Wednesday 22 December 2021

Alvin Robinson born 22 December 1937


Alvin "Shine" Robinson (December 22, 1937 – January 25, 1989), sometimes credited as Al Robinson, was an American rhythm and blues singer, guitarist, and songwriter, based in New Orleans. His recording of "Something You Got" reached the Billboard Hot 100 in 1964. 

He was born in New Orleans, and by the late 1950s was established as a session musician in the city. In 1961 he recorded for Imperial Records in New Orleans, with "I'm Leaving You Today" betraying his influence by Ray Charles. His management was soon taken over by singer Joe Jones, who had had a hit with "You Talk Too Much" and who won Robinson a recording contract with Tiger Records, a new label set up in New York City by songwriters and record producers Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller. In 1964, he recorded a version of Chris Kenner's song "Something You Got". The song, featuring Robinson's "fantastically bluesy growl", rose to no.52 on the Billboard pop chart.                           

                              

He moved with Leiber and Stoller to their next label, Red Bird Records, and recorded "Down Home Girl", a song written by Leiber with Artie Butler, arranged by Joe Jones, and produced by Leiber and Stoller. Although the record was critically acclaimed, and was regarded by Leiber and Stoller as the best record issued on the Red Bird label, it was not a commercial success, but was covered by the Rolling Stones on their 1965 album The Rolling Stones No. 2.

Alvin with the Dixie Cups

Robinson's later recordings for Red Bird and its subsidiary Blue Cat label, including a reshaped version of "Let The Good Times Roll" arranged by Wardell Quezergue, also failed to reach the charts. Robinson continued to record in his own name and as a session guitarist. He moved to Los Angeles, and recorded "Let Me Down Easy", written by King Curtis, for Atco in 1967. He also began playing with Dr. John, and appeared as a guitarist on the albums Babylon, Dr. John's Gumbo, and Hollywood Be Thy Name, as well as co-writing several album tracks with Dr. John. 


As a solo performer, Robinson recorded for Harold Battiste's A.F.O. and Pulsar labels; one of his recordings for Pulsar, "Sho' Bout To Drive Me Wild", featured contributions from many New Orleans musicians including Battiste, Dr. John, Jessie Hill and King Floyd. He was also credited on Carly Simon's album Playing Possum, and Ringo Starr's Goodnight Vienna. 

Robinson later returned to New Orleans, where he died in 1989 at the age of 51.  (Edited from Wikipedia)

12 comments:

boppinbob said...

Back in 2017 the wonderful King Cake @ the deep southern soul blog assembled all 34 tracks that Alvin Robinson ever recorded which was something that has ever been accomplished by anyone, anywhere!, He did state that some of the songs were of very poor quality due to the sources they came from.. Unfortunately the blog ended in February this year and all links are gone.

Surprisingly Ace Records have access to most of Alvin’s records and yet have not done a whole compilation of his remastered sides. I found all of the tracks below mainly on Ace CD’s. Enough I feel to make up a 20 track spotlight of Alvin Robinson. I’ve left the album titles from which I gleaned the tracks in the mp3 idents and I’ve borrowed the artwork from a 2009 10 inch French vinyl eight track compilation.

For “An Introduction to Alvin Robinson” (2021 From The Vaults) go here;

https://krakenfiles.com/view/ld4v2EgrGU/file.html

01) Alvin Robinson - Pain in My Heart (1961)
02) Alvin Robinson - Oh Red (1961)
03) Alvin Robinson - Something You Got (1964)
04) Alvin Robinson - Searchin' (1964)
05) Alvin Robinson – Fever (1964)
06) Alvin Robinson - Down Home Girl (1964)
07) Alvin Robinson - How Can I Get Over You (1965)
08) Alvin Robinson - I'm Gonna Put Some Hurt On You (1965)
09) Alvin Robinson - Bottom Of My Soul (1965)
10) Alvin Robinson - Let the Good Times Roll (1965)
11) Alvin Robinson – Let Me Down Easy (1967)
12) Alvin Robinson - Soulful Woman (1969)
13) Alvin Robinson - Empty Talk (1969)
14) Alvin Robinson - Sho' 'Bout To Drive Me Wild (1969)
15) Alvin Robinson - Tuned In, Turned On (1969)
16) Alvin Robinson - Better Be Cool (1969)
17) Alvin Robinson - We Got Love (1969)
18) Alvin Robinson - Cry, Cry, Cry (1969)
19) Alvin Robinson - Serpent Woman (1994) (previously unreleased)
20) Alvin Robinson - I've Never Been in Love (1999) (previously unissued)

Bob Mac said...

Nice one, thank you.

Dj Diego MC said...

Gracias bb, y felices fiestas, o feliz navidad amigo.

Guitarradeplastico,scraping oddities said...

thank you

Rob Kopp said...

Thanks for this introduction

Jake said...

Maybe this is useful :

Alvin Robinson - Shine On
https://krakenfiles.com/view/AzIPutIW86/file.html

The Magnificent Goldberg said...

@ Jake
I was gonna say the same thing myself. Between 'Shine on' and this introduction, we now have 28 of Alvin's 34 cuts.

Mucho gracias Bob.

Allan

boppinbob said...

Thanks for the additional tracks Jake, Regards, Bob

The Magnificent Goldberg said...

Gonna talk to my mate in Brighton tomorrow and ask if he'll lend me his copy of 'Whatever you had, you ain't got it no more/You brought my heart right down to my knees'. He taped it for me many decades ago, but I've lost the tape.

Back on Boxing Day.

Allan

boppinbob said...

Hello MG, If you are successful, is there any chance of a copy?

varenna45 said...

Thanks a lot and merry Christmas!

The Magnificent Goldberg said...

Unsuccessful, I fear.

MG