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Soul blues singer supreme Tad Robinson's debut recording with special guest guitarist Robert Ward!!

Tad Robinson – One To Infinity
Delmark DE 673
(1994)

One To Infinity consists mostly of Tad Robinson’s own songs with their gritty, urban imagery, whether about pounding the city streets looking for his former love in “Empty Apartment Blues”, or describing the glistening city pavement in “Raining In New York”. The mood and groove varies from the Albert Collins-styled shuffle, “Walking In The Sunshine”, to the soulful flavor of the title track, and the soul-blues “Give Love A Chance” with special guest, Robert Ward.

Tracklist

1 Empty Apartment Blues 4:49
2 Coming Home 3:52
3 At The End Of The Tunnel 4:37
4 Eight Days A Week 3:55
5 Trouble In Mind 4:01
6 Can't Print It Fast Enough 4:25
7 One To Infinity 5:29
8 Walking In The Sunshine 4:39
9 Lonely Man 3:31
10 Raining In New York 4:47
11 Little Rascal 3:00
12 Give Love A Chance 5:32


Tad Robinson: vocals (all except 11), harmonica (1, 2, 5, 6, 11), piano (12)
Alex Schultz: guitar (1, 2, 5, 8, 9)
Ken Saydak: piano (1-3, 5, 6) and organ (3, 7, 8, 9)
Harlan Terson: bass (all except 4, 10)
Jon Hiller: drums (all)

Special guests -
Robert Ward: guitar (3, 12)
Dave Specter: guitar (9, 11)
Richie Davis: guitar (4, 7, 10)

Gene Barge: horn arrangements (3, 7)
Willie Henderson: baritone sax (3, 7)
Hank Ford: tenor sax (3, 7)
Kenny Anderson: trumpet (3, 7)
Bill McFarland: trombone (3, 7)
John Brumbach: tenor sax (9)
Dez Desormeaux: baritone sax (9)
Rob Mazurek: trumpet (9)

Jon Weber: piano (4, 10)
Chris Cameron: organ (10)
Rob Amster: bass (4, 10)

Kay C. Reed: backing vocals (7)
Theresa Davis: backing vocals (7)
Rita Warford: backing vocals (7)

all songs written by Tad Robinson (90th Street Publishing) except
4) Lennon/McCartney
5) R.M. Jones
9) Little Milton Campbell

produced by Steve Wagner & Bob Koester
recorded at Delmark's Riverside Studio, Chicago
January 10, 11 & February 19, 1994

Liner Notes

Some may be familiar with Tad Robinson from Dave Specter's BLUEPLICITY (Delmark 664). While that album reflected Specter's jazz leanings, ONE TO INFINITY reflects Robinson's soul-blues sensibilities.

Tad grew up in New York City, listening to Top 40 on WABC-AM, and to soul from his brother's collection of Stax/Voly and Motown 45s. His early influences included The Temptations, Ray Charles, Sam Cooke, Eric Burdon, and Joe Cocker. Leaving Manhattan around 1980, bound for the Indiana University School of Music, he eventually settled in Chicago and has been playing in and around town for close to ten years, honing his songwriting and performing skills.

ONE TO INFINITY consists mostly of Robinson's own songs with their gritty, urban imagery, whether about pounding the city streets looking for his former love in EMPTY APARTMENT BLUES, or describing the glistening city pavement in RAINING IN NEW YORK. The mood and groove varies from the Albert Collins-styled shuffle, WALKING IN THE SUNSHINE, to the soulful flavor of the title track and the soul-blues GIVE LOVE A CHANCE. Driving amplified harmonica is heard on the rocking COMING HOME and the instrumental LITTLE RASCAL, while on the traditional reading of TROUBLE IN MIND, his harp echoes the second Sonny Boy. While there are only a few covers, the most interesting is his recasting of the Beatles' EIGHT DAYS A WEEK.

Robinson is quick to point out that he has been profoundly influenced by the late Arthur Alexander. His imprint can be discerned in Robinson's emphasis on lyrics that tell a good story. Alexander's music freed Robinson "of the fear of going out and just playing songs for people. If you have a song that tells a story, you give the listener a reason to keep listening." To this end, he has brought in musicians whose playing complements his songs and vocals.

Prominently featured is guitarist Alex Schultz. Schultz, now with Rod Piazza and The Mighty Flyers, has known Robinson since both were teenage friends in New York City, where they played informally together. Prior to joining Piazza in '88, Schultz played with Hank Ballard and William Clarke, and has recorded with Piazza, Clarke, and Lynn August. His jumping style is showcased on COMING HOME, while he suggests the late Albert Collins on WALKING IN THE SUNSHINE. Richie Davis, a veteran of Los Angeles' R&B scene and a founding member of the soul band, the Chicago Catz, lends his soulful voicing to EIGHT DAYS A WEEK and the title track, while Dave Specter backs Robinson's harp on LITTLE RASCAL, and is featured on Little Milton's LONELY MAN.

A special guest is Robert Ward, who has made quite an impression with his album FEAR NO EVIL (Black Top 1063). The closing GIVE LOVE A CHANCE perhaps has Tad's most telling lyric, with Ward's singular guitar providing a perfect foil to Robinson's pleading vocal.

Anchoring most of the album (and Robinson's band) are three veterans of the Chicago scene, Ken Saydak on keyboards, Harlan Terson on bass and Jon Hiller on drums. Saydak played with Mighty Joe Young and Lonnie Brooks before founding the roots-rock band Big Shoulders. He has also recorded with Johnny Winter, Eddie Shaw, and Barkin' Bill. Terson hit the blues club scene in '74, and has recorded with Lonnie Brooks, John Littlejohn, Robert Covington and Bonnie Lee, while drummer Hiller's credentials include record dates with Jimmy Johnson, Eddy Clearwater and others. Together, they provide a firm base that helps make ONE TO INFINITY an auspicious debut.

- Ron Weinstock, contributor LIVING BLUES, BLUES REVUE




Tad Robinson ALL MUSIC Biography by Bill Dahl

Tad Robinson would have fit in snugly with the blue-eyed soul singers of the 1960s. His vocals virtually reeking of soul, he's capable of delving into a straight-ahead Little Walter shuffle or delivering a vintage O.V. Wright R&B ballad. Add his songwriting skills and exceptional harp technique and you have quite the total package.

Robinson grew up in New York City on a nutritious diet of Stax, Motown, and Top 40, digging everyone from Otis Redding and Arthur Alexander to Eric Burdon and Joe Cocker. He matriculated at Indiana University's school of music in 1980, fronting a solid little combo on the side called the Hesitation Blues Band that made it up to Chicago now and then (where he soon relocated).

Long respected locally, his reputation outside the city limits soared when he took over as vocalist with Dave Specter & the Bluebirds. Their 1994 Delmark disc, Blueplicity, was an inspiring marriage of Robinson's soaring vocals and Specter's tasty, jazz-laced guitar and featured the striking Robinson-penned originals "What's Your Angle," "Dose of Reality," and "On the Outside Looking In."

Delmark granted Tad Robinson his own album later that year. One to Infinity escorted him even further into soul territory (guests on the set included Mighty Flyers guitarist Alex Schultz, the mystical Robert Ward, and Specter).