Love GP and this album. Howling Wind will always be my favourite album of his because it came out when I “discovered“ him, but I think Squeezing Out Sparks is his most accomplished album and shows a new found maturity lacking in the three preceding albums. Spent so many great nights watching him live in London in 1976 at Dingwalls, The Nashville and The Marquee Club. Great choice, it’s got me listening to his music again.
Thanks Rick for the link, as I had the same issue as Louisa, my streaming version of the album was missing tracks 1 and 5.
Having now listened to the album a few times, these are my thoughts and comments…
I had not heard him before. I don’t think he was known much, if at all, in SA, certainly back then. I of course hear shades of Elvis Costello, and lots of similarities to the albums of the same era by Joe Jackson, (Look Sharp!, Beat Crazy etc) another of my favourite artists. He could also do the punkier/rockier stuff, but then hit you in the chest with a sincerely heartfelt slower song.
Whenever I think of or hear music from late Seventies UK, I always have this grey, bleak, cold image in my mind. I know that’s not entirely true, of course, but I can’t avoid it. From 1980 to 1982, all my closest mates in school were recently relocated from England, their parents despondent with the socio-political situation seeking greener pastures and the stories those guys told me also play a part in my mindview of that time. My best mate was named Stephen Metcalfe, who had spent the first 7 years of his life living in a council flat in Yorkshire. He thought he was in paradise here. (You have a pool in your GARDEN?!) Looking back his folks would have been early thirties, at most, and they would surely have listened to music like this back then.
I like it, I will listen again and I will investigate more of his music. I think You Can't Be Too Strong will remain a favourite from this for me.
I see there is a more recently recorded acoustic version of this record, which I have on my mental playlist.
Listening to this, and thinking about the Skids also, the 70s in Britain must have been difficult. The economic and political situation, something I know way to little about, had such an impact on the music.
You are correct in your analysis of the 70's - not an easy decade, the early 80's were no better. Much of the music I listened to then did reflect what we were living through - some absolute classics come to mind 'Going Underground' by The Jam, 'Ghost Town' by The Specials and, of course 'God Save The Queen' - angry music by angry young men.
Love GP and this album. Howling Wind will always be my favourite album of his because it came out when I “discovered“ him, but I think Squeezing Out Sparks is his most accomplished album and shows a new found maturity lacking in the three preceding albums. Spent so many great nights watching him live in London in 1976 at Dingwalls, The Nashville and The Marquee Club. Great choice, it’s got me listening to his music again.
Is it just me or does Graham, Southside and Little Steven sound very similar in their style of vocals?
I love Bruce's backing on Endless Night - that song possibly transitioned my devotion from Graham to Bruce...
Not to stray from the album at hand, but since my whole point starting this was to spark conversation and interest...
Bruce sings backing vocals on Parker's Endless Night from the follow-up to Squeezing Out Sparks and Danny also plays on the album.
Thanks Rick for the link, as I had the same issue as Louisa, my streaming version of the album was missing tracks 1 and 5.
Having now listened to the album a few times, these are my thoughts and comments…
I had not heard him before. I don’t think he was known much, if at all, in SA, certainly back then. I of course hear shades of Elvis Costello, and lots of similarities to the albums of the same era by Joe Jackson, (Look Sharp!, Beat Crazy etc) another of my favourite artists. He could also do the punkier/rockier stuff, but then hit you in the chest with a sincerely heartfelt slower song.
Whenever I think of or hear music from late Seventies UK, I always have this grey, bleak, cold image in my mind. I know that’s not entirely true, of course, but I can’t avoid it. From 1980 to 1982, all my closest mates in school were recently relocated from England, their parents despondent with the socio-political situation seeking greener pastures and the stories those guys told me also play a part in my mindview of that time. My best mate was named Stephen Metcalfe, who had spent the first 7 years of his life living in a council flat in Yorkshire. He thought he was in paradise here. (You have a pool in your GARDEN?!) Looking back his folks would have been early thirties, at most, and they would surely have listened to music like this back then.
I like it, I will listen again and I will investigate more of his music. I think You Can't Be Too Strong will remain a favourite from this for me.
I see there is a more recently recorded acoustic version of this record, which I have on my mental playlist.
Thanks Ann. Nice choice. 😊
Listening to this, and thinking about the Skids also, the 70s in Britain must have been difficult. The economic and political situation, something I know way to little about, had such an impact on the music.