Frank Robson

Discography:



1967 FRANK ROBSON & MOSAIC: Happier Man / Crazy Train

1968 FRANK ROBSON & BLUES SECTION: Faye / Sun of Love

1973 FRANK ROBSON & DOPPLERIN ILMIÖ: Mr. Madman / I Bring You Spring

1973 Robson (LP): Sky Deep - What Did You Do About It - House Without a Name - Jenny - Fantasy Opens - I Bring You Spring - Ticket Train - After the Party

1975 ATRAIN: Loose Wheel / Armchair

1976 Stay Awhile (LP)

1979 Beggar Man / It Must Be Love

1983 The Dictator / Colour the Night

1985 Tomorrow / Indian Girl

1986 I Painted a Picture / Yesterday News

1986 I Painted a Picture (LP): Tomorrow - Mask of Eternity - Paper Words - Yesterday News - Club Midnight Rendez-Vous - I Painted a Picture - The Needle - Indian Girl - Just Like a Tiger - Under Pressure

1987 Kun Kohdataan (12" single that was released as promotion for Karjala beer, includes "One For the Road" + three more songs)

1987 One For the Road / With the Parting Comes the Tears

1987 Frank Robson Sings Mick Hanian (LP)

1997 Junk Food / Walk the Path / In the Morning Light (For Helena)

1998 Back in Business (CD album): Are You Really There - Walk the Path - Peace of Mind - In Times of Trouble - Roller Coaster Ride - Junk Food - Dealer - Miles Away - In the Morning Light - Mind of Man



British-born Frank Robson (1946-) came to Finland in 1967, a little after Jim Pembroke. His first band here was Mosaic, who originally had Kirka as vocalist. The band produced one single, "Happier Man / Crazy Train" in 1967. Kirka was not in the band anymore, instead Robson sang and played organ.



Another quick visit in Blues Section followed, after Pembroke had quit. Robson performed on the single "Faye / Sun of Love". After Blues Section disbanded, Robson drifted between Finland and England, until he got an offer from Tasavallan Presidentti, who needed a vocalist. Robson was present on the band's first three albums, but he had to leave before a major tour in England in 1972. This was probably because they were about to open for Traffic, and Robson's voice was considered too similar to Steve Winwood's.



In 1973 he released his first solo album "Robson", an ambitious record which sold poorly. Still, another solo LP followed in 1976, titled "Stay Awhile". The album doesn't rate high on originality, a problem which has often plagued Robson's records, but the musicianship is excellent. Sami Hurmerinta introduces his skills as guitarist (his own solo debut was still two years away), especially on the fiery "Armchair". There's also a very prominent horn section consisting of top men Pentti Lahti, Pertti Päivinen, Tom Bildo and Simo Salminen.



Robson's releases became few and far between after "Stay Awhile". Poor record sales and few gigs resulted in his backing bands splitting, so he kept a regular job selling musical instruments. The single "Beggar Man / It Must Be Love" (1979) and subsepuent 1980's releases sank without a trace. As a songwriter Robson has been rather much in demand, he's written material for a vast array of artists in the 1970's and 1980's.



Recently I picked up his "Frank Robson Sings Mick Hanian" (1987) LP ultra-cheap, not recalling it to be a great listening experience.



So, who is Mick Hanian? His name undoubtedly rings no bells to most Finns, but he's lived in Finland for nearly 30 years now, he's written music for short films, composed a musical "Calypso" (2002) based on Homer's "Odyssey", and written songs for a number of Finnish artists. His own solo album "All the Long Way" came out in 1985.



Hanian produced, arranged and played keyboards, and created a very ethereal, beautiful and deep album with a stagnated mood. Not the type of music I usually listen to, but I have to admit that the more I hear it the more it grabs on me. "It's Over" and "Vision" might be songs you most gladly pick up and cherish for years to come.



Here are the albums "Stay Awhile" and "Sings Mick Hanian", and a few of Robson's rare singles. The Mosaic and Blues Section singles are taken from CD, "Loose Wheel" and "Beggar Man" are culled from my archive of self-taped cassettes.



The Atrain single is the most laid-back of Robson's 1970's output, you'd really wish the band had been less subtle in the studio. "Armchair" was too long for single use, so it had to be heavily edited - the "Stay Awhile" album presents the song in its full glory. The "Beggar Man" single is one of my personal faves from this man, two upbeat and swinging songs, one of them tight and funky, the other a steadily rolling piano boogie tune. A lost gem!



Stay Awhile (1976):



1. Circles in the Sand

2. Armchair

3. Stay Awhile

4. Ring of Trees

5. Fountain of Existence

6. You're Just My Love

7. Make Up Your Mind

8. Sinuhe



Frank Robson Sings Mick Hanian (1987):



1. One For the Road

2. I'll Tell You a Story

3. It's Over

4. Impromptu

5. With the Parting Comes the Tears

6. Vision

7. Old Friend to Trust

8. Wine of Love

9. Will You Return

10. There Comes a Moment



Singles:



1. FR & Mosaic: Happier Man

2. FR & Mosaic: Crazy Train

3. FR & Blues Section: Faye

4. FR & Blues Section: Sun of Love

5. Atrain: Loose Wheel

6. Atrain: Armchair

7. Beggar Man

8. It Must Be Love



http://finnishrock.blogspot.com/2008/05/frank-robson-stay-awhile-singles.html




http://finnishrock.blogspot.com/2009/01/frank-robson-sings-mick-hanian-1987.html