Wednesday, August 21, 2013

Tom Robinson Band


Arguably, TRB's "Power in the Darkness" (1978) is one of the finest debut albums in the history of popular music.  In my humble opinion at least.  Never mind the classic rock radio staple (The phenomenal "2-4-6-8 Motorway"), which, by the way, is NOT included on the original LP - it's just a cracking rock album, chock full of anthems and energy...as such albums should be.


So why isn't it more widely lauded then?  Well, wrongly pigeonholed in with the burgeoning Punk/New Wave movement of the time could have had a little something to do with it.  After all, TRB wore flares - a Punk no-no - and had a Hammond organ-player in their midst...although the Stranglers also had one of those.  Furthermore, perhaps, the gay rights posturing/preaching may have been a factor.  Say what you like about Tom Robinson, but he was/is never one to shy away from a topic close to his heart and mind.  Just take a listen to the unforgettable (You have been warned: A '60s hippie term coming up) 'protest song' "(Sing If You're) Glad to be Gay" (Again, NOT on the album!) to find out...

 
Produced by then-recent Sex Pistols/The Clash accomplice Chris Thomas, "PITD" packs a powerful punch.  "Long Hot Summer", "Ain't Gonna Take It", "The Winter of '79" (My favorite line: "Spurs beat Arsenal - What a game!") and single "Up Against the Wall" are just some of the highlights.

 
And odd as it may seem, Danny Kustow is for some reason not a household name today.  THE lost guitar god of the '70s if you ask me.
Inevitably, for the follow-up album, the big, currently hip American producer (Todd Rundgren, in this space and time) was flown in and the record was hastily finished in, eh, record time.
"TRB 2" (1979) wasn't an entirely bad record, but it wasn't very good either.  A Peter Gabriel co-write "Bully For You" (Later in the year nicked by Pink Floyd of all people for the depressing disco of "Another Brick in the Wall Pt.2") was a strong track and an obvious single, but which somehow - inexplicably - failed miserably chart-wise.
 

 
By then the writing was on the wall and by 1980 TRB had broken up.
Their fearless leader has never been completely out of the spotlight since, though in later years his profile has been somewhat lower.
But fear not.  Recently EMI had the good sense to put out the excellent and exhaustive 3CD/1DVD "Tom Robinson Band Anthology 1977-1979", containing all the essentials, previously unissued demos, live recordings and the like.  It should be available at a (net)store near you.
And, by the way, Tom Robinson Band recorded one of the finest Dylan covers the '70s served up.  But, yet again, it wasn't included on the album.  Which just goes to show how many good songs they had to begin with.  I suppose.    
 

   



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