Robin George - Ace In My Hand (2014/2024 reissue)
R.C.G. Sidebotham; not a prepossessing name for a burgeoning Rock star, so just as well the lad shortened his name to just 2 of his forenames, Robin George. Sadly, he died last year and while he may not be a name on everybody's lips, he left a treasure-trove of a back-catalogue of hard and melodic rock, of this is a collection of session masters, cut between 1978 & 1982, just as the hard graft was on the verge of paying off with the "Heartline" single (heard here in a rougher form) from the "Dangerous Music" album which he toured extensively at the time.
However, despite cheekbones you could slice cheese with an jeans so tight you could tell if the change in his back-pockets was heads or tails (no mean feat with £5 notes), mainstream success was always, tantalisingly just out of reach, maybe the wrong sound at the wrong time, though a slew of latter day Swedish bands would crawl over glass for such a catalogue; or maybe he was just too pretty to be taken seriously on the rock scene.
It certainly wasn't due to lack of talent or work, he'd been playing semi-pro since he was 14. And just before his Dangerous Music album, Ted Nugent covered an earlier track, "Go Down Fighting". Always a bit more of a journeyman, even when he first got to record for himself, he was attracting some serious talent to back him; - Pino Palladino (bass), Dave Holland (drums) before Judas Priest called. During these sessions, Robin taught himself to engineer and produce, leading to working with Diamond Head, Slade, Climax Blues Band and Magnum, among many.
When he eventually got chance to tour, his band included Kex Gorin on drums & Mark Stanway (Magnum) on keys, Phil Soussan (Wildlife & later Ozzy) on bass. The link with Magnum's Mark Stanway brought an unexpected opportunity, at a recording session, Mark turned up with a mate in tow, who asked if he could fetch his bass from his car and sit in - Phil Lynott. This lead to Robin & band opening for Phil Lynott's Grand Slam project, but also being asked play in a briefly reformed Thin Lizzy along with Brian Downey: this reformed Lizzy was showcased on The Tube in what was to be Lynott's final performance before his passing.
As for who else Robin has worked with; well take a deep breath and: -
1) During the Dangerous Music tour Robin guested live with Led Zeppelin’s Jimmy Page, Simon Kirk (Free, Bad Company), Brian May (Queen) and The Who’s John Entwistle.
2)UK and European tour supporting Uli Jon Roth and REO Speedwagon with the last date being played at the legendary Hammersmith Odeon London.
3)Production and writing work with Glenn Hughes (Black Sabbath/ Deep Purple) followed, initially at Robin’s studio then at Ridge Farm where Robin was lucky enough to duet on guitar with Mel Galley (Trapeze, Whitesnake) but the album never saw the light of day apart from the track Haunted, which featured in the film Highlander 2.
4)At the same time Robin was writing with Uriah Heep’s Pete Goalby; their co-written song, Mona Lisa Smile has been recorded by Estrella, as well as writing with John Wetton (Asia, King Crimson) and Pete Wingfield (Eighteen with a Bullet).
5)Robin then formed Life with Diamond Head singer, Nick Tart and toured heavily around the UK, recording the Cocoon album over the course of a year at Robin’s Dangerous Music Studio in Shropshire. The band gained enough of a reputation to be offered several deals which sadly never came to pass, and they also recorded a number of sessions for BBC Radio One and live performances for TV shows including The James Whale Show. The re-mastered album Cocoon which also showcases previously unheard tracks was released by Angel Air in April 2010. During their career the band also featured Marshall Law drummer Lee Morris (Paradise Lost), bass player Charley Charlesworth, Hammond organist Fred Skidmore from Dexy’s Midnight Runners and ex Hooters keyboard player Bill Rudolph.
6)Robin continued writing, recording and producing albums including solo albums Rock of Ageists, Crying Diamonds and Bluesongs. He also played guitar for The Medieval Babes and Joan ov Arc; the first - all girl X-Box band.
7)Robin also teamed up with UFO bassist Pete Way. They struck up a friendship while co-producing then touring the Waysted album, Back from the Dead. They subsequently decided to form Damage Control. Joining them in the project were drummer Chris Slade (AC/DC, The Firm) and Spike (The Quireboys). They released two CD's, Damage Control and Raw. Both received many rave reviews. Raw has also been re-released by Angel Air Records.
8)Robin then produced and co-wrote an album with Birmingham Metal band, Marshall Law. The Power Game album is now available on Angel Air. Robin then played several club dates with Asia; vocalist/bassist John Wetton, Carl Palmer, Phil Manzanera and Don Airey. John asked Robin to join the band but, again, other commitments prevented him from doing so. He was soon back touring, as Robin George’s World. He also began working with Led Zeppelin’s Robert Plant; both recording and song writing. Robin’s song Red for Danger appears on Robert Plant’s Sixty-six to Timbuktu album.
And that's before we leave the decade, so there's plenty more tasty stuff in the archives, so if you're interested, swing over to Robin's website, before is disappears, or cross your fingers that those nice chaps at HNE Recordings are working on Vol II & more.
Heartline - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E_EsG5xnHKM
19 (with Phil Lynott & Brian Downey) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i56yVSAWEcs
When life gives you lemons; don't make lemonade.
Give back the lemons. Why were the lemons free? What's wrong with the lemons?
Do Not trust the lemons...
