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Blues Underground Network |
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Blues Underground Network |
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Mark Robinson "Quit Your Job - Play Guitar"
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There are a lot of unique and interesting titles that Artists use to name their Albums and some have quite the story behind them. Mark Robinson decided to name his debut solo release "Quit Your Job - Play Guitar" and boy did that title name ever fit his life. You see as the name implies, "Quit Your Job - Play Guitar", that is exactly what Mark Robinson did, with his move to Nashville in 2004. Now 6 years later Robinson's dream and determination has paid off with his take on Rock, Blues, Southern Soul, Roots, and Americana Country. Born in Bloomington, Indiana, Mark Robinson started picking away on his first guitar at the age of 13. A few years later, because of his undying devotion to perfecting his guitar playing, Mark managed to land his first professional gig with none other than Bobby Helms, who we all know from his 1957 hit "Jingle Bell Rock". Mark continued for many years as a sideman for quite a few acts and got a chance to play with some of the blues greats including, Lonnie Brooks, Koko Taylor, and Bo Diddley, to name a few. Mark has also had the good fortune to perform and record with many other great names in the music business, such as, Bill Wilson, Carrie Newcomer, Tom Roznowski, Bob Cheevers, Tad Robinson, and the rock guitarist Extraodinaire Larry Crane. With all those great experiences behind Mark, it was only a matter of time before he starting making a name for himself. "Quit Your Job - Play Guitar" consists of 11 Tracks of which Mark shows us his writing skills on 7 Tracks, 4 of which he wrote by himself and 3 of which were co-written, "Memphis Won't Leave Me Alone" (Andrea C. Renfree), "This Old Heart" (Mike Cullison), and "Back In the Saddle" (Randy Handley). Randy Handley also played Keyboard on a number of Tracks. "Quit Your Job - Play Guitar" starts off with the first of 3 non-originals, titled "Poor Boy", a Traditional song that Mark Robinson and Davis Raines added additional lyrics and music to. "Poor Boy" was a great choice for the opening track, as it highlights Mark's great guitar picking and vocals and really sets a the tone for what is about to come. The next track, "Payday Giveaway", hits us with a nicely opening Steel Guitar, courtesy of Mark Robinson and continues throughout, on what I consider to be one of the best Tracks on this Album. Great vocal delivery not only from Mark, but also the backup vocals of Whit Hill & Kathy Hussey. "Payday Giveaway" is one of Mark's favorite songs which was written by his friend and mentor, the late Bill Wilson. "Runaway Train" is the first Original on "Quit Your Job - Play Guitar" and like the name implies it comes at you fast and furious, with the kind of speed that you can't stop tapping your feet to. Track 4 offers us the Classic instrumental "Sleepwalk", a tune most of us remember from our childhood. Mark writes about this one, "I started playing it live a few years ago and people always say, What was that guitar song? I love it. Will you play that one again?" Mark really shows us some mighty fine guitar playing on that Track. The next Track, "This Old Heart", is the first co-written song on this Album (Mike Cullison). It is a bit slower and has a soulful blues/rock feel to it. Nice vocals and great lyrics on this one. "Memphis Won't Leave Me Alone" is the next Track and one of several favorites for me on "Quit Your Job - Play Guitar". This one starts out great with the old Steel Guitar and Banjo melding together. It has more of a Country feel to it and tells a great story which struck a chord with Mark when he was sent the lyrics by his friend Andrea C. Renfree. Lisa Young adds some great texture to this one with her backup vocals. "The Fixer" is Marks second solo original and not only shows his great writing skills but also his great soulful blues delivery. "The Fixer" is the second longest track on "Quit Your Job - Play Guitar", clocking in at a healthy 6:44, which was plenty of time to get the lyrics and the Soulful Blues Guitar playing across. Next up is a great fun tune called "Back In the Saddle" which Mark refers to as a "Rocking Romp". A tune sure to please many and one that I am sure has the crowd running for the dance floor when he plays it live. Mark thanks his friend Randy Handley who really did the majority of the work writing this one, but was kind enough to still put Mark down as a co-writer. Track 9 brings us the tune called "Backup Plan", one that mark wrote with Randy Handley's piano playing in mind. It done a with a bit of New Orleans Style, brought together quite nicely with the percussion, horns, and backup Vocals sections. Track 10 "I Know You'll Be Mine" plays out lean and mean with only a trio for this one which allows us to hear a lot of Bass, Drums, and Awesome Guitar. Good Old Grungy Texas Style Blues Rock on this one. Its got all that one would expect from a tight striped down trio, even the clear high hats get their say. Mark finishes off this gem of an album with "Try One More Time", another Original. It is the longest Track on "Quit Your Job - Play Guitar" clocking in at over 7 minutes. Everybody is on board for this one, including the great backup Vocals, Piano, and Horn Sections. To me it kind of plays out the way most great concerts do that have a lot of special guests, with everyone coming back on stage for that last farewell song of the night. "Try One More Time" is a great Soulful Blues song that really puts the icing on the cake of this simply wonderful Solo Debut Album. When it comes to really fine Guitarist, Writers, and Vocalist, we really can't have enough of them around, and Mark Robinson is certainly a welcome and needed part of the great mix of great music out their today, especially the styles he plays. "Quit Your Job - Play Guitar" is a mighty fine Album and one I am very happy that Mark Robinson quite his job for. Highly Recommended... Thoroughly Enjoyed... Review By John Vermilyea (Blues Underground Network) Other Info And Reviews Quit Your Job - Play Guitar isn’t just the title of Mark Robinson’s first solo CD—it’s his life. Tracklist
1. Poor Boy 4:22 Listen To Samples Here... Review By Adam (Broken Jukebox ) Quit Your Job, Play Guitar, advice that seems to have worked out pretty well for Mark Robinson. Unfortunately for most of us with a lack of six string ability, that would result in homelessness. Robinson, originally from Bloomington, Indiana spent many years playing guitar as a sideman for various acts while still working that day job. A few years ago he quit that day job and moved to Nashville to play full time. Since arriving he has played on studio sessions, done some producing and songwriting, taught guitar and most importantly focused on songwriting and fronting his own band. The results of which can be found on this great Rock n Roll infused Blues record. This album was a breath of fresh air in my Blues loving lungs, especially in a week that Rolling Stone ran a revue of Cyndi Lauper’s “Blues” record (which I have not heard, but the thought makes me nauseous). Robinson is a master on the guitar and delivers a formidable vocal performance on this album which consists of mostly originals. The album feels very Chicago Blues with a modern twist and a little Delta and Southern Soul thrown in for good measure. Robinson shows that no style is safe around him and it’s a great driving album (I know I say that a lot but that is an important test for an upbeat album to pass in my book). I have a few favorites including, “Memphis Won’t Leave Me Alone” which is one of the songs that embraces the slide and a modern Delta sound. A story of a small town kid who is enticed by the sights and sounds of Memphis. “The Fixer” is a slow Blues jam where the narrator is the solver of all problems and has a great feel. Robinson sings in a way that shrouds his meaning in mystery and lures us into wanting “The Fixer” to come help us out. Along the way he wraps some winding guitar riffs around the words further solidifying the sound and feel of the song. Finally “I Know You’ll Be Mine” is a pretty straight forward song that follows the Blues formula lyrically and spiritually. Very few words, lots of repetition, and truck loads of emotion give this song it’s kick and damnitt she will more than likely fall for it and be his. This is a great debut release from a guy who has obviously put in the work over the years to gain the respect of listeners, critics and his peers. So many times people leave that day job to be a musician and really it wasn’t a good idea, well in this case the world should be happy that Robinson has not only decided to make music but write some songs and give us a great record to listen to. Review By Robert Bartosh Mark Robinson and Blind Chihuahua Records present an outstanding new album “Quit Your Job – Play Guitar”. This new CD features a mixture of the Mississippi, Alabama, Louisiana and southern Tennessee sound on each and every track. Mark’s songwriting is provocative and sometimes downright in your face good. Mark delivers Roots Rock, Blues and Roots/Americana Country the way it should truly sound. This is Roots/Americana songwriting at its best and Mark gives all his heart and soul in these songs while his band is grooving instep with every word Mark sings. This new release is something very special and very cool. Mark Robinson simply ROCKS. Review By Blue Notes "Quit Your Job - Play Guitar", that's just what Robinson did about six years ago, when he was a video producer at Indiana University - Bloomington, and a part-time blues musician. So he quit his job, moved to Nashville, and became a full-time songwriter, guitarist, producer and all-around music-maker. This CD is the end result of all that work. The strong point of this CD is Robinson's versatile guitar playing, which drives his thoughtful and passionate songwriting and tough vocal style. He tackles a number of songs, mostly originals, rambling through rootsy blues, gritty Americana and country-flavored songs. He wields a nasty slide along the way, and the musical arrangements range from torchy, "The Fixer" -- to rock-steady, "Back in the Saddle," -- to rollicking New Orleans, "I Know You'll Be Mine." It's a tasty first effort -- not exactly pure blues, but bluesy enough with plenty of style and sass. Not to mention fine guitar work. Click Here For Many More Reviews Of "Quit Your Job - Play Guitar" About Mark Robinson Quit Your Job - Play Guitar isn’t just the title of Mark Robinson’s first solo CD—it’s his life. Mark picked up his first guitar at age 13 in his hometown, Bloomington, Indiana (where a few years later he had his first professional guitar gig with fellow Hoosier Bobby Helms—of “Jingle Bell Rock” fame). Drawing on musical influences ranging from The Allman Brothers to Charlie Christian, Mark practiced every lick until it was perfect. But he also found his own musical path, part rock, part blues, part jazz—but most definitely Mark Robinson. He continued to play guitar in a variety of local bands while he attended Indiana University and got his degree in audio and video production, with a minor in music from IU's renowned School of Music. Mark got a job at the local television station, directing the morning "Farm Show" and stage managing IU basketball coach Bob Knight's post-game shows. But music called, so Mark moved to Chicago, where he had a chance to play with some legends of American blues, including Lonnie Brooks, Jimmy Johnson, Koko Taylor, Son Seals, and Bo Diddley. When Mark returned to Bloomington, he continued to perform and record with nationally acclaimed acts: singer-songwriter Bill Wilson; Americana artists Carrie Newcomer, Tom Roznowski, and Bob Cheevers; soul-bluesman Tad Robinson (no relation); and rock guitarist Larry Crane (formerly of John Mellencamp’s band). And he had a day gig: video producer at IU. It paid the bills. And it allowed him to earn his Master's in Education, specializing in Instructional Systems Technology. (That and a dollar could get him a cup of coffee.) In 2004, Mark Robinson was offered an opportunity to move to Music City and be a full-time musician. No guarantees of making a living—but a chance to do what he loved, play guitar, rather than what he had to do to earn a paycheck. It was the right move. In Nashville, Mark has performed and/or recorded with Davis Raines, Mike Cullison, Randy Handley, Walt Wilkins and the Mystiqueros, Tricia Walker, Kent Blazy, Johnny Neel, Cory Batten, Tom Ghent, Brian Langlinais, Mike Kearns, and many others. In Nashville, Mark has also focused on songwriting, with cuts by other Nashville artists, and on producing, with a number of CDs and demos to his credit. In addition, he now fronts the Mark Robinson Band—performing strong originals and soulful covers. His performances are inspired by the many great talents he’s worked with over the years. Mark Robinson the sideman has morphed into Mark Robinson the artist. Mark’s new CD, Quit Your Job - Play Guitar, is raw and soulful--blues-infused, guitar-based roots music. The songs and performances are steeped in Chicago blues, Memphis soul, rock and roll and Americana. The players on the CD are some of the finest musicians in Nashville. And Mark’s songs are as at home on Beale Street as they are on Lower Broad, and as comfortable in Southside Chicago lounges as in the studios of Muscle Shoals. Over the course of his career Mark has shared the stage with some of the best-known names in music, including The Byrds, Johnny Winter, Steppenwolf, John Mellencamp, Dr. John, Leo Kottke, David Ball, Marty Stuart, and Lonnie Mack. But he’s never had more fun or more satisfaction than right now, right here in Nashville. http://www.markrobinsonguitar.com/ http://www.myspace.com/markrobinsonguitar
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