Robin George is the nearly man of English rock. He was nearly the second guitarist in Magnum, he was nearly the guitar partner of Scott Gorham in the proposed 1986 reformation of Thin Lizzy that, for obvious reasons, never took place. He was nearly a pop star with the classic track Heartline, that still sounds good some 21 years later and he very nearly became the guitarist in Asia in around 1988. He also has close connection to Diamond Head as he recorded album under the name Notorious with Shaun Harris his band The World (later renamed life) were one of the first “name” bands to play the refurbished Trillians in Newcastle not long after a stage was first installed. The band released a decent album via Now And Then  around 1996 but played a poor set at that years Gods. to maintain the Diamond Head connection however the vocalist from that project, one Nick Tart, is now frontman of Diamond Head.

This “new” album, named after a track co-written by Phil Lynott, is in fact a remixed and expanded version of Rock Ageist  released a few years back on Zoom Club Records which went bust not long afterwards (a recurring theme for Mr. George).  In fact speaking of Mr. Lynott the standout track on this album is an acoustic version of Kings Call that featured on Lynott's post Thin Lizzy solo album and was written as a tribute to Elvis Presley. Here it could easily be a tribute to its writer and works really well.

 That is not to say that the other 12 tracks are bad however. What we have is a very varied album stretching from pop to rock to reggae and incorporating just about every type of guitar based music around. Opener 'Learn The Dance' was co-written with David Bryon and certainly has a reggae feel about it. 'Thanks For The Memories on the other hand is a guitar drive pop number that could have come straight off the Dangerous Music album from all those years ago. 'Face To Face has a great riff that sounds excellent on headphones whilst Judy is a new version of the track from The Life's album. 

'What Goes Around Comes Around' features big drums and bigger vocals and then comes the obligatory power ballad in the shape of 'Loving You'. 'Cocoon' should have been on the album of the same name and brings to mind The Beatles and then Flying, with its affected vocal, offers a track that is just a little bit different from the rest of the album. 'Things Have Got To Change' features a big Hammond Organ intro and has echoes of early Whitesnake in its form and closing things out are two rockers, 'Yesterday' s News' and 'Roulette'  which definitely both grow on you the more you listen to them.  

In fact the whole album is a bit of a grower one that should definitely please any long time Robin George fans out there. Lets hope that this album, together with his new project, the aptly named Damage Control, which features Pete Way, Spike & Chris Slade alongside George, will bring a whole new level of success to the man after so many of those nearly years.

Let Us Know Your Views On 'Crying Diamonds'

Track List

Learn The Dance
Thanks For The Memories
Face To Face
Judy
What Goes Around Comes Around
Loving You
Cocoon
Flying
Haunted
Crying Diamonds
King' s Call
Things Have Got To Change
Yesterday' s News
Roulette

Line Up

Robin George - Guitars/Vocals/Drums
Chris Cliff/Charley Charlesworth - Bass
Pete Green/Bill Rudolph - Keys
Fres Skidmore - Hammond Organ