Empty Talk - Alvin Robinson

Alvin aka Al Robinson ( 1937 - 1989 ) in the late 50’s was working as a session guitarist in New Orleans, serving for a time as guitar teacher to Shorty Long of ‘Here Comes The Judge’ fame. Robinson’s first solo singles came out on Imperial in the early 60s and he also moved to New York for awhile. In 1964 Alvin Robinson became one of the first artists to record for the new tiger & Daisy labels operated by the writing and production team of Leiber and Stoller. His first 45 was a cover of Chris Kenner’s ‘Something You Got’ and a cover of The Coasters hit ‘Searchin’ made it to #8 R&B and #52 pop in June of 1964. In September 1964, Robinson’s version of ‘Down Home Girl’ b/w ‘Fever’ came out as Red Bird 010, his only disc for that particular Leiber Stoller label). Another Leiber-Stoller hit that was previously recorded by The Coasters, Robinson’s take on ‘Down Home Girl was a proto-funk classic revamped later by the Rolling Stones, and Nazareth. The follow up 7” was ‘How Can I Get Over You’ b/w ‘I’m Gonna Put Some Hurt On You’ in March of 1965. After Leiber and Stoller lost control of their labels in 1966, Robinson cut minor regional records at sessions fo Joe Jones records, Atco and others. In 1969 he made his way to Los Angeles, recording for New Orleans expatriate and Sonny & Cher producer Harold Battiste’s A.F.O. label, and Pulsar. Robinson joined Dr. John’s touring lineup as guitarist in the 70’s and 80’s and played on albums like Dr. John’s ‘Gumbo’, Carly Simon’s ‘Playing Possum’, Ringo Starr’s ‘Goodnight Vienna’ Tom Waits’ “Blue Valentine” in 1978 and Chuck E. Weiss’ “The Other Side Of Town” in 1981. He eventually returned to his hometown New Orleans in 1985, and passed away in 1989.
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