Sharon Robinson - Everybody Knows

by Malcolm Carter

published: 11 / 12 / 2008

Label: Vibrant Records
Format: CD

Classy, sophisticated and totally captivating debut album from Sharon Robinson, who has already earned much acclaim for her work as a writer, producer, arranger and vocalist with Leonard Cohen

Review

Sharon Robinson is best known for her work with Leonard Cohen. Past tours (and his current one) as back-up singer for Cohen has introduced her distinctive vocals to many people and for many this debut solo album has been too long coming. But what isn’t obvious to anyone except those who scrupulously read album credits is that Sharon has been writing songs for many years for other artists and enjoying a great deal of success in doing so. Apart from a major input in Cohen’s ‘Ten New Songs’ as writer, producer, arranger and vocalist and songs dotted throughout other Cohen albums, Sharon has composed songs for Randy Crawford, Diana Ross, Aaron Neville, Roberta Flack and even contributed to Betty LaVette’s critically-acclaimed ‘I’ve Got My Own Hell To Raise’ album. Expectations were high, then, for this debut solo album. Being an extremely talented and established songwriter and vocalist obviously equals an extremely good album. Sharon goes one step, several steps in fact, beyond what was expected of her on this album. We expected her usual high standards of song writing, we expected her usual unique vocals but, and maybe it’s because this is the first time we have heard Sharon ‘solo’ for the duration of a whole album, but she blows us away over 42 minutes. The above list of artists who have covered her songs leans heavily on the soul genre and Sharon’s vocals blend soul and jazz in equal parts. She has a powerful voice which she keeps in check. It feels that at any moment Sharon is going to break out and do some soul shouting but it never happens.She keeps her vocals powerful but in control. Although there is no obvious theme running through or connecting these songs there is a definite feeling that connects each and every song. The music is subdued and laid-back, Sharon’s vocals sensual and seductive and the production, although a little too 80s in places, is faultless and sympathetic to her vocals. This is a collection of classy, sophisticated songs sung by a woman who knows how to bring out the best vocally in each and every song. It’s hard to imagine anyone not being seduced by Sharon’s vocals. If you have been captivated by Sharon at one of Cohen’s concerts, had your breath taken away by those vocals then you’ll know what to expect from this album. If you’ve seen her name in the credits of the many albums she has been involved in then rest assured that no one sings a Sharon Robinson as well as Sharon Robinson. If you are a newcomer to her talents then for anyone who has missed the slinky jazz/soul of Sade treat yourself to what would surely have been one of the albums of the year had it been released prior to the lists being complied. In a word: perfection.

Track Listing:-

1 Invisible Tattoo
2 Party for the Lonely
3 Everybody Knows
4 The Train
5 Secondhand
6 Forever In a Kiss
7 The High Road
8 Sustenance
9 Alexandra Leaving
10 Summertime