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Introduction:


A series of essays wherein I explore the numerous musical identities of my favorite musician: from child prodigy to teen idol to guitar hero to singer/songwriter to award-winning in-demand film composer.
Featuring news/updates and commentary/analysis of Trevor's career and associated projects.
Comments are disabled but please feel free to contact me at rabinesque.blog@gmail.com.



Wednesday, February 27, 2019

Rumor control

Today I spotted two different radio stations/on-air personalities attempting to spread a rumor via social media...

...and those of us who listen to terrestrial/satellite radio are aware that DJs and the like often receive their information from the same place their audience does: the Internet.  The link provided is to the ARW official site rather than the apparent source of their assertion.

In this particular case, although there was controversy due to Trevor's comments in his interview with Celluloid Tunes last year regarding his future commitment to ARW (causing Trevor to attempt some spin doctoring in the wake of fan reaction), I would say it's not necessarily an end to ARW, but it seems clear to me they won't be pursuing any band-related activities in 2019 with everyone seemingly committed to other projects.  It would appear the source of this rumor has to do with interviews Jon is giving to promote his new album 1000 Hands and its' accompanying US tour this Spring and Summer.  Jon recently posted on his Facebook page that he desires the tour to take place over the next three years, presumably to visit as many regions as possible.

Given a recent comment made by Rick to a fan that the band is planning to tour next year, and then Jon's comment in his Guitar World livestream: "So I just said 'I'll see you in 2020 or 2021 and so we'll get together.'" I could understand how that might lead people to think it's a gracious way of saying the project has gone on as long as it was going to as a legacy touring band.  But I don't believe it's responsible to tweet these kinds of statements when Jon's comment was not definitive regarding future activity for ARW.  And Trevor's comment in his Celluloid Tunes interview: "I said, 'Look, you can always call me and we can look at things, and if I'm not busy we can do things,'" aligns with this same sentiment, I would say.

ETA: here is an article published 2-27 which includes an actual quote from Jon but I would still assert you cannot take that quote as an actual statement of dissolution.
https://985thefox.iheart.com/featured/mike-bell/content/2019-02-27-once-again-there-is-only-one-yes/

So my take on this is: don't count ARW out just yet.  But also don't expect any activity for at least a year.  And this might not be the news that you want to read, but it's better than nothing, one suspects.

Saturday, February 16, 2019

it's always "Now"

Spotted on Instagram: this album, released a couple months back by Swedish AOR/Melodic Rock vocalist Peter Sundell, features a cover of (and is named for) Trevor's song "Now" from 1979's Face To Face - which I'm happily in favor of as I believe it's one of the best efforts in Trevor's solo career.  And from what little I've been able to hear of the title track, it sounds like it has an interesting arrangement with some orchestral flourishes.
View this post on Instagram
Peter Sundell / Now (2018) 🎵Only Time Will Tell 🎵Endless Summer スウェーデンの実力派シンガーの1stソロは彼が影響を受けたアーティスト達の名曲を歌うカヴァー作品💿 . 清涼感溢れる美声による歌唱が堪能できるのは勿論、 マニアを喜ばせる選曲が素晴らしく全てがツボ! . 1. #Airplay / Stranded 2. #TrevorRabin / Now 3. #TheTubes / Don't Want To Wait Anymore 4. #GlenHughes #PatThrall / The Look In Your Eye 5. #Asia / Only Time Will Tell 6. #DavidRoberts / Someone Like You 7. #BillyJoel / All For Leyna 8. #Kansas / Dust In The Wind 9. #Survivor / Poor Man's Son 10. #TheLACowboys / Endless Summer 11. #Vandenberg / Different Worlds . #2018 #PeterSundell #ピータースンデル #GrandIllusion Guests #ChristianSundell #JakobLindahl #OlaAfTrampe etc. Writers #DavidFoster #JayGraydon #FeeWaybill #GeoffDownes #JohnWetton #KerryLivgren #JimPetrik #AdrianVandenberg etc. . #cd #cdcollection #rock
A post shared by Masayuki (@ma_sa_1967) on
However, this release appears to be rather difficult to find in that I haven't been able to locate it on any of the digital distribution platforms, and it seems the CD itself was a limited release in territories other than the US.  And that's unfortunate as I would really love to hear the album.


As can be viewed from the tracklisting (which you can see in the second photo of the Instagram post), this album features various classic rock covers (it seems, at least from the intro, that his version of Airplay's "Stranded" is nearly note-perfect) and I find it interesting that Peter also included the Asia song "Only Time Will Tell" which long-time fans know Trevor sang during his "audition" process with that band.

Thursday, February 14, 2019

Valentine's special: L-O-V-E

Like most popular songwriters of his generation, Trevor has written a number of love songs and so on this particular day (which you may or may not celebrate) I thought we could use a little love from Our Trev.

I still believe this might be the most personal love song he's ever written.
"I Love You" - Beginnings, 1978


A classic of the Rabin-van Blerk partnership.
Rabbitt, "Hold On To Love" - A Croak and A Grunt in the Night, 1977


Wouldn't we all like to eat at Chez Nous?
Yes, "Love Will Find A Way" - Big Generator, 1987

One of Trevor's heartfelt works of social commentary.
"Eyes of Love" - Can't Look Away, 1989

This song is about cosmic love...but also far more earthbound impulses.
Yes, "Real Love" - Talk, 1994

This became a popular song in fandom after its' release, one of the batch which Trevor wrote in the early '80s.
"Would You Feel My Love" - 90124, 2003

Love is strictly a euphemism here, as this is Trevor's "just sex" song.
Yes, "Rhythm of Love" - Big Generator, 1987