Mark Robinson
"Quit Your Job - Play
Guitar"
Blind Chihuahua Records
By Peter "Blewzzman" Lauro © September
2010
Although he actually did quit his job to become a full
time musician back in 2004, Mark Robinson was apparently quite the musician
before deciding to even take that job he ultimately
quit. Right out of college he moved to Chicago and played
with the likes of Koko, Lonnie and Son - that's right, you know who I'm
talking about. Back then he was a side man - now he's got his own side
people. And a good group of them at that.
On "Quit Your Job - Play Guitar", his debut CD, Mark - on lead vocals, guitars, Dobro, banjo and lap
steel - is joined by: Paul Griffith on drums and percussion; Dave Roe on
bass; Randy Handley on keyboards; Johnny Neel on organ and Wurlitzer
electric piano; Rick Mitchell & Dennis Taylor on sax; Steve Smart
on trumpet and horn arrangements; Ben Graves on harmonica; and
Tracy Nelson, Vickie Carrico, Lisa Young, Whit Hill, Kathy Hussey and
Jim Burnett all on backup vocals. The disc
contains 11 outstanding tracks of which most are original or co-written
by Mark.
Here are just a few of my
favorites:
On
this particular track the rhythm is as furious as a "Runaway
Train". Paul, on the drums and Dave, on the bass, are surely at
discs best right here. Combine that with Mark's hard driving guitar
playing and Ben's rippin' harp and you've got a real
smoker
On
the one sheet that accompanied the disc, Mark notes that since he was a kid,
"Sleepwalk" has been one of his favorite songs. It's one of mine
as well. This instrumental is a classic and one of the all time
best slow dancing songs. In 1959 it was a number one hit
for Santo and Johnny, and Mark does it as good as they.
With the guys in the perfect groove behind him Mark just nails this "guitar
song".
There's
no question that "The Fixer" is my personal favorite. The
song's one of the disc's bluesiest tracks and it addresses several of
my favorite, however former vices - women, white powder and
whiskey. This is one of those great listening songs. Just turn
it up, close your eyes, sit back and enjoy the sinister lyrics, the slow
and soulful vocals and backup vocals, the soothing beat and the scorching guitar
licks. Then hit the replay button as many times as necessary.
Mark
has a really clever way of coming on to someone else's
woman. It's as easy as telling her that all smart women have a
"Back Up Plan" and he'd be more than happy to be her back up man.
As with most tracks, the backup vocals are a big part of the song and on
this one it's Whit and Kathy doing an excellent job. This one's
additionally highlighted by some good ol' N'awlins rhythm from Paul, Dave
and Randy on the drums, bass and piano, and jazzy sax from
Dennis.
The
disc closes with Mark singing his heart out on "Try One More
Time". The song had me thinking that it's about one
of his actual life experiences. The emotional vocals
were just too real and too intense to not be. Add in Johnny's
heavenly sounding organ, the divine sounds of Rick and Steve's horns
and the angelic harmony of Tracy and Vickie's backup vocals and you've
got an absolutely beautifully and spiritually performed
song.
Other
tracks on "Quit Your
Job - Play Guitar" are: "Poor Boy", "Payday Giveaway", "This Old
Heart", "Memphis Won't Leave Me Alone", "Back In The Saddle", and
"Know You'll Be Mine".
Mark
Robinson has himself one hell of a debut disc here and if it should be
heard by the right ears, he could possibly have himself a "Best New
Artist Debut" nomination come the 2011 Blues Music
Awards.
I'm
highly recommending you visit Mark at www.markrobinsonguitar.com and
look into how you too may one day be able
to "Quit Your
Job - Play Guitar", and buy the disc as well. Of course, you'll also
tell him the Blewzzman sent ya.
Peter
"Blewzzman" Lauro
