Robin Zander (album)

''Robin Zander'' is the debut solo album from American singer Robin Zander of Cheap Trick, released in 1993 by Interscope.

Background

When Cheap Trick parted from their label, Epic, in 1991, Zander felt he had the opportunity to record a solo album while the band secured a new record deal. Zander told ''Billboard'' in 1993: "It just seemed like the right time. There's absolutely no dissatisfaction within the Cheap Trick realm. It's sort of like when you have this career, you need a hobby on the side. That's how I think of it." Speaking of the album itself, Zander commented: "It's not a half-baked Cheap Trick album. A lot of the solo albums I've heard over the years sound just like the band the person used to be in, or is in, and I didn't want to do that."

Song information

" I've Always Got You" was released as a single and peaked at No. 13 on the ''Billboard'' Mainstream Rock chart. "Show Me Heaven" was released as the second and final single from the album.

"Emily" was written with David A. Stewart (of the Eurythmics) and features Cheap Trick bassist Tom Petersson on bass guitar. "Secret" was written with the songwriting team Billy Steinberg and Tom Kelly along with Rick Nielsen, lead guitarist of Cheap Trick. Cheap Trick later performed "Time Will Let You Know" live in 2000, which was released the following year on their live release ''Silver''. Holland Zander, Robin Zander's daughter and former lead singer of The Snaggs, made a guest appearance to sing a duet version of the track. The song "Walkin' Shoes" was re-recorded for Zander's intended 2010 solo follow-up ''Countryside Blvd.''.

For the German version of the "I've Always Got You" single, an extra non-album track was added, "Stone Cold Rhythm Shake", written and originally performed by singer/songwriter Robert Vaughan on his 1991 album ''Songs from the Riverhouse''. The track was added as a bonus track to the Japanese version of the ''Robin Zander'' album.

Reception

Upon release, Mark Blackwell of ''Spin'' commented: "...yawn as you mist as the prospect, Zander has "surrendered" his debut, and has actually done a damn fine job of it. From the opening Mellencamp-Petty-esque riffs of the drivin'-down-the-highway-with-the-top-down pop of "Reactionary Girl" to the Queen-10cc-esque layered balladry of "Time Will Let You Know," Zander digs through his classic rock collection to appropriate a wide variety of styles - almost every track has a different, recognizable feel, the least "in-effect" of which is standard Cheap Trick power pop."

Pan-European magazine ''Music & Media'' considered the album to "boast a bewildering array of different styles, although the respect for "the song" always remains the focal point." They added: "Zander not only proves to be a very able songwriter himself, he also knows how to pick songs by others and turn them into something of his own." ''Billboard'' described the album as "well-sung", but one that "unfortunately suffers from underambitious writing and song selection". They added: "The best tracks here have the snap of Zander's finest work with heap Trick but much of the remainder just doesn't match the quality of the singing."

Tom Demalon of AllMusic retrospectively said: "It's a balanced mix of taut, power pop, heartfelt ballads, and tasty covers. Zander's not redefining pi here. Instead, it's fifty minutes of well-crafted rock delivered by one of the most-gifted vocalists and frontmen in rock history."

Track listing

Personnel

* Robin Zander – vocals, keyboards, acoustic guitar, electric guitar, strings arranger
Additional Musicians
* Peter Asher – drum programming
* Christina Amphlett – guest vocals
* David Bianco – mixer
* Gregg Bissonette – drums
* Robbie Buchanan – keyboards
* Paul Buckmaster – conductor, strings arranger
* Kim Bullard – keyboards, synthesizers
* Mike Campbell – guitar, resonator guitar, synthesizer, bass guitar, keyboards, producer
* James "Jae-E" Earley – drum programming, keyboards
* Don Felder – guitar solo
* Steve Ferris – guitar
* Mike Fisher – percussion
* Mick Fleetwood – drums
* Derrick Forbes – bass guitar
* Bobbye Hall – percussion
* Bonnie Hayes – keyboards
* Scott Humphrey – keyboards, synthesizer
* Dr. John – piano
* Rob Laufer – guitar
* Patrick Leonard – piano, organ, synthesizer
* Mick MacNeil – keyboards, co-producer, programmer
* Linda Mae McCrary – choir
* Alfred McCrary – choir
* Brian McGee – drums
* Maria McKee – additional vocals on "Show Me Heaven", drum programming
* Stevie Nicks – additional vocals
* Edna Wright Perry – choir
* Tom Petersson – bass guitar on "Emily"
* Nathaniel Phillips – bass guitar
* Tim Pierce – acoustic guitar, electric guitar
* Richard Ruce – bass guitar
* Alfie Silas – choir
* J.D. Souther – additional vocals
* David A. Stewart – guitar
* Gary Taylar – guitar
* Benmont Tench – organ, electric piano
* Carlos Vega – drums, drum programming, percussion
* Brian O. Who – piano and keyboard arranger

Production
* Martin Brumbach – assistant engineer
* Bob Clearmountain – mixer
* Matt Dike – engineer, producer
* James "Jae-E" Earley - engineer, producer
* Rob Hart – assistant engineer
* Jimmy Iovine – producer
* Rob Jacobs – additional engineer, mixer
* Phil Kaffel – associate producer, engineer
* Mick MacNeil - co-producer
* Brian Scheuble – engineer
* Robin Zander - producer

Charts

References

{{Authority control

1993 debut albums
Robin Zander albums
Interscope Records albums
Albums produced by Jimmy Iovine
Albums arranged by Paul Buckmaster