Customer Reviews

Robin Lane & The Chartbusters

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Some great performers become stars and some don't. In late 1980, I had the pleasure of seeing this band in concert, and it was one of the highlights of my musical life. I was always a sucker for jangly-guitared bands, and I saw the Byrds, Tom Petty, and R.E.M. as well as the Chartbusters, but if I could go back in time and pick one of those shows, it would be Robin's. Around the same time I saw other new wave or punk or post-punk bands who became hugely successful, and they didn't approach what this band could do. I loved the Ramones, silly bands like the B-52's and Go-Go's put on great shows, Elvis Costello, who's lasted, or the Romantics, who didn't, were on tour the same winter and none of the above could come close to this band live. I'd put Robin's show up with Patti Smith's first appearances, or the early Pretenders. In terms of energy, it was comparable to a Lone Justice show, speaking of women of the early 80's who rocked hard and then disappeared, but musically, I'm trying to summon adequate words. The drummer was amazing, the guitarists were so brilliantly talented that half the time they distracted me from a singer with stage presence, energy, talent, and raw sex appeal that otherwise completely captivated me. I wanted Robin, but didn't really have a groupie personality, wanted one of their guitars (an SG?) and all the special effects that went with it, but only had the money to buy the records, so I went out and got this on vinyl, soon to be followed by the live EP and "Imitation Life", still both unavailable on CD.

This recording really didn't capture their sound, and I found it disappointing. I'd hesitate to say anything negative about it, but I found Robin's comments in the CD liner notes contained every criticism of the album I ever felt. It didn't capture the way Robin sang, their energy level, or the absolutely incredible guitar sound. Didn't even have a good photo of Robin. Still, for a fan, this album was at least a faint reminder of how they sounded live, and I listened to it and the others until I wore them out. Then the band was gone, the albums out of print, and that was that. Until now. The CD actually sounds better than I remembered the record - maybe it's just being old and able to afford a better stereo. My only complaint about the transfer to CD is that, unlike the original record, the lyrics aren't currently included. Songs like "Don't Cry" bring back just how well this band did pop songs with great hooks (plus the memory of Robin singing that one to me in the front row), and "I Don't Want To Know" resonates with much of that raw energy from way back when. "Many Years Ago" seems even more evocative now with its "Many years ago you could live a simple life, and not be so frustrated" chorus. You could actually live a much simpler life in 1980, as my teenagers remind me daily.

If you weren't a fan then, or haven't been out to see the recently-reunited band, I'm not sure why you'd want this CD. The sound is dated, and if you clicked here from a new-wave link, you'd probably be happier with bands you remember. There are some good songs, but in most cases I thought more of the music than the lyrics. And that sound just was never recorded well, though one of the show's highlights, a "Shakin' All Over" cover that sounded like the Who's "Live at Leeds" version on speed, did come out pretty well on the live EP.

For any fan of Robin's, though, this is an essential, and we can only hope the EP and "Imitation Life" turn up on CD one day.

Issued in 1980, and with band links to Jonathan Richman's Modern Lovers, the Chartbusters were tagged early on as "new wave." And though the energy of that era certainly informs their music, Lane's songs were more straight-ahead rock, and the band's playing was devoid of new wave affectations. In the liner notes of this first-ever CD reissue, Lane and guitarist Asa Brebner suggest that the album didn't capture the band's sound, what it did capture (thanks in large part to producer Joe Wissert) is a heartier version of the power pop that fellow travelers like Tom Petty and Dwight Twilley had been putting out for a couple of years, but fronted by Lane's husky female vocals.

The sound of Collectors' Choice's reissue really sparkles, no doubt in large part due to the original work of the album's engineer, Rick Ruggeri. Richie Unterberger's two-panel liner notes provide background on the band, but leave no room for the lyrics and songwriting credits that appeared on the original album's liner sleeve. 4-1/2 stars, if allowed fractional ratings. [©2006 hyperbolium dot com]

I have been waiting for ages for this album to finally come out on CD...it's about time. This is one of my favorite rock albums of all time. For me it's never old or tired; it's just timeless rock that ages well like fine wine. Enjoy! Now, if only Imitation Life would come out on CD soon.

When this record was first released by Warner Bros., Dave Marsh raved about it in Rolling Stone. He wasn't alone. True, you can't recall a top forty hit from this Boston-based band that Robin put together from pieces of Reddy Teddy and the Mezz, but if you'd ever heard this album, you couldn't forget it either. "When Things Go Wrong," the anthemic, jangly "hit" tune showcases Robin's ability to write simple, catchy and affecting songs, with her main axe effortlessly backed by the old rock/new wave combo of the Chartbusters.
I Don't Want to Know" and "Without You" are high energy rave-ups that could show alternative radio what alternative is, not to mention that after Robin Lane, everything else is just radio. The only album better than this self-titled debut was an EP called Five Live with another great tune, "When You Compromise." That this great album is now out on CD is an event to celebrate as much as was its initial release. Here's to Robin: Long may you rock!

I've always loved this band's power and emotion. After wearing out the vinyl back in the 80's I'd almost given up the thought of ever hearing the Chartbusters again. HP had another plan. They're back recording and released a whole new album "Piece of Mind" on Windjam Records. I learned of THIS re-release when I went into Boston to hear them play live again! I also learned that they're not recieving any payment from the sale of this re-issue of the Chartbuster's first album on Warner. These songs are some of Robin's best written and most aggressively played rockers. Some more are on "Imitation Life" which is yet to be CDed. This band plays blistering, guitar rock with Robin's personal writing reaching into your chest. Great to hear this pivotal album on CD with all the power it always had.

You can be great for two and a half minutes and achieve immortality. "When Things Go Wrong" is one of the greatest rock songs of the Eighties. I come back to it over and over again. I have not heard the rest of the album because I keep playing that song over and over.

I was a college student in Boston when this album came out. This was during a time in the late 70s and early 80s when quite a few bands from Boston were getting contracts with major record labels. This album was always one of my favorites. Full of great songs, "When Things Go Wrong" one of their best and most well known songs and was the one responsible for them getting a record deal with Warner Bros. I loved their mix of New Wave Rock and Folk flavored music. Robin Lane had musical influences that ranged from working with Neil Young in 1970 to developing a love for The Sex Pistols, The Clash, Television and other punk bands from the late 70s. Other highlights of this album, "Don't Cry" "Why Do You Tell Lies" "Kathy Lee" Don't Wait Till Tomorrow". They released an EP and another album "Imitation Life" before being dropped by Warner Brothers in 1981. But this was their best album and the sound quality on this CD release is very good.

VH1 Classic recently re-broadcast all of the videos from the first 12 hours of MTV (in order plus a little bit of the original VJ commentary) in August 1981. Everybody knows that Video Killed The Radio Star by The Buggles was the first video ever on MTV but did you know that When Things Go Wrong by Robin Lane and The Chartbusters was shown in the first hour? And I Don't Want To Know was also shown that day?

Seeing the When Things Go Wrong video of RL and the CB's running around on a boat was a great deja vu moment for me. Great song by a band that coulda, shoulda been contenders.

I was fortunate enough to see Robin Lane and the Chartbusters on 2 occasions while I attended college in New England. The second time I saw Robin Lane was 10 years later than the first time I saw her. Also, the lineup in each band was different in that not all of the original band members were present the second time. No matter, both shows were fantastic. Imitation Life is my favorite album by her, but this album is good. However, seeing the band live is best. The shows give off a sense of urgency and emotion that the albums (as good as they both are) just don't convey quite as well. I would love to see the band again. If you have not ever seen the band, then the albums are a good place to start. It's interesting, I bought her first album before I saw her show. After I saw the concert I knew that the album did not do the band justice as far as the music was concerned. However, if you like Robin Lane and the Chartbusters, buy all of their albums and EP's they are certainly worth having.

I hadn't heard this in 20 years (since I stowed my turntable and couldn't play vinyl anymore) but this still rocks just as strong as ever. Robin Lane & The Chartbusters received some fame and recognition in the 80s but never what they deserved and the singing, guitar playing, and songwriting have withstood the test of time. If you're into guitar-band music, get this CD.