, Record World


Some of Parker's lyrical gems in their dazzling musical settings are like a fresh new hurricane that indicates even more which way the rock wind is blowing these days.

-- Pierre-Rene North, Milwaukee Journal


"Howlin' Wind" is one of the most impressive debut albums of 1976.

-- Jon Bream, Minneapolis Star

If we may be so modest, the acclaim was well diversed. It is very rare for a person with Graham's ability to appear, matching intelligent lyrics with strong melodies, not to mention his backing band, the Rumour, which adds the punch necessary to pull it all off in one package.

With Parker out front, playing acoustic and electric guitars, he is joined by Brinsley Schwarz and Martin Belmont on guitars, Bob Andrews on keyboards, Andrew Bodnar on bass, and Stephen Goulding on drums.

It is through a combination of accidents that Graham Parker is setting the rock world on its ear. The first accident was the breakup of several British bands in the wake of the demise of the so-called pub rock boom. While this was happening, Parker, a filling station attendant in Surrey, put together a demonstration tape of some of his songs and sent it to the Hope and Anchor Pub, a gathering place for the musicians. He hoped it would interest the musicians there.

By chance, Brinsley heard it and invited Graham up to the Pub to record a demo in the adjacent studio. When he arrived there, Bob Andrews, Schwarz's partner in the band that bore Brinsley's name, was there. Living upstairs at the pub was Martin Belmont, late of Ducks Deluxe. Hanging out in the pub that day was Steve Goulding and Andrew Bodner, who had just left their previous band. They all combined for the demo, and Graham Parker and the Rumour was born.

The group rehearsed at another nearby pub, honing their sound before even attempting a live performance. In the meantime, Charlie Gillett got a copy of the demo tape and played it on his Radio London show. Nigel Grainge, a Phonogram/England A&R man, happened to be listening. A couple of phone calls later, negotiations were under way for a worldwide contract with Phonogram (Mercury Records in America).

The debut album, "Howlin' Wind" was greeted ecstatically on both sides of the Atlantic. But as good as the album was, it gave literally no indication on the power of Graham Parker and the Rumour on a stage. The "take-it-from-four-and-burn" adage was never more appropriate and for one of the few times in recent years, the on-stage excitement was generated by the music and not firebombs, slide shows, self-immolation or other tricks.

The new album, "Heat Treatment" is a successful attempt at capturing the live excitement. The bar room sound of the first album is replaced with a clearer sound on the instruments and voices. The music itself draws from many sources, from the R&B sound of the title track, the bit of reggae on "Something You're Goin' Thru," straightforeward rock on "Help Me Shake It," and a ballad approach on "Black Honey."

lt seems only a matter of time before Graham Parker explodes. In this era of many rock acts passing off the musical equivalent of evaporated milk, Graham Parker is offering the cream of rock music. And cream rises to the top.

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