Cock Robin's 1985 self-titled debut album was largely ignored in their native country, as with the majority of their output, but it was an overnight success in Europe, where the singles 'When Your Heart Is Weak' and 'The Promise You Made' became big hits. 'When Your Heart Is Weak' was the band's only chart single in the US. It also became a radio favorite in South Africa.
Two years later the band, reduced from the original quartet to the duo of Peter Kingsbery and Anna LaCazio, released a second album, After Here Through Midland. As with their debut, Cock Robin's second album attracted much attention in continental Europe, and also scored hits with the singles 'Just Around the Corner' and 'The Biggest Fool of All'.
In 1989, they released a their third album, First Love/Last Rites, and, as with their previous releases, the LP fared well in mainland Europe, but, due to poor management and promotion, failed to make an impact in the USA. The duo went their separate ways shortly after the release of the album and a European Tour, with Kingsbery releasing a string of solo projects in France, most notably a hit single 'Only the Very Best', recorded for the Michel Berger & Luc Plamandon concept musical album 'Tycoon', with English lyrics by Tim Rice in 1992. Anna LaCazio recorded her own solo album Eat Life circa 1992-93 but it was only officially released in its entirety for download in 2009.
The duo reformed in 2006, releasing another two albums, mainly noted in France.
Cock Robin - When Your Heart Is Weak (1985)
DE#8, FR#9, IT#26, US#35, NL#39
Lyrics:
What's the matter with the way we look?
Surely it's not the end
I only meant to make my motions clear
You worry too much if it's understood
Should we be seen as friends?
Seems like a real good beginning right here
'Cause when your heart is weak
I'm gonna pick the lock on it
My fingertips won't fail me
No matter what you do
The love you cannot see yet
Is about to witness a dawning
And you can twist and turn
But you won't get loose
Better forget getting rid of me
I don't see how you can
You put me off and I will hunt you
down...again
I'm mighty patient when I have to be
You have given me that
Still I look forward to the day you let me in
'Cause when your heart is weak
I'm gonna pick the lock on it
My fingertips won't fail me
No matter what you do
The love you cannot see yet
Is about to witness a dawning
And you can twist and turn
But you won't get loose
I'm gonna prove myself worthy
No more just hanging on
Without a prayer of a chance
I'm gonna come without warning
when your defenses are down and you're in
a desperate need
Oh, I bet you you then, you'll welcome me...
Your ol' companion
Your ol' companion
Remember baby,
'Cause when your heart is weak
I'm gonna pick the the lock on it
And you can twist and turn
But you won't get, you won't get
No you won't get loose
Oh no
Cock Robin - The Promise You Made (1986)
NL#1, FR#4, DE#6, CH#7, IT#18, UK#28
Lyrics:
If I laid down my love
To come to your defense
Would you worry for me
With a pain in your chest?
Could I rely on your faith to be strong
To picked me back up and to push me along?
Tell me
You'll be there in my hour of need
You won't turn me away
Help me out of the life I lead
Remember the promise you made
Remember the promise you made
If I gave you my soul
For a piece of your mind
Would you carry me with you
To the far edge of time?
Could you understand if you found me untrue
Would we become one, or divided in two
Please tell me
You'll be there in my hour of need
You won't turn me away
Help me out of the life I lead
Remember the promise you made
Remember the promise you made
Could I rely on your faith to be strong
To pick me back up and to push me along
Please tell me
You'll be there in my hour of need
You won't turn me away
Help me out of the life I lead
Remember the promise you made
Remember the promise you made
Cock Robin - Just Around The Corner (1987)
CH#6, SWE#12, DE#16, IT#17, FR'18, NL#19, AT#28
Lyrics:
Come ease my mind
For my prayers have not been answered in a long time
Things aren't quite as they seem inside my domain
You can't know about everything, only pleasure and pain
You wonder why I come here with head to my hands
Where else can I be cured and the king of your mansion
A thorn in your side
And a child to protect that claims he's free
Just around the corner, half a mile to heaven
Strong enough to hold you, starved for some affection
Darling come quickly, come ease my mind
For my prayers have not been answered in a long time
I've already made my bed, like it or not
As long as there's no regrets, I'll be here when the ride stops
These comforts to me
And these crosses to bear with which we live
Just around the corner, half a mile to heaven
Strong enough to hold you, starved for some affection
Baby, I can't drag you into this mess
I'm the thorn in your side and the child to protect
Yes, yes I'm
Just around the comer, half a mile to heaven
Strong enough to hold you, starved for some affection
Darling come quickly, come ease my worried mind
For my prayers have not been answered in a long time
Just around the comer
Strong enough to hold you
Half a mile to heaven
Just around the comer
Cock Robin - The Biggest Fool Of All
FR#47, DE#50
Lyrics:
My excuse is only human
Like any animal that breathes
Just to find a scent that's soothing
I give you power over me
I'm more weak than strong
And not a stranger to a fall
But I won't leave you till I turn to find you gone
I'm the biggest fool of all
But, I'm the biggest fool of all
There's no path of least resistance
It's a fable that you've heard
Any love that lacks conviction
Is gonna grovel in the dirt, yes it is
God this road is long
And surrounded by a wall
But I won't leave you till I turn to find you gone
I'm the biggest fool of all
I'm the biggest fool of all
I'm the biggest fool of all
Foolish as the prisoner
That listens for the jangling keys
And smart enough to know
That it's crazy I should run
When you've got no claim on me
So before your panic taunts you
To make relations disappear
You could help to ease my conscience
If just for once by standing here
I'm more weak than strong
And surrounded by a wall
But I won't leave you till I turn to find you
But I won't leave you till I turn to find you
But I won't leave you till I turn to find you
But I won't leave you till I turn to find you gone
I'm the biggest fool of all
Oh, yes I am
I'm the biggest fool of all
Oh yeah
I'm the biggest fool of all
Oh, I am
I'm the biggest fool of all
Oh, I am
I'm the biggest fool of all
The video productions are interesting. As one who lived through the 1980s I instantly recognise so many images of the Joshua Tree National Park which appeared in so many videos of LA based bands. If they wanted to look exotic they drove a couple of hours eastward. NY based band went to Europe, London based bands went to Indonesia.
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