Explore releases and tracks from Robert Randolph at Discogs. Shop for Vinyl, CDs and more from Robert Randolph at the Discogs Marketplace. ABOUT THE BAND: Many musicians claim that they “grew up in the church,” but for Robert Randolph that is literally the case. The renowned pedal steel guitarist, vocalist and songwriter led such a cloistered childhood and adolescence that he heard no secular music while growing up. Check out Robert Randolph and the Family Band on Amazon Music. Stream ad-free or purchase CD's and MP3s now on Amazon.
Robert Randolph took a step outside when it was time to record his new album,Brighter Days, choosing to work with producer Dave Cobb. Cobb is best known for his work with new country stars like Chris Stapleton, Sturgill Simpson, Brandi Carlile, and Jason Isbell.
Looking beyond anyone's expectations or his own preconceptions helped Randolph circle back to where it all began for him: church music.The first three songs of Brighter Days are a full dive back to Randolph's gospel roots, starting with lead track 'Baptize Me', a joyous romp of a song that makes a direct connection between religious and musical ecstasy and salvation.' Dave Cobb is just a guy who likes to record good music and good songs,' says Randolph. 'He wanted to do something that was fun but it also gives you a gospel feeling. He knows the history of our band, coming from church and giving that fun church feeling to people.' We wrote 'Baptize Me' the first day in the studio.
It's really a love story, about an all - round love: for each other, for our audience, for our church background, for the music we love and for our fans. All of these songs kind of harken back to how we started, to being known as this musical family band that comes from the church and appeals to rock, blues, gospel and soul music audiences. We wanted that good gospel, blues, R&B feel, because that's where we started and it's good to not only remind people of that but to actively remember it ourselves.' Randolph grew up playing sacred steel music basically gospel played on pedal steel guitarin the House of God church in Orange, New Jersey, and began taking h is joyous, gospelinfused music out to clubs, backed by family members who shared not only backgrounds, but blood.' The Family Band' Is not just a name meant to evoke connections of togetherness. They are an actual family; the group that supports Randolph is anchored by his cousins, bassist Danyel Morgan and drummer Marcus Randolph and his sister, vocalist Lenesha Randolph.' That whole thing sort of gets lost,' says Randolph.
Robert Randolph Songs
'People are always wondering, 'are these guys really a family?' And it's another thing we wanted to remind everyone of with this album.' Given his goals for the album, it's fitting that the lone cover song Robert selected for the collection comes from Pops Staples and the Staple Singers, one of gospel's greatest musical families, who seamlessly crossed over to secular R&B success with inspirational songs like 'Respect Yourself' and 'I'll Take You There.'
Their 'Simple Man' is a deep, contemplative blues, its pensive nature amplified by Randolph's signature weeping pedal steel guitar lines.Producer Cobb is renowned for his vocal work and has often said that the voice comes first for him so it's no surprise that he helped coax out some of Randolph's best, deepest, most nuanced singing on the nine songs where he takes the lead. It is a little surprising, however, just how simple Cobb's 'secret' really was: just be yourself.
