Beginning in the late 1960s and early 1970s, Parker sang in small-time amateur English bands such as the Black Rockers and Deep Cut Three, while working in dead-end jobs at a glove factory and a petrol station. In late 1974 he placed an ad in Britain’s "Melody Maker" music mag seeking like-minded musicians and he began performing professionally. In 1975, he recorded a few demo tracks in London with Dave Robinson, who would shortly found Stiff Records and who connected Parker with his first backing band of note.
Graham Parker & the Rumour (with Brinsley Schwarz and Martin Belmont on guitar, Bob Andrews on keyboards, Andrew Bodnar on bass and Steve Goulding on drums) formed in the summer of 1975 and began doing the rounds of the British pub rock scene. Their first album, Howlin' Wind, was released to acclaim in 1976 and rapidly followed by the stylistically similar Heat Treatment. A mixture of rock, ballads, and reggae-influenced numbers, these albums reflected Parker's early influences (Motown, The Rolling Stones, Bob Dylan) and contained the songs which formed the core of Parker's live shows -- "White Honey", "Soul Shoes", "Lady Doctor", "Fool's Gold", and his early signature tune "Don't Ask Me Questions", which hit the top 40 in the UK. Like the pub rock scene he was loosely tied to, the singer's class-conscious lyrics and passionate vocals signaled a renewal of rock music as punk rock began to flower in Britain.
Parker preceded the other "new wave" English singer-songwriters, Elvis Costello and Joe Jackson. Early in his career his work was often compared favorably to theirs, and for decades journalists would continue to categorize them together, long after the artists' work had diverged. Characteristically, Parker would not hesitate to criticize this habit with caustic wit.
The first two albums' critical acclaim was generally not matched with LP sales. Graham Parker and the Rumour appeared on BBC television's Top of the Pops in 1976, performing their top 30 hit version of The Trammps' "Hold Back the Night".
At this point, Parker began to change his songwriting style, reflecting his desire to break into the American market. The first fruits of this new direction appeared on Stick To Me (1977). The album broke the top 20 on the UK charts but divided critical opinions.
Energized by his new label, Arista, and the presence of legendary producer Jack Nitzsche, Parker followed with Squeezing Out Sparks (1979), widely held to be the best album of his career. For this album, The Rumour's brass section, prominent on all previous albums, was jettisoned, resulting in a spare, intense rock backing for some of Parker's most brilliant songs. Of particular note was "You Can't Be Too Strong", one of rock music's rare songs to confront the topic of abortion, however ambivalently.
Squeezing out Sparks is still ranked by fans and critics alike as one of the finest rock albums ever made. Rolling Stone named it #335 [1] on their 2003 list of the 500 greatest albums of all time. In an early 1987 Rolling Stone list of their top 100 albums from 1967-1987, Squeezing Out Sparks was ranked at #45, while Howlin' Wind came in at #54 [2].
Although marginally less intense than its predecessor, 1980's The Up Escalator was Parker's highest-charting album in the UK and featured glossy production by Jimmy Iovine and guest vocals from Bruce Springsteen. Nevertheless it was Parker's last album with the Rumour, although guitarist Brinsley Schwarz would join most of the singer's albums through the decade's end.
The 1980s were Parker's most commercially successful years, with well-financed recordings and radio and video play. Over the decade, the British press turned unkind to him, but he continued to tour the world with top backing bands, and his 1985 release Steady Nerves included his only US Top 40 hit, "Wake Up (Next to You)". The singer began living mostly in the United States during this time.
In early 2011, Parker reunited with all five original members of The Rumour to record a new album. The record, titled Three Chords Good, was released in November 2012.
Hit The Spot
Graham Parker Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Em D Em B7
You hit the spot send a heatwave through my brain
Another shot of an antidote for pain
When I get the fear gets down to the bone
A briefly (groove continues)
When you're near I don't feel alone
It's worth a shot I'd rather burn than singe
When the walls close in I feel crushed
I'll take your calls I'll take your loving touch
A D
Oh ooh baby your love gives me all
A Em
Even when this world makes my skin crawl
You hit the spot wipe out the rest of the world
Don't ask me what you're doing here my girl
A natural thing among these substitutes
You wear the ring I wear the monkey suit
G see G see Em A
Oh yeah Oh oh yeah
You hit the spot look out look out look out look out
What you haven't got you always worry about
These tangled hours we just can't unwind
Won't interfere leaving them behind
A D
Oh ooh baby your love gives me all
A Em
Even when this world makes my skin crawl
You hit the spot don't do this again
You seem to blot out all the pain
When I get the fear gets down to the bone
When you're near I don't feel alone
G see G see Em A
Oh yeah Oh oh yeah
Spot spot spot Yeah you hit the spot
Spot spot spot You just seem to blot out all the pain
Spot spot spot But don't miss again You hit the spot
You hit the spot Hit it hit it hit it REPEATS AND FADES
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The lyrics of Graham Parker's song "You Hit the Spot" express the sensation of finding someone who takes the pain away and making one's angst vanish. The singer describes feeling a sense of relief when his love interest is near him. The lyrics also indicate a sense of isolation and loneliness that is dispelled by the presence of his love interest. He emphasizes that his love is all he needs to face the world, even when it makes his "skin crawl."
The singer also feels like other people are not good enough substitutes for his love interest since she "hits the spot." He is disdainful of people who make him feel uncomfortable and regards them as inadequate compared to her. Moreover, he expresses a desire to leave behind "tangled hours" but indicates that he would do so without troubling his love interest. In summary, the lyrics highlight a sense of hope, relief, and love.
Line by Line Meaning
This groove is Em D Em Bm7 and the other chord is A
The song is played with the chords Em D Em Bm7 and A
You hit the spot send a heatwave through my brain
Being around the person makes the singer feel alive and excited
Another shot of an antidote for pain
The person is like medicine for the singer's troubles and worries
When I get the fear gets down to the bone
The singer feels deep anxiety which affects them to the core
A briefly (groove continues)
A short instrumental break in the song
When you're near I don't feel alone
The person's presence is comforting and makes the singer feel less lonely
You hit the spot everybody makes me cringe
Most people annoy or irritate the singer, but the person in question has a positive effect on them
It's worth a shot I'd rather burn than singe
The singer is willing to take risks for the chance to experience the joy that the person brings
When the walls close in I feel crushed
The singer feels trapped and overwhelmed by their problems
I'll take your calls I'll take your loving touch
The singer is devoted and will always be there for the person
Oh ooh baby your love gives me all
The person's love is immensely important and valuable to the singer
Even when this world makes my skin crawl
Despite the challenges and difficulties of life, the person's love makes everything worth it
You hit the spot wipe out the rest of the world
The person is so captivating that nothing else matters when they are around
Don't ask me what you're doing here my girl
The singer is amazed and grateful that the person is in their life
A natural thing among these substitutes
The person is unique and special compared to other romantic partners the singer has had
You wear the ring I wear the monkey suit
The person is the symbol of love and happiness, while the singer feels weighed down by their problems
Oh yeah Oh oh yeah
A brief vocalization added for effect
What you haven't got you always worry about
The singer tends to fixate on what they lack, rather than appreciating what they have
These tangled hours we just can't unwind
The singer and the person have a long, complicated history that is impossible to unravel
Won't interfere leaving them behind
The singer is ready to let go of the past and move forward with the person
Spot spot spot Yeah you hit the spot
A repetition of the chorus to emphasize the importance of the person
Spot spot spot You just seem to blot out all the pain
Reinforcing the idea that the person makes everything better
Spot spot spot But don't miss again You hit the spot
The singer wants the person to stay in their life and maintain the positive effect they have
You hit the spot Hit it hit it hit it REPEATS AND FADES
The chorus is repeated multiple times to close out the song
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: GRAHAM PARKER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind