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Robin Lane and The Chartbusters became the epitomy of new wave roots when they hit the musical map.
They had their start in the late 70's of Cambridge, Massachusetts, the hotbed of cultural and
intellectual experimentation. It was in this environment that ex-Modern Lovers Asa Brebner
and Leroy Radcliffe infected, as they say, Lane's crafty songs and Los Angeles sensibilities,
with Boston's dirty water.
Hometown meets hometown. That cachet was caught by Warner Bros. and brought them the hit "When Things Go Wrong."
Drummer Tim Jackson and Bassist Scott Baeranwald supplied the necessary poignant simplicity for
the perfect rock band to be elevated into the halls of rock and roll legend. Except, real life
became the priority for all members of the band, and in the early 80's after major label productions
zapped the soul out of their music, they disbanded, but remained close and dear friends.
"Piece of Mind" is their silver anniversary gift to each other for twenty-five years of healthy
reality. Produced as a labor of love by Robin Lane and Asa Brebner, engineered by David Minehan
of The Neighborhoods. Guitarist Pat Wallace is the inspirational guru who brought the
beautiful texture of the project together.
"In the lightening quick realm of rock time doesn't march on, it runs.
Rocker Robin Lane and her band The Chartbusters had a new wave hit single two decades
ago "When Things Go Wrong." It doesn't sound a bit dated to many tens of thousands of other
wildly loyal fans.
While The Chartbusters toured with The Cars, Hall and Oates, XTC and The Kinks, and lead singer
Robin Lane drew comparisons to Blondie's Deborah Harry and Chrissie Hynde of The Pretenders,
Lane and the rest of the band eventually drifted out of the pop spotlight. Now they're back, nineteen years now since their last major label recording, with a
terrific new release, 'Piece of Mind.' The minute you hear those jangling opening chords
of 'All Fall Down' on the new release, the record just really pulls you in."
-Bill Delaney
(Here and Now, NPR
)
"A glowing talent in the Boston music scene during the late 1970's, Lane
and her band The Chartbusters ended up on Warner Bros. Records' roster in 1980 and had a hit
with the tune 'When Things Go Wrong.' The band released two more albums - 'Imitation Life' in
1981 and "Heart Connection" in 1984-before it broke apart.
The Chartbusters' new one not only sounds looser, but Lane confirmed the whole affair is
a lot more pleasing these days.
'We're getting maximum fun and enjoyment from this,' she said. 'We've been through the
mini war of emotions already during the original life of the band. People don't get that part
of the music business. It's all about taking your best shot, and sometimes your dreams get
crushed. People not used to taking risks don't realize that aspect of it.'"
-Scott McLennan
(Worcester Telegram & Gazette)
"Robin Lane has long been acknowledged throughout the industry and
among the public as an extraordinarily gifted and insightful songwriter, as well as one of the
unmistakable voices in rock music.
Time has only enriched her vision and further honed her
skills. Recent performances have been attended by throngs, longtime RL&C fans who come to
hear their favorites, most notably the major hit "When Things Go Wrong" and go home having
heard and seen all that and much more. People who come to a Robin Lane show expecting a routine,
nothing but the hits set, get something very different indeed. Hardly a nostalgia act, Robin
Lane and band have developed a new collection of songs that effortlessly and seamlessly bridge
the span between then and now."
-2k2
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