- Cock Robin (band)
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Cock Robin Origin California, United States Genres Pop Rock, New Wave Years active 1982–1990
2006–presentWebsite cockrobinmusic.com Members Peter Kingsbery
Anna LaCazioPast members Clive Wright
Lou Molino IIICock 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.
Contents
History
Named after a 17th century story titled "The Marriage of Cock Robin and Jenny Wren", the band formed in California 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 concerts 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.
Band members
Core members
- Peter Kingsbery: lead vocals, keyboards, bass, guitar
- Anna LaCazio: lead vocals, keyboards
(Clive Wright) guitars (on/off member) & (Lou Molino III) drums, percussion, backing vocals (left band 1986).
Other members
- Pat Mastelotto: drums, percussions
- Tris Imboden: drums
- Corky James: guitars
- John Pierce: bass
- Lise Anderson: keyboards, backing vocals
Discography
Studio albums
- Cock Robin (1985)
- After Here Through Midland (1987)
- First Love Last Rites (1989)
- I Don't Want to Save the World (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
- NL: 39 – 1986
- U.S.: 35 – 1985
- FRA: 4 – 1986
- GER: 6 – 1986
- IRE: 11 – 1985
- ITA: 18 – 1986
- NL: 1 – 1986 (for 2 weeks)
- SWI: 7 – 1986
- UK: 28 – 1986 [1]
- "Thought You Were on My Side"
- FRA: 39 – 1986
- GER: 21 – 1986
- NL: 5 – 1986
- "Just Around the Corner"
- AT: 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) (video recording)
- Live (2009) (recorded live in France 2006)
Compilations
- Collection Gold (1990)
- The Best of Cock Robin (1991)
- Best Ballads (2000)
- Simply the Best (2001)
- Open Book - The Best Of... (2011)
References
External links
Categories:- Musical groups established in 1982
- Musical groups disestablished in 1990
- Musical groups reestablished in 2006
- American pop rock music groups
- Musical groups from California
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