My Top 20 Albums for 1976 No 13

At 12 Howlin Wind by Graham Parker
My songs Soul Shoes and Don't Ask me No Questions
Howling Wind (Polygram ’76) Rating: A-
New Wave Year:1976
Tracklist
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
Long touted by rock critics and ignored by the record buying public, Graham Parker was a key figure in the mid to late 70's British pub-rock scene. Howling Wind, Parker’s debut, is a heartfelt triumph by a brash young man that confidently announced the emergence of a fully mature artistic force. Like the punk bands that soon followed, Parker sounds as if he needs rock n’ roll, declaring “I feel like I’ve been a living to die, but when that rhythm plays I don’t know how to cry.” He boasts a far more sophisticated sound than those (generally speaking) stylistically limited bands, however, owing more to the r&b of prime Van Morrison and Bruce Springsteen than to The Stooges or the Velvet Underground. Another obvious influence on Parker is Bob Dylan; both share a knack for clever wordplay (example: “I’ve got a lady doctor, she kill the pain for free, I got a lady doctor, oh there ‘aint nothing wrong with me.”) and catharthis through song, though Parker is more lyrically straightforward than Bob. It helps that Parker’s backup band, the Rumour (Brinsley Schwartz, Bob Andrews, Martin Belmont, Stephen Goulding, Andrew Bodnar), is spectacular, providing perfect atmospherics on the mellower numbers while lashing out on the up tempo rockers. Especially noteworthy is the swinging rhythm section, which is anchored by Bodnar’s melodic bass playing and Goulding's steady stick work. Alternately swirling keyboards and sprightly piano by Andrews also help, while inventively arranged horns create a full-bodied soul sound. The album as a whole is mellower than subsequent recordings, beginning with "White Honey," which opens the proceedings with a relaxed rocker with an r&b feel. Parker sounds tough and confident on "Nothin's Gonna Pull Us Apart," a souful, singable ballad, while "Silly Thing" is a slight but fun (and uncharacteristically upbeat) sing along. "Gypsy Blood" is another soulful ballad whose atmospheric keyboards add the perfect coloring (though it's a tad overlong), while "Between You And Me" is a lightly melodic and resigned ballad that's another obvious album highlight. Faltering for the first time, "Back To Schooldays" is a generic '50s-styled rocker, while "Soul Shoes" is a solid but unremarkable Stonesy rocker. "Lady Doctor" then provides some lighthearted fun but is again hardly a classic, while "You've Got To Be Kidding" is a little too similar to "Nothin's Gonna Pull Us Apart." It's still quite good, however, primarily due to Parker's passionate vocal and some cynical lyrics ("you've got to be kidding when you say that this will last"). Indeed, even at his most laid-back Parker often bristles with an earnest energy and a righteous anger, and the classic title track is perhaps the best example of this. "Not That It Pleases Me" is another solid effort, though it's repetitive chorus demonstrates a primary Parker weakness. Fortunately, this weakness is all but forgotten on "Don't Ask Me No Questions," which closes out this stellar debut album on a high, fueled by it's dramatic intensity and Schwartz's searing rock guitar.
Soul Shoes"

Well I ain't got no worry
I ain't in no hurry
You better tell your mother
That you're a real soul brother
Hey hey!

I have to say it's all right
About five past midnight
And we don't stop a-rollin'
Until the floor board cave in

Yeah I feel like I've been a-living to die
But when that rhythm play I don't know how to cry

I got my soul shoes
I got my soul shoes
I got my soul shoes
I got my soul shoes on my feet

If you wanna leave me go dance with another guy
If you wanna grieve me baby just set my soul to die

Yeah the place is buzzin
Please don't let the fuzz in
You better tell your mother
That you're a real soul brother

Oh yeah I said I feel like I've been living to die
But when that rhythm play I don't know how to cry

I got my soul shoes
I got my soul shoes
I got my soul shoes
I got my soul shoes on my feet

I got my soul shoes
I got my soul shoes
I got my soul shoes
I got my soul shoes on my feet

I got my soul shoes
I got my soul shoes
I got my soul shoes
I got my soul shoes on my feet

"Don’t Ask Me Questions"

Crimson autograph is what we leave behind
Everywhere man set foot
War mongers laughing loud behind a painted face
Throwing titbits to the crowd then blowing up the place

Hey Lord don't ask me questions, Hey Lord don't ask me questions
Hey Lord don't ask me questions please!
Hey Lord don't ask me questions, Hey Lord don't ask me questions
Hey Lord ain't no answer in me. (Solo)

Well I stand up for liberty but can't liberate
Pent up agony I see you take first place
Well who does this treachery I shout with bleeding hand
Is it you or is it me well I never will understand

Hey Lord don't ask me questions, Hey Lord don't ask me questions
Hey Lord don't ask me questions please!
Hey Lord don't ask me questions, Hey Lord don't ask me questions
Hey Lord ain't no answer in me. (Solo)

Well I see the thousands screaming rushing for the cliffs
Just like lemmings into the sea, Well well well
Who waves his mighty hand and breaks the precious rules?
Well the same one must understand who wasted all these fools

Hey Lord don't ask me questions, Hey Lord don't ask me questions
Hey Lord don't ask me questions please!
Hey Lord don't ask me questions, Hey Lord don't ask me questions
Hey Lord ain't no answer in me. (Solo)

Ain't no answer in me no, Ain't no answer in me
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