Cock Robin (band)
Encyclopedia
Cock Robin is an American
pop rock
band
, mostly popular in the 1980s, particularly in continental Europe
where they became famous. The band was founded by singer-songwriter
Peter Kingsbery
in 1982, disbanded in 1990, and reformed in 2006.
and was signed to CBS Records
. Cock Robin's eponymous debut album
was produced
by Steve Hillage
. It was largely ignored in their native country, as with the majority of their output, but it was an overnight success in Europe, especially in France
, Germany
, Italy
, Portugal
and the Netherlands
, where the singles
"When Your Heart Is Weak", "The Promise You Made" and "Thought You Were on My Side" became big hits
, and the album itself a chart-topper. "When Your Heart Is Weak" was the band's only chart single in the U.S., where it reached #35 in the late summer of 1985. It also became a radio favorite in South Africa in early 1985.
In 1987, the band, reduced from the original quartet to the duo
of Peter Kingsbery and Anna LaCazio
, released a second album, After Here Through Midland
, produced by Don Gehman
, who had previously worked with John Mellencamp
, among others. As with their debut, Cock Robin's second album attracted much attention in continental Europe where it reached the Top 5 and also scored hits with the singles "Just Around the Corner", "The Biggest Fool of All" and "El Norte".
Two years later, in 1989, the band released their third, and, to many critics, most accomplished album, First Love/Last Rites, with Roxy Music
veteran Rhett Davies
in the role of producer. As with their previous releases, the LP fared well in mainland Europe, but, due to poor management and promotion, failed to make an impact in the USA. The duo went their separate ways shortly after the release of the album and a European Tour, with Kingsbery releasing a string of solo projects (3 albums in English, 1 in French) in France, most notably a hit single "Only the Very Best", recorded for the Michel Berger & Luc Plamandon concept musical album "Tycoon", with English lyrics by Tim Rice in 1992. Anna LaCazio recorded her own solo album Eat Life circa 1992-93 but it was only officially released in its entirety for download in 2009.
In 2006, Cock Robin reformed, releasing their fourth album, I Don't Want to Save the World
with the help of former band member Clive Wright and all 13 new songs recorded in Los Angeles. They also performed a number of sold-out concert
s in France.
They did a few more concerts in 2009 in Europe and released a Live album of songs recorded during their 2006 concerts.
Their fifth studio album Songs From A Bell Tower was released on 11 October 2010 on several legal download platforms and in CD format with 2 versions (the stand-alone album with 11 songs and a 2-CD Limited Collector edition including the album on the first CD accompanied with an extensive booklet and the 'Live' album released in 2009 on the second CD) only available so far from the French music store FNAC. The album was recorded in Los Angeles with the help of drummer Pat Mastelotto. Again the duo have made a few appearances on French television and radio and on the internet in October and November. 2011 saw the band heavily touring in France, Belgium, italy, Holland and Germany. May 2011 saw the re-release of 'Songs From the Bell Tower' on german label Blackbird Music, including their 2008 live-album as a bonus-CD. In June 2011 "Now and Then (Umpff Remix)", a reworking of the 'Songs From the Bell Tower'-track by danish producer/remixer Umpff was released. In October 2011 Cock Robin will be touring France.
(Clive Wright) guitars (on/off member) &
(Lou Molino III) drums, percussion, backing vocals (left band 1986).
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
pop rock
Pop rock
Pop rock is a music genre which mixes a catchy pop style and light lyrics in its guitar-based rock songs. There are varying definitions of the term, ranging from a slower and mellower form of rock music to a subgenre of pop music...
band
Musical ensemble
A musical ensemble is a group of people who perform instrumental or vocal music. In classical music, trios or quartets either blend the sounds of musical instrument families or group together instruments from the same instrument family, such as string ensembles or wind ensembles...
, mostly popular in the 1980s, particularly in continental Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
where they became famous. The band was founded by singer-songwriter
Singer-songwriter
Singer-songwriters are musicians who write, compose and sing their own musical material including lyrics and melodies. As opposed to contemporary popular music singers who write their own songs, the term singer-songwriter describes a distinct form of artistry, closely associated with the...
Peter Kingsbery
Peter Kingsbery
Peter Kingsbery is an American singer songwriter who cofounded the band Cock Robin in the 1980s. He grew up in Austin where he studied classical music...
in 1982, disbanded in 1990, and reformed in 2006.
History
Named after a 17th century story titled "The Marriage of Cock Robin and Jenny Wren", the band formed in CaliforniaCalifornia
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
and was signed to CBS Records
CBS Records
CBS Records is a record label founded by CBS Corporation in 2006 to take advantage of music from its entertainment properties owned by CBS Television Studios. The initial label roster consisted of only three artists; rock band Señor Happy and singer/songwriters Will Dailey and P.J...
. Cock Robin's eponymous debut album
Album
An album is a collection of recordings, released as a single package on gramophone record, cassette, compact disc, or via digital distribution. The word derives from the Latin word for list .Vinyl LP records have two sides, each comprising one half of the album...
was produced
Record producer
A record producer is an individual working within the music industry, whose job is to oversee and manage the recording of an artist's music...
by Steve Hillage
Steve Hillage
Steve Hillage is an English musician, best known as a guitarist. He is associated with the Canterbury scene and has worked in experimental domains since the late 1960s...
. It was largely ignored in their native country, as with the majority of their output, but it was an overnight success in Europe, especially in France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
, Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
, Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
, Portugal
Portugal
Portugal , officially the Portuguese Republic is a country situated in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. Portugal is the westernmost country of Europe, and is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the West and South and by Spain to the North and East. The Atlantic archipelagos of the...
and the Netherlands
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
, where the singles
Single (music)
In music, a single or record single is a type of release, typically a recording of fewer tracks than an LP or a CD. This can be released for sale to the public in a variety of different formats. In most cases, the single is a song that is released separately from an album, but it can still appear...
"When Your Heart Is Weak", "The Promise You Made" and "Thought You Were on My Side" became big hits
Hit record
A hit record is a sound recording, usually in the form of a single or album, that sells a large number of copies or otherwise becomes broadly popular or well-known, through airplay, club play, inclusion in a film or stage play soundtrack, causing it to have "hit" one of the popular chart listings...
, and the album itself a chart-topper. "When Your Heart Is Weak" was the band's only chart single in the U.S., where it reached #35 in the late summer of 1985. It also became a radio favorite in South Africa in early 1985.
In 1987, the band, reduced from the original quartet to the duo
Duet (music)
A duet is a musical composition for two performers. In classical music, the term is most often used for a composition for two singers or pianists; with other instruments, the word duo is also often used. A piece performed by two pianists performing together on the same piano is referred to as...
of Peter Kingsbery and Anna LaCazio
Anna LaCazio
Anna LaCazio is an American vocalist, best known as a member of the American pop rock band Cock Robin. She is the daughter of an Italian father and a Chinese mother.- With Cock Robin :...
, released a second album, After Here Through Midland
After Here Through Midland
After Here Through Midland is the second album by Cock Robin and was released in 1987.Again it was a big success in continental Europe as their first eponymous album, reaching the Top 10, but was largely ignored in the US where the album reached only #166 in the Billboard 200...
, produced by Don Gehman
Don Gehman
Don Gehman is an American record producer, best known for his work in the 1980s with John Mellencamp.Gehman grew up in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, and played bass in a local rock band...
, who had previously worked with John Mellencamp
John Mellencamp
John Mellencamp, previously known by the stage names Johnny Cougar, John Cougar, and John Cougar Mellencamp, is an American rock singer-songwriter, musician, painter and occasional actor known for his catchy, populist brand of heartland rock that eschews synthesizers and other artificial sounds...
, among others. As with their debut, Cock Robin's second album attracted much attention in continental Europe where it reached the Top 5 and also scored hits with the singles "Just Around the Corner", "The Biggest Fool of All" and "El Norte".
Two years later, in 1989, the band released their third, and, to many critics, most accomplished album, First Love/Last Rites, with Roxy Music
Roxy Music
Roxy Music was a British art rock band formed in 1971 by Bryan Ferry, who became the group's lead vocalist and chief songwriter, and bassist Graham Simpson. The other members are Phil Manzanera , Andy Mackay and Paul Thompson . Former members include Brian Eno , and Eddie Jobson...
veteran Rhett Davies
Rhett Davies
Rhett Davies is an English record producer and engineer.Rhett Davies' father was trumpet player Ray Davies; they are no relation to Ray Davies of The Kinks. Davies became a studio engineer at Island Records studios in the early 1970s, and his first session was the recording process for Brian Eno's...
in the role of producer. As with their previous releases, the LP fared well in mainland Europe, but, due to poor management and promotion, failed to make an impact in the USA. The duo went their separate ways shortly after the release of the album and a European Tour, with Kingsbery releasing a string of solo projects (3 albums in English, 1 in French) in France, most notably a hit single "Only the Very Best", recorded for the Michel Berger & Luc Plamandon concept musical album "Tycoon", with English lyrics by Tim Rice in 1992. Anna LaCazio recorded her own solo album Eat Life circa 1992-93 but it was only officially released in its entirety for download in 2009.
In 2006, Cock Robin reformed, releasing their fourth album, I Don't Want to Save the World
I Don't Want To Save The World
I Don't Want to Save the World is the fourth album by Cock Robin and was released in 2006. It sees the reformation of the band after a 16 year hiatus. It features a selection of their trademark harmonic pop. The lyrics seem to be greatly influenced by personal relations and experiences spent since...
with the help of former band member Clive Wright and all 13 new songs recorded in Los Angeles. They also performed a number of sold-out concert
Concert
A concert is a live performance before an audience. The performance may be by a single musician, sometimes then called a recital, or by a musical ensemble, such as an orchestra, a choir, or a musical band...
s in France.
They did a few more concerts in 2009 in Europe and released a Live album of songs recorded during their 2006 concerts.
Their fifth studio album Songs From A Bell Tower was released on 11 October 2010 on several legal download platforms and in CD format with 2 versions (the stand-alone album with 11 songs and a 2-CD Limited Collector edition including the album on the first CD accompanied with an extensive booklet and the 'Live' album released in 2009 on the second CD) only available so far from the French music store FNAC. The album was recorded in Los Angeles with the help of drummer Pat Mastelotto. Again the duo have made a few appearances on French television and radio and on the internet in October and November. 2011 saw the band heavily touring in France, Belgium, italy, Holland and Germany. May 2011 saw the re-release of 'Songs From the Bell Tower' on german label Blackbird Music, including their 2008 live-album as a bonus-CD. In June 2011 "Now and Then (Umpff Remix)", a reworking of the 'Songs From the Bell Tower'-track by danish producer/remixer Umpff was released. In October 2011 Cock Robin will be touring France.
Core members
- Peter KingsberyPeter KingsberyPeter Kingsbery is an American singer songwriter who cofounded the band Cock Robin in the 1980s. He grew up in Austin where he studied classical music...
: lead vocalsSingingSinging is the act of producing musical sounds with the voice, and augments regular speech by the use of both tonality and rhythm. One who sings is called a singer or vocalist. Singers perform music known as songs that can be sung either with or without accompaniment by musical instruments...
, keyboardsKeyboard instrumentA keyboard instrument is a musical instrument which is played using a musical keyboard. The most common of these is the piano. Other widely used keyboard instruments include organs of various types as well as other mechanical, electromechanical and electronic instruments...
, bassBass guitarThe bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
, guitarGuitarThe guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with... - Anna LaCazioAnna LaCazioAnna LaCazio is an American vocalist, best known as a member of the American pop rock band Cock Robin. She is the daughter of an Italian father and a Chinese mother.- With Cock Robin :...
: lead vocals, keyboards
(Clive Wright) guitars (on/off member) &
(Lou Molino III) drums, percussion, backing vocals (left band 1986).
Other members
- Pat MastelottoPat MastelottoPat Mastelotto is a rock drummer who has worked with Mr. Mister and King Crimson, amongst others. For King Crimson he initially formed part of the "double trio" lineup, joining Bill Bruford on drums...
: drums, percussions - Tris ImbodenTris ImbodenTris Imboden is the current drummer with Chicago. He replaced their original drummer Danny Seraphine following his dismissal in 1990. Prior to joining Chicago, as well as during his tenure with the band, Imboden has had a career as a studio session player...
: drums - Corky JamesCorky JamesCorky James is a Los Angeles-based recording session guitarist and bassist who has appeared on a considerable number of music albums, CD's, and motion picture soundtracks. James was born in Washington, D.C. and grew up in nearby Arlington, Virginia...
: guitars - John Pierce: bass
- Lise Anderson: keyboards, backing vocals
Studio albums
- Cock RobinCock Robin (album)Cock Robin is the first album by American band Cock Robin and was released in 1985.It was a Top 10 hit album in numerous European countries whereas it charted only at #61 in the US Top 75...
(1985) - After Here Through MidlandAfter Here Through MidlandAfter Here Through Midland is the second album by Cock Robin and was released in 1987.Again it was a big success in continental Europe as their first eponymous album, reaching the Top 10, but was largely ignored in the US where the album reached only #166 in the Billboard 200...
(1987) - First Love Last RitesFirst Love Last RitesFirst Love Last Rites is the third album by Cock Robin and was released in 1989.-Track listing:# Stumble And Fall# Straighter Line# Win Or Lose# One Joy Bang# For Experience Sake# It's Only Make Believe# Hunting Down A Killer...
(1989) - I Don't Want to Save the WorldI Don't Want To Save The WorldI Don't Want to Save the World is the fourth album by Cock Robin and was released in 2006. It sees the reformation of the band after a 16 year hiatus. It features a selection of their trademark harmonic pop. The lyrics seem to be greatly influenced by personal relations and experiences spent since...
(2006) - Songs from a Bell Tower (2010)
Hit singles
- "When Your Heart Is Weak"
- FRA: 9 – 1985
- GER: 8 – 1985
- IRE: 25 – 1985
- ITA: 26 – 1985
- NLNetherlandsThe Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
: 39 – 1986 - U.S.: 35 – 1985
- "The Promise You MadeThe Promise You Made"The Promise You Made" is a song by Peter Kingsbery. Originally written for Kingsbery's band Cock Robin, the song was recorded in 1984 for the group's self-titled debut album. It was released as a single in 1986 and became a hit in Europe.-Music video:...
"
- "The Promise You Made
- FRA: 4 – 1986
- GER: 6 – 1986
- IRE: 11 – 1985
- ITA: 18 – 1986
- NL: 1 – 1986 (for 2 weeks)
- SWI: 7 – 1986
- UK: 28 – 1986
- "Thought You Were on My Side"
- FRA: 39 – 1986
- GER: 21 – 1986
- NL: 5 – 1986
- "Just Around the Corner"
- ATAustriaAustria , officially the Republic of Austria , is a landlocked country of roughly 8.4 million people in Central Europe. It is bordered by the Czech Republic and Germany to the north, Slovakia and Hungary to the east, Slovenia and Italy to the south, and Switzerland and Liechtenstein to the...
: 28 – 1987 - FRA: 18 – 1987
- GER: 16 – 1987
- ITA: 17 – 1987
- NL: 19 – 1986
- SWE: 12 – 1987
- SWI: 6 – 1987
- "The Biggest Fool of All"
- FRA: 47 – 1987
- GER: 50 – 1987
- "Worlds Apart"
- FRA: 22 – 1989
- "Straighter Line"
- FRA: 28 – 1990
Live recordings
- Live au Grand Rex (1990) (videoMusic videoA music video or song video is a short film integrating a song and imagery, produced for promotional or artistic purposes. Modern music videos are primarily made and used as a marketing device intended to promote the sale of music recordings...
recording) - Live (2009) (recorded live in France 2006)
Compilations
- Collection GoldCollection Gold (Cock Robin album)Collection Gold is a compilation album by Cock Robin, issued by the European branch of Sony Music in 1990. It contained fourteen tracks, including several remixes and songs which were not available on Cock Robin's official studio albums. It was released on the CBS label, one of the last releases...
(1990) - The Best of Cock Robin (1991)
- Best Ballads (2000)
- Simply the Best (2001)
- Open Book - The Best Of... (2011)