Robert Gordon - Someday someway ( USA 70's rockabilly )

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guitarboogieshuffle1
July 13, 2009

. At the age of nine (1956) he was affected greatly by the Elvis Presley song Heartbreak Hotel playing on radio, and decided to attempt a career as a Rock & Roll musician at that young age[1]. His influences included Gene Vincent, Jack Scott, Billy Lee Riley, Eddie Cochran and other notable rock 'n roll music artists of the period. He made his recording debut at age 17 (1964) with a group called the Confidentials. The Confidentials, with Robert (called Bob at the time) as main singer recorded, amongst others: Summertime, Money,and There is something on your mind. These rare tracks were first released during 2004 on 40th Anniversary Celebration (a special promo CD released by Dutch author/collector Arjan Deelen).

When asked how he related to the 1960s, Robert replied "I didn't." He didn't care much for the British Invasion but he identified with soul singers such as James Brown and Otis Redding whom he saw, among other great R&B acts, performing at Washington DC's famous Howard Theatre. During the turbulent times of the late 1960s, with the rioting and anti-war protests of the period, Robert served in the National Guard in DC. "I didn't want to be sent to Vietnam," he recalls[1].

[edit] Punk rock
Robert Gordon, referred to by friends and fans as R.G. [1], moved to New York City in 1970 and a few years later joined a Punk Rock band there known as the Tuff Darts. During 1976, the Tuff Darts recorded All for the love of Rock & Roll, Head over heels and Slash for a compilation album called Live at CBGB's, which included a number of other local NYC bands. That year, Robert appeared in a Punk/New Wave style film entitled Unmade Beds by underground filmmaker Amos Poe. Blondie lead singer Deborah Harry also appeared in the film.

[edit] Rockabilly revival
Record producer Richard Gottehrer discovered Robert during a rehearsal one afternoon with the Tuff Darts and soon afterward the two were talking about making a Rock & Roll record. Gottehrer was impressed with RG's baritone voice and his rendition of Elvis Presley's One Night[1]. After some conversation, Robert suggested working with guitar legend Link Wray. Wray was contacted and he agreed to work with them both. "Robert to me sounds a lot like the early Elvis, back when he was at Sun Records," Wray would comment[1]. Robert Gordon with Link Wray on Private Stock Records was the result of this collaboration. The critics generally liked it and sales were good. Elvis Presley's death coincided with the release of the single Red Hot from the album. The single received much radio airplay and for the first time in a long time (almost twenty years) rockabilly music was often on the radio.

In 1978 Gordon made a second album with Wray, on the Private Stock label, called Fresh Fish Special. The record featured The Jordanaires, who had been background vocalists for Elvis Presley, and included a Bruce Springsteen song written specifically for Gordon entitled Fire. Springsteen also played piano on the track. Unfortunately for Robert, the Pointer Sisters quickly covered the song and their version scored #2 on the charts, becoming more famous than the original recording.[1] Furthermore, just as the new album was gaining sales, Private Stock became bankrupt.[1] Both events were greatly disappointing.

[edit] RCA
During late '78, RCA records signed Gordon to a contract which he described as "a dream come true" to be on "Elvis' label"[1]. In February 1979 Rock Billy Boogie was released, this time without Wray (the two had argued and broken up after touring for the last album). It would be Chris Spedding on lead guitar. The title track Rock Billy Boogie, Walk On By, It's Only Make Believe and The Catman got much radio airplay and the album scored in the top 100 charts. The next album Bad Boy released in 1980 had bad sales and Gordon ended his association with lead guitar player Spedding. The next and last album for RCA was 1981's Are You Gonna Be The One. It is Gordon's best selling album to date, with more than 200,000 copies sold[1]. Danny Gatton played lead guitar on this record and Marshall Crenshaw penned the single Someday Someway which went to #76 on the charts.

[edit] The Humbler
During the early 1980s Robert toured briefly with Danny Gatton. One of their gigs was later released on NRG Records as The Humbler and is widely considered to include some of Danny's best performances. Several tapes of other shows from this era circulate among collectors.

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tflashdz (5 days ago) Show Hide

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this version is great in its own way. but to say that it is better than Crenshaw's is asinine. it takes something really special to be better than an original piece of art. in my opinion this falls short

Rusfi16 (3 weeks ago) Show Hide

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Great underrated song.Sure don't hear stuff like this on the radio today.

junkie4vids (1 month ago) Show Hide

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Best version of the song...hands down.

tamcon72 (1 month ago) Show Hide

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Chris Isaak's sham--EXPOSED!

pipps777 (2 months ago) Show Hide

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is it Anton Fig or Bobby Chouinard on the drums in this song ?

markjsound (3 weeks ago) Show Hide

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It sounds like the drummers name may be lynn

thundermoon123 (2 months ago) Show Hide

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This song gives me "HAPPY FEET" !!!

Eroor458495 (3 months ago) Show Hide

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Robert Gordon RockS!!

andystaff1 (4 months ago) Show Hide

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its a marshall crenshaw song, they both rule!!!

oxfordfurnace (3 months ago) Show Hide

-3

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Gordon does it the best. Crenshaws is too slow.....

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Robert Gordon - Someday someway ( USA 70's rockabilly )

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