Robin George

Rewind to 1985, when Robin George’s first album ‘Dangerous Music’ received a positive response and also generated good sales figures. But life as we know it can be a bitch, and his then record company went bust just as things had started to take off for Robin.

Forward to the present, where a re-mastered version of the album (complete with bonus tracks) has just been released by Angel Air, to the delight of Robin George fans all over the world.
Of course, there’s got to be an in-between as well, and that alone would make for an interesting rock bio. Having started off with a plastic Beatles guitar at the tender age of eight, Robin soon had his first band going aged fourteen. Two years later he was touring and also had his own band going.

After a further detour that saw him struck up a friendship with singer/songwriter Daniel Greene, he was taken under the wing of former Uriah Heep singer David Byron, subsequently ended up playing with The Byron Band for a while and well, by then the industry certainly had taken note of Robin! After an EP, he was signed by the doomed Bronze Records and began recording on Dangerous Music when Phil Lynott just happened to walk into the studio one day and asked to play on the track ‘Showdown’. Henceforth things seemed on a steady up, only to plummet down again when Bronze Records went bust and in addition Robin learned of Phil Lynott’s death shortly after Christmas 1985. This sad piece of news must have come as a double-shock, for shortly beforehand Lynott had asked Robin to re-form Thin Lizzy. Somehow, the album’s title takes on a different meaning bearing all that in mind!

‘Dangerous Music’ is certainly a product of the 80’s, boasting a variety of tracks that have stood the test of time to varying degree. All backed by an array of fine musicians who contributed to the album, from the aforementioned Lynott on bass guitar to Pino Palladino on fretless bass, from Magnum’s Mark Stanway (keyboards) and the late Kex Gorin on drum overdubs and Dave Holland (Judas Priest, Trapeze) on drums – to name but a few.

Most numbers are a mix of solid rock, 80’s melodious pop-rock, obligatory keyboards overdose and a backing chorus to go with it. First track ‘Heartline’ as well as ‘Spy’ and ‘No News Is Good News’ – while no doubt catchy - sound slightly dated, with the latter one being the most snarling one out of the three.
‘French Kisses’ boasts a passionate guitar solo by Robin that works perfectly with layered vocals that otherwise would turn the song into a somewhat soft affair.
As for ‘Showdown’ – this is quite an edgy rock number that’s fluent in arrangement and great riff work both on guitar and bass. No wonder Mr. Lynott asked to play on that one.

‘Shoot On Sight’ with it’s choppy vocals that stand in contrast to roughed up guitar play might not blow you away upon first hearing but will grow on you.
‘Don’t Turn Away’ is neither here nor there and altogether lacks bite, but that lack is made up by ‘Space Kadett’ with it’s driving beat.

Amongst the bonus tracks we have once more ‘Heartline’ as well as ‘No News Is Good News’, albeit in a less polished version. The good news here is that these are live versions from the Tommy Vance Show, and they sound almost better without the layered vocals/choruses from the other versions (which at times can come across as almost too slick). Sometimes less in indeed more.
There’s also the elaborate ‘Heartline Dangerous Mix’ and it sounds real great, too.

Today, Robin George lives on a mountain in Andalucia and has his own studio there, from which he can duet with players all over the world thanks to modern technology – without ever having to leave home. Does this mean we have to get to the mountain to hear future productions, or might Robin leave his mountain from time to time to participate in live shows? There should be enough of an 80’s nostalgia vibe about to get him over here for some gigs, and this re-mastered album could well provide the trigger for it.