Cock Robin’s self-titled debut album achieved multi-platinum success across Europe in 1985. It included the hits ‘The Promise You Made’ (Germany #6, France #4, Netherlands #2, UK #28), ‘Thought You Were On My Side’ (Germany #21, France #39, Netherlands #4), and ‘When Your Heart Is Weak’ (Germany #8, France #9, Netherlands #19), their sole US chart hit which peaked at #35 and was a staple video in the early days of MTV. The success of the singles propelled the album into the top 10 (Netherlands #3, Belgium #2, Germany #5, France #7).

Their second album, ‘After Here Through Midland’, followed in 1987 and was another huge success across Europe. It included the hit ‘Just Around The Corner’ (Netherlands #14, Belgium #11, Germany #16, France #14.) Europe’s love affair with the band propelled the album into the top 10 (Netherlands #6, Belgium #3, Germany #6, France #4) and it went platinum in France.

Third album, ‘First Love / Last Rites’ produced by Rhett Davies, who worked with Roxy Music, was released in 1989. Despite its high quality the album fared less well except in France where it reached #11 and went 2 x gold. In the US and Japan the album was issued in 1990 with their cover of Conway Twitty’s ‘It’s Only Make Believe’ added as track six and that’s been included here.

Singer-songwriter Peter-Kingsbery who led Cock Robin from 1982 to 1990 when they disbanded, reformed the band in 2006.

CD 1: Cock Robin (1985)
1. Thought You Were On My Side
2. When Your Heart Is Weak
3. Just When You’re Having Fun
4. The Promise You Made
5. Because It Keeps On Working
6. Born With Teeth
7. Once We Might Have Known
8. More Than Willing
9. A Little Innocence
BONUS TRACKS: SINGLE VERSIONS, B SIDES & REMIXES
10. When Your Heart Is Weak (Single Mix)
11. Have You Any Sympathy?
12. Peace On Earth
13. Once We Might Have Known (Remix)
14. When Your Heart Is Weak (Dance Mix)
15. The Promise You Made (Extended Version)
16. Thought You Were On My Side (Extended Remix)
17. When Your Heart Is Weak (Instrumental)

There are not many bands that are comprised of a male and female duet, which makes Cock Robin unique from the start. Peter and Anna’s voices blend perfectly and through the album they either share the vocals or take turns being the driving force behind the song.

I find myself very frequently visiting this album as the every song is engaging and memorable in some way. Along with the excellent vocals are very catchy rhythms, melodies, and solos from the instruments.

In a time of Pop one hit wonders, you will find this entire album very listenable. They express such a level of energy and fun on this album, and I find myself returning to it many times over the years.

The one-two punch of Peter and Anna’s vocal harmonies and a smart, sophisticated set of pop songs were more popular in Europe and are worthy of (re)discovery here. I highly recommend The Promise You Made and the deep Cut: A Little Innocence.

CD 2: After Here Through Midland (1987)
1. Just Around The Corner
2. The Biggest Fool Of All
3. El Norte
4. I’ll Send Them Your Way
5. Another Story
6. Coward’s Courage
7. Every Moment
8. Precious Dreams
9. After Here Through Midland
BONUS TRACKS: NON ALBUM B SIDES & REMIXES
10. Open Book
11. Blood Of A Saint
12. For Dear Life
13. Just Around The Corner (Extended Remix)
14. The Biggest Fool Of All (Dance Mix)
15. El Norte (Reinforced Dance Mix)
16. El Norte (El Club Mix)
17. El Norte (Los Bonus Beats)

Cock Robin followed-up on their promising debut with and even better and more mature set of songs, in my personal opinion. While the band failed to garner much notice here again in the States, three singles hit the U.K. charts and it helped set the table for their third and most satisfying release, First Love, Last Rites, in 1990. I highly recommend Biggest Fool of All and the highly underrated Another Story.

Another Story is just so darn picturesque, almost like an Edward Hopper painting of small-town America: small wooden house with porch, a deserted street, heavy grey sky, and one illuminated streetlight. Simply beautiful.

CD 3: First Love / Last Rites (1989)
1. Stumble And Fall
2. Straighter Line
3. Win Or Lose
4. One Joy Bang
5. For Experience Sake
6. It’s Only Make Believe (US / JAPAN BONUS TRACK, 1990)
7. Hunting Down A Killer
8. Any More Than I Could Understand
9. My First Confession
10. Manzanar
11. Worlds Apart
BONUS TRACKS: NON ALBUM B SIDES
12. We’ve Changed 13. Don’t Think Twice It’s Alright (Live)

Simply put, this third album is a bloody musical masterpiece! Best Cock Robin album to date, in my humble opinion and without a doubt, and perhaps with more importantly, it is a late new wave masterpiece with brilliant songs beautifully crafted, rich in sonic textures benefiting from other music genres; like jazz for example.

Phew, well, and as much as it is truly amazing, creating the masterpiece were Peter Kingsbery and Anna LaCazio - who are on fine form vocally - while John Pierce and Pat Mastelotto are awesome as the rhythm section. Rhett Davies’ production is (arguably) the best of his career to date, including Roxy Music’s Avalon and King Crimson’s Discipline and Beat.

Official 3CD Purchase Link