The Singles

by Jon & Robin

Overview

Like many artists in the mid-'60s who didn't hitch their musical wagon to any one particular post, the duo of Jon & Robin concocted a hearty gumbo made up of strutting soul, sticky bubblegum, mildly trippy psychedelia, some down-home country, and lots of good old rock & roll. The Dallas-based pair sounded like a less polished Sonny & Cher, or a more Earth-bound Nancy & Lee, with Robin -- known as Javonne Braga on her driver's license -- sporting a booming, scene-stealing voice and Jon Abdnor providing the plain-spoken, mock Dylanesque rejoinders. Working with ace songwriter Wayne Carson Thompson, who wrote "The Letter" for the like-minded Box Tops, and some fine producers, Jon & Robin cranked out a bunch of singles and two albums over their short run. Sundazed already issued a collection of their work in 2006; here, the label presents it again in case anyone missed it the first time or just wanted the duo's output boiled down to the singles. The best of the tracks are top-notch radio groovers: "Do It Again a Little Bit Slower" is their main claim to fame, but others, especially the rollicking " Dr. Jon (The Medicine Man)" and the plaintive rocker "Can't Make It with You," are nearly as good. The blend of their voices isn't always smooth and the songs aren't always the cleverest, but they put them across with plenty of showy oomph. No amount of effort can save "There's an American Flag on the Moon" though; it's a terrible novelty song that's about as square as pop got in the late '60s. Luckily, there are enough good tunes that come before it to help ease the pain that giving it an accidental hearing might cause. Instead of making that mistake, double back and give "Do It Again" another spin. Its amazing blend of elevator-slick harmonies, "Cool Jerk" piano breaks, Robin's soaring backing vocals, and the finger-snapping rhythms brings to mind a Madison Ave. version of the Mamas and the Papas doing a hip catsup commercial. It's kind of weird and kind of wonderful, and the same goes for the rest of the set. The Singles is a breezy and highly enjoyable document of a strange and interesting time in music history. Jon & Robin may be just a footnote, but they are one worth checking out and not skipping over. ~ Tim Sendra

Product Details

Release Date:	08/11/2023
Label:	Sundazed
UPC:	0090771563415
Rank:	69325

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Jon & Robin   Primary Artist

Technical Credits

Andy Kim   Composer
Carole King   Composer
Delaney Bramlett   Composer
Miles Davis   Composer
Gerry Goffin   Composer
Jeff Barry   Composer
John Howard Abdnor   Composer
Scott Schinder   Liner Notes
Brian Thompson   Project Manager
Edwin Greines   Composer
Joe Lizzi   Mastering
Jay Miller   Compilation Producer
Wayne Carson Thompson   Composer
Jon Hunt   Design
Zoe Willard   Compilation Producer
William Goodson   Composer