Album: Howlin Wind (25th Anniv Remaster)

Song Title

Time

White Honey

Nothin's Gonna Pull Us Apart

Silly Thing

Gypsy Blood

Between You and Me

Back to Schooldays

Soul Shoes

Lady Doctor

You've Got to Be Kidding

10)

Howlin' Wind

11)

Not If It Pleases Me

12)

Don't Ask Me Questions

13)

I'm Gonna Use It Now

Album: Howlin Wind (25th Anniv Remaster)

Song Title

Time

White Honey

Nothin's Gonna Pull Us Apart

Silly Thing

Gypsy Blood

Between You and Me

Back to Schooldays

Soul Shoes

Lady Doctor

You've Got to Be Kidding

10)

Howlin' Wind

11)

Not If It Pleases Me

12)

Don't Ask Me Questions

13)

I'm Gonna Use It Now

Tracks

1. White Honey

2. Nothin's Gonna Pull Us Apart

3. Silly Thing

4. Gypsy Blood

5. Between You And Me

6. Back To Schooldays

7. Soul Shoes

8. Lady Doctor

9. You've Got To Be Kidding

10. Howlin' Wind

11. Not If It Pleases Me

12. Don't Ask Me Questions

13. I'm Gonna Use It Now

Performer Notes

This is Parker's 1976 debut with The Rumour, prepared from the original master tapes.
This 25th anniversary of the debut record of singer-songwriter Graham Parker features liner notes by Parker. Tracks include "Don't Ask Me Questions", "White Honey", and the title track. Musicians include Brinsley Schwarz, Martin Belmont (Ducks Deluxe), and Stephen Goulding and Andrew Bodnar from Bontemps Roulez.
The snarling debut from England's Graham Parker is a startling slice of purpose, fury, and passion. The braying anger and defiance of the album was enough to get Parker lumped in with the punk explosion that followed on the heels of HOWLIN' WIND. But for every ounce of punk frustration there is an equal measure of Parker's musical roots--R&B, soul, and Motown all bubble over the righteous anger. Standout tracks include the jaunty "White Honey," a cocaine warning that ripples like a '60s dance floor favorite and the reggae-fied "Don't Ask Me Questions," which brays with such indignant fury it makes much of the punk rebelliousness seem rote by comparison.
This sense of steely determination serves as the foundation of nearly all Parker's later work. As his approach of biting wordplay, stinging delivery, and traditional bar band backing became a template from which all his future releases stemmed, HOWLIN' WIND is a telling document. It's also the best place to catch an early glimpse of the work of a former gas station attendant who decided to make a significant noise of his own.

Professional Reviews

Spin (p.104) - "[D]eeply satisfying, mixing rowdy fun and soul-baring expressions of anguish."

Uncut (9/01, p.102) - 4 stars out of 5 - "...His songs were written in isolation, but when The Rumour got hold of them they were full of venom, dark rage and defiant righteousness..."