Often overshadowed in retrospect by his peers Elvis Costello, Joe Jackson, and Nick Lowe, Graham Parker surely ranks as one of the key figures of the style of British new wave that emerged from the UK’s early-‘70s pub-rock scene. Backed by the Rumour—formed partly from remains of prominent early pub-rock acts Brinsley Schwartz and Ducks Deluxe—Parker played energetic rock songs flavored generously with R&B and the occasional touch of reggae, and with confessional, sardonic lyrics delivered with a knowing sneer.
Together with Costello and others, Parker helped carve out a niche for a snarling, savvy brand of rock that could be outwardly bitter and angry or shamelessly self-critical. Without ever descending into punk rock’s outright aggression, their back-to-basics rock aesthetic nevertheless helped pave the way for punk’s primitivism.
Essential listening.
Playlist 1
Graham Parker’s best album, Squeezing Out Sparks (1979) deserves to be heard in its entirety. Here it is.
Playlist 2
And here’s a nice taste of the three Graham Parker & The Rumor albums that preceded Sparks, most notably their two excellent releases from 1976, Howlin’ Wind and Heat Treatment.
Cover Art:
- Squeezing Out Sparks : Source, Discogs.com, Fair use.
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