{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2020}} {{Infobox album | name = Howlin' Wind | type = studio | artist = Graham Parker and the Rumour | cover = Howlin'_wind_cover.jpg | alt = | released = April 1976 | recorded = | studio = Eden Studios, London | venue = | genre = * Pub rock<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/howling-wind-mw0000203537|author=Stephen Thomas Erlewine|title=Howling Wind Review|work=AllMusic}}</ref> * blue-eyed soul<ref>{{Cite podcast|url=https://slate.com/podcasts/hit-parade/2022/11/three-punk-sophisticates-helped-invent-new-wave|title=Angry Young Men Edition|website=Hit Parade {{!}} Music History and Music Trivia|publisher=Slate|last=Molanphy|first=Chris|date=November 19, 2022|access-date=February 21, 2023}}</ref> * R&B<ref name= "RS 2004">{{cite book |chapter=Graham Parker |chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=t9eocwUfoSoC&pg=PA616 |last=Abowitz |first=Richard |title=The New Rolling Stone Album Guide |title-link=The Rolling Stone Album Guide |editor1-last=Brackett |editor1-first=Nathan |editor1-link=Nathan Brackett |editor2-last=Hoard |editor2-first=Christian |editor2-link=Christian Hoard |publisher=Simon & Schuster |edition=4th |year=2004 |isbn=0-7432-0169-8 |pages=[https://archive.org/details/newrollingstonea00brac/page/616 616–17]}}</ref> | length = 42:02 | label = Vertigo, Mercury | producer = Nick Lowe | prev_title = | prev_year = | next_title = Heat Treatment | next_year = 1976 }}
'''''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.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.neilobrienentertainment.com/artists/graham-parker.aspx|work=neilobrienentertainment.com|title=Graham Parker |date=24 February 2023 }}</ref> The music is a blend of rock and roll, R&B, reggae and folk music, behind Parker's searingly intelligent lyrics and passionate vocals. Critics likened Parker's spirit to British punk rock, then in its early stage, and retrospectively to that of singer-songwriters Elvis Costello 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. 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== {{Music ratings | rev1 = AllMusic | rev1score = {{Rating|5|5}}<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/howling-wind-mw0000203537 |title=''Howlin' Wind'' – Graham Parker / Graham Parker & the Rumour |website=AllMusic |accessdate=2 March 2006 |last=Erlewine |first=Stephen Thomas |author-link=Stephen Thomas Erlewine}}</ref> | rev2 = ''Christgau's Record Guide'' | rev2score = A<ref>{{cite book |chapter=Graham Parker: ''Howlin' Wind'' |chapter-url=https://www.robertchristgau.com/get_album.php?id=1427 |accessdate=2 March 2006 |title=Christgau's Record Guide: Rock Albums of the Seventies |title-link=Christgau's Record Guide: Rock Albums of the Seventies |last=Christgau |first=Robert |author-link=Robert Christgau |publisher=Ticknor and Fields |year=1981 |isbn=0-89919-026-X}}</ref> | rev3 = ''The Encyclopedia of Popular Music'' | rev3score = {{Rating|4|5}}<ref>{{cite book |chapter=Parker, Graham |title=The Encyclopedia of Popular Music |last=Larkin |first=Colin |author-link=Colin Larkin |publisher=Omnibus Press |edition=5th concise |year=2011 |isbn=978-0-85712-595-8}}</ref> | rev4 = ''The Rolling Stone Album Guide'' | rev4score = {{Rating|4|5}}<ref name= "RS 2004">{{cite book |chapter=Graham Parker |chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=t9eocwUfoSoC&pg=PA616 |last=Abowitz |first=Richard |title=The New Rolling Stone Album Guide |title-link=The Rolling Stone Album Guide |editor1-last=Brackett |editor1-first=Nathan |editor1-link=Nathan Brackett |editor2-last=Hoard |editor2-first=Christian |editor2-link=Christian Hoard |publisher=Simon & Schuster |edition=4th |year=2004 |isbn=0-7432-0169-8 |pages=[https://archive.org/details/newrollingstonea00brac/page/616 616–17]}}</ref> | rev5 = ''Spin Alternative Record Guide'' | rev5score = 9/10<ref>{{cite book |chapter=Graham Parker |last=Arnold |first=Gina |author-link=Gina Arnold |title=Spin Alternative Record Guide |title-link=Spin Alternative Record Guide |editor1-last=Weisbard |editor1-first=Eric |editor1-link=Eric Weisbard |editor2-last=Marks |editor2-first=Craig |publisher=Vintage Books |year=1995 |isbn=0-679-75574-8 |pages=286–87}}</ref> | rev6 = ''Uncut'' | rev6score = {{Rating|4|5}}<ref>{{cite magazine |title=Graham Parker: ''Howlin' Wind'' |magazine=Uncut |issue=52 |date=September 2001 |page=102}}</ref> }}
Reviewing ''Howlin' Wind'' for ''Rolling Stone'', 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.<ref>{{cite magazine |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-album-reviews/howlin-wind-252623/ |title=''Howlin' Wind'' |magazine=Rolling Stone |issue=218 |date=29 July 1976 |accessdate=11 October 2020 |last=Morris |first=Teri}}</ref> ''Howlin' Wind'' finished fourth in ''The Village Voice''{{'}}s 1976 Pazz & Jop critics' poll of the year's best albums, following Parker's later released ''Heat Treatment'' in the second spot.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.robertchristgau.com/xg/pnj/pjres76.php |title=The 1976 Pazz & Jop Critics Poll |newspaper=The Village Voice |date=31 January 1977 |accessdate=29 November 2010}}</ref>
==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, Fender rhythm guitar ;The Rumour * Brinsley Schwarz – guitar, Hammond organ, backing vocals * Bob Andrews – Lowrey organ, Hammond organ, piano, backing vocals * Martin Belmont – guitar, backing vocals * Steve Goulding – drums, backing vocals * Andrew Bodnar – Fender bass
;Brass * Stewart Lynas – brass arrangement * Herschel Holder – trumpet * Dave Conners – first tenor saxophone *Brinsley Schwarz – second tenor saxophone * Danny Ellis – trombone * 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 on 6, dobro on 11 * Dave Edmunds – guitar on 6 * Ed Deane – slide guitar on 7 *Stewart Lynas – alto saxophone on 8
==References== {{Reflist|2}}
{{Graham Parker & The Rumour}}
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Category:Graham Parker albums Category:1976 debut albums Category:Albums produced by Nick Lowe Category:Mercury Records albums Category:Reggae rock albums Category:Vertigo Records albums