Robin Zander (album)

Robin Zander
Studio album by Robin Zander
Released	6 July 1993
Genre	Rock
Length	51:13
Label	Interscope Records
Producer	Jimmy Iovine, Robin Zander, James "Jae-E" Earley, Matt Dike, Mike Campbell
Robin Zander chronology
Robin Zander (1993) Countryside Blvd. (2010)Countryside Blvd.2010

Robin Zander is the debut solo album from American singer Robin Zander of Cheap Trick. It was released in 1993 by Interscope Records.

Background

"I've Always Got You" was released as a single and peaked at #13 on the Mainstream Rock Charts.^[1] The single also peaked at #64 in Canada for a total of four weeks.^[2] "Show Me Heaven" was also released as a promotional single, the second and final single release from the album.^[3]

The track "Emily" was written with David A. Stewart (of the Eurythmics) and featured 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. "Time Will Let You Know" was recorded live for Cheap Trick's album 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.^[4]

The song "Walkin' Shoes" was re-recorded for Zander's intended 2010 solo follow-up Countryside Blvd., which remains unreleased to date aside from various download sites making the album available for a few hours.

For the German version of the "I've Always Got You" single, an extra non-album track was added, titled "Stone Cold Rhythm Shake",^[5] written and originally performed by singer/songwriter Robert Vaughan on his 1991 album "Songs from the Riverhouse".^[6] The track was added as a bonus track to the Japanese version of the "Robin Zander" album.^[7]

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic	[8]
Spin	favorable[9]

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."^[10]

Tom Demalon of AllMusic retrospectively said: "Although fellow Trickster Tom Peterssen plays bass on one track and Rick Nielsen co-wrote another, Zander had aligned himself with Southern California session men, such as Gregg Bissonette, Kim Bullard and Steve Ferris. Guests ranging from members of the Heartbreakers, Maria McKee, Dr. John, and Stevie Nicks also lend their talents. At heart, though, the artist doesn't deviate much from his work with Cheap Trick. 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."^[11]

Track listing

1. "Reactionary Girl" - 3:19 (Rob Laufer)
2. "I've Always Got You" - 3:40 (J.D. Souther; Mike Campbell; Robin Zander)
3. "Show Me Heaven" - 4:03 (Eric Rackin; Jay Rifkin; Maria McKee)
4. "Jump into the Fire" - 3:12 (Harry Nilsson)
5. "Time Will Let You Know" - 5:32 (Robin Zander; Brian O. Who)
6. "Boy (I'm So in Love With You)" - 4:55 (Fred Reynolds; Robin Zander)
7. "Tell It to the World" - 3:30 (J.D. Souther; Mike Campbell; Robin Zander)
8. "Emily" - 6:09 (Dave Stewart; Robin Zander)
9. "I Believe in You" - 4:03 (Neil Young)
10. "Secret" - 4:30 (Billy Steinberg; Rick Nielsen; Robin Zander; Tom Kelly)
11. "Everlasting Love" - 4:32 (Mick MacNeil; Robin Zander)
12. "Walkin' Shoes" - 3:59 (Mark Spiro; Robin Zander)

Chart performance

Personnel

References