After spending several years singing with small-time British bands, by 1975, Graham Parker recorded a few demos in London with Dave Robinson, who would shortly found Stiff Records and who connected Parker with his first backing band The Rumour. The new group consisted of Parker (lead vocals, guitar) with Brinsley Schwarz (lead guitar) and Bob Andrews (keyboards) (both ex Brinsley Schwarz), Martin Belmont (rhythm guitar, ex-Ducks Deluxe) and Andrew Bodnar (bass) and Steve Goulding (drums) (both ex-Bontemps Roulee). They began doing the rounds of the British pub rock scene, often augmented at times by a four-man horn section known as The Rumour Brass.

The band's first album, 'Howlin' Wind', was released in 1976 and received much praise by the music press. It was rapidly followed by 'Heat Treatment. A mixture of rock, ballads, and reggae-influenced numbers, these albums mirrored Parker's early influences (Motown, The Rolling Stones, Bob Dylan, Van Morrison) and contained the songs which formed the core of Parker's live shows such as "White Honey", "Soul Shoes", "Lady Doctor", "Fool's Gold", and his early hit "Don't Ask Me Questions", which made it into UK's Top 40. Parker and the Rumour built a reputation as provocative live performers: the promotional album 'Live at Marble Arch' recorded at the time enforces this reputation. Wanting to break into the American market, in 1977 Parker began to change his songwriting style. The band released 'Stick To Me', which was produced by Nick Lowe and broke the top 20 in the UK charts. The album received mixed reviews. An official Graham Parker and The Rumour live album called 'The Parkerilla', was released in 1978. Parker had long been dissatisfied with his US record company, Mercury Records, and in 1979 signed with Arista Records. With the help of legendary producer Jack Nitzsche, Parker released 'Squeezing Out Sparks', which for many is considered to be the best album of his career.

'Graham Parker & The Rumour - Live In San Francisco 1979' will be available from Amazon, iTunes and your local retailer on November 10th. Other titles scheduled for release by Renaissance Records includes Duke Jupiter 'White Knuckle Ride', Network - s/t and 'Nightwork', Fran King 'My Sweet Elixir', City Boy 'It's Personal', Phoenix - s/t and 'In Full View' (ex-Argent), Unicorn - 'Blue Pine Trees', 'Too Many Crooks' (prod. by David Gilmour), Nick Gravenites 'Bluestar' and Roxy Music 'Manifesto Alive' (live 1979).