Robin Scott (singer)

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For the 2000s dance act, see Michael Gray (DJ).

Robin Scott
Birth nameRobin Edmond Scott
Born (1947-04-01) 1 April 1947 (age 77)
Croydon, Surrey, England
GenresRock, pub rock, punk rock, new wave
Occupation(s)Musician
Instrument(s)Vocals, guitar
Years active1968–present
LabelsStiff, Radar, BMG/Metro
Websitewww.robinscott.uk

Robin Edmond Scott (born 1 April 1947)[1] is an English singer and founder of the music project M. His career encompasses six decades.

Life and career

Early life

Scott was born in

SEX
, the Chelsea clothes shop which McLaren and Westwood launched, preferring to make his career in music.

While at college he had displayed a talent for writing topical songs which he performed on radio and television. This led to his debut album, for which he was backed by

independent record label called Head Records.[3]

Scott began performing his own songs and accompanying himself on guitar. He spent a period playing

John Martyn and Ralph McTell. He also recorded a session for the BBC, one of the tracks from which was included on the CD reissue of the album in 2001.[3]

Early career

In early 1970, Scott conceived a multimedia project, The Voice, which was aired on

music publisher Ronnie Scott. In 1972, he won the Search for a Star national talent contest, and was offered a recording contract by EMI
, but turned down the deal because the label would not support his backing band.

In 1973, he performed in bands with Pete Thomas (later of Elvis Costello and the Attractions), and Paul "Bassman" Riley, and also wrote a musical called Heartaches & Teardrops, a play with original songs which has parallels to The Rocky Horror Show, and the True Love and Romance comic strip genre.

Scott then started working with

LP Play It By Ear for release on Do It Records
which he co-founded in 1978 with Max and Ian Tregoning. Scott also recorded "Cry Myself to Sleep" under the alias of Comic Romance, for release on Do It.

In 1978, Scott worked as producer for

Barclay Records in Paris, France where he lived with his girlfriend Brigitte Vinchon (alias Brigit Novik), after producing and filming with director Julien Temple and all female punk quartet The Slits.[2] In 1979 Do It released early recordings by Adam and the Ants.[2]

Breakthrough

While still in Paris he recorded early versions of "Moderne Man" and "Satisfy Your Lust", tracks which would ultimately appear on the first M album.

Using a group of session musicians he called "

UK Singles Chart and No. 1 in the US,[2] after which MCA Records
, the label which had released the single, requested he record an album.

Stevie Winwood, among others) and Brigit Novik. Additional musicians on the LP included drummer Phil Gould (later of Level 42),[2] Gary Barnacle on saxophone and flute,[2] and (at the time) local Montreux resident David Bowie, who did occasional handclaps.[citation needed] Released in the UK at the end of 1979 and on Sire Records
in the US, the album sold well.

"Moonlight and Muzak" was released in late 1979 as the third single from the album, peaking at No. 33 in the UK.

Muzak Organisation. He described it as "a very weird experience. There were all these white collar workers conscientiously putting together music with the precision of chemists. Way before Brian Eno was doing it, these guys were doing it for real. They were pre-occupied with the pace of workers in factories, and how to maximise their efficiency."[citation needed
]

The song was a UK Top 40 hit, and then "That's the Way the Money Goes" became another charting hit inside of a year. A 45-minute film incorporating videos and concert performances to date came as a result of a quick globe-trotting world tour in the wake of the hit.

Other M releases

In late 1980, the follow-up album called The Official Secrets Act was released, containing the songs "Keep It to Yourself" and the title track, and was inspired, albeit tongue-in-cheek, by the overwhelming worldwide paranoia of the time. It was recorded in the UK and Dublin, with contributions from Bill Whelan (the man behind Riverdance, who at the time worked as an arranger). Among the musicians on the album were Phil Gould on drums again, who also introduced his friend and subsequent Level 42 colleague Mark King. King at the time played guitar as much as bass; these recordings took place prior to his discovery of his trademark sound. In 1981, Scott co-produced rising star Ryuichi Sakamoto,[4] along with fellow members of the Yellow Magic Orchestra (who also participated on subsequent albums Left Handed Dream and The Arrangement), as did King Crimson/David Bowie guitarist Adrian Belew, while Scott and Brigit Novik supplied vocals and co-wrote four tracks.

The same year brought a third M album Famous Last Words, which featured many of the musicians from the previous albums, including the early incarnation of Level 42 (who by this time were having their own regular hits), producer Wally Badarou also playing keyboards, Julian Scott on bass, Brigit Novik on backing vocals, a young Thomas Dolby on programming, Yellow Magic Orchestra drummer Yukihiro Takahashi, guitarist from Gang of Four Andy Gill and Tony Levin on bass.[7] MCA declined release of the album in the UK, and it was only released in France, Italy and the US (where M was not even signed).

Subsequently, the label and M parted company. At this point some role reversing took place and Scott produced the M single "Danube" for the Stiff label, featuring Brigit Novik on vocals, followed by "The Wedding Dance" presenting Novik as an artist in her own right.

African phase

As a development of the ethnic references on The Official Secrets Act and the Stiff releases, Scott found a new musical direction, producing an EP of African acts in Kenya. This led to the album Jive Shikisha! (credited to Robin Scott & Shikisha), recorded in Kenya and the UK between 1983 and 1984, with musicians from several different African states. The album featured a female vocal trio from South Africa, Shikisha (hence the album title), Wally Badarou and Julian Scott.

Most of this world music was originally suppressed, but was remastered and released in 2003. The resurgence of interest in Scott and the history of "Pop Muzik" follows U2's use of the Steve Osborne remix opening their PopMart tour. Remixes have come from all sides, from Marcus' "Pop Muzic 2001" in 2002, and by Junior Vasquez and the Dub Pistols in 2003.

In 2003 a collection of Scott's artwork was shown at the Ensign Gallery in London.[8] and a compilation including both retrospective studio recording and period demos was released with title of Life Class featuring artwork from the exhibition.

Scott appeared in the Countdown Spectacular two-concert series in Australia between late August and early September 2007, where he performed "Pop Muzik" live for the first time. In 2009, an album featuring the original 1979 mix and thirteen remixes of "Pop Muzik" was issued by Union Square.[2]

Recent work

In August 2017, Scott released the album Emotional DNA in digital format.[9] On 23 June 2023[needs update], Scott will release the first new single by M in 41 years, a track called "Break the Silence".[10][11]

Discography

Collaborations

  • Left Handed Dream (1981), Epic – Ryuichi Sakamoto featuring Robin Scott
  • The Arrangement (1982), Alfa – Ryuichi Sakamoto featuring Robin Scott
  • Jive Shikisha! † (1998) Recorded in 1984 – Robin Scott & Shikisha

Singles

Year Title UK US AUS CAN GER FRA NED BEL NZ SAF Status
1979 "Pop Muzik" 2 1 1 1 1 3 3 3 3 1 US Gold, UK Silver
1979 "Moonlight and Muzak" 33 - 37 - - - 12 - 40 5 -
1980 "That's the Way the Money Goes" 45 - - - - - - - - - -
1980 "Official Secrets" 64 - - - - - - - - - -
1980 "Join the Party" / "Working for the Corporation" - - - - - - - - - - -
1981 "Keep It to Yourself" - - - - - - - - - - -
1982 "Danube" / "Neutron" - - - - - - - - - - -
1989 "Pop '89" 15 - - - - - - - - - -

References

  1. ISBN 978-0-89820-172-7
    , p. 522
  2. ^ a b c d e f g "M – Pop Muzik is back with The Remix Album Archived 4 October 2011 at the Wayback Machine", Fame Magazine, 13 February 2010, retrieved 2010-02-13
  3. ^ a b c Unterberger, Richie "Woman From the Warm Grass Review", AllMusic, retrieved 2010-02-13
  4. ^ a b c Young, Jon "M", Trouser Press, retrieved 2010-02-13
  5. Sydney Morning Herald
    , 23 March 1980, retrieved 2010-02-13
  6. ^ M, Chart Stats, retrieved 2010-02-13
  7. Village Voice
    , 14 September 2004, retrieved 2010-02-13
  8. ^ "Finance Trends". Robinscott.org. Retrieved 24 May 2020.
  9. ^ "Robin Scott – Emotional DNA (2017, File)". Discogs.
  10. ISSN 0261-3077
    . Retrieved 6 June 2023.
  11. ^ "Robin Scott M".

External links

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