A Tennessee native, pianist Hargus "Pig" Robbins (1938-2022) rose to the upper ranks fo the Nashville studio system, becoming one of the most ubiquitous go-to studio musicians in country music history. As part of the so-called Nashville A-Team, he played on countless sessions, ranging from some of country's most iconic hit songs to many more obscure dates. "I Fall To Pieces," "Behind Closed Doors," "White Lightning," Arthur Alexander's "Anna," Bob Dylan's Blonde On Blonde album... Robbins was one of those amazing artists who popped up in so many places it blows your mind... I wouldn't even think about trying to track down all the sessions he played on -- it's probably be easier to count every grain of sand on the planet Mars. But here's a quick look at the albums that came out under his own name...
Mel (Hargus) Robbins "Hully Gully To The Hits" (Smash Records, 1962) (LP)
A set of rock'n'roll oldies recorded by pianist Hargus Robbins (1938-2022) who became one of the most prolific and legendary session musicians in Nashville... Blinded as a child, Robbins took up piano at age seven and proved himself a child prodigy, backing George Jones on the rockabilly-tinged hit, "White Lightning," while still a teen, and going on to record countless sessions over the next couple of decades. One of the premier Nashville studio musicians of the 1960s and '70s, Robbins was part of the fabled "Nashville A-Team," Music City's answer to LA's Wrecking Crew, and also recorded several solo albums, listed below. This disc, recorded under his rock'n'roll persona, Mel Robbins, includes version of songs like "Blueberry Hill," "Splish Splash" and "Stand By Me," though sadly not his own minor hit, "Save It." The country stuff comes later...
Hargus 'Pig' Robbins "A Bit Of Country Piano" (Time Records, 1963) (LP)
Hargus 'Pig' Robbins "One More Time" (Chart Records, 1968) (LP)
Also titled Play It Again, Hargus...
Hargus 'Pig' Robbins "Hargus Robbins" (1969) (LP)
Hargus 'Pig' Robbins "Country Instrumentalist Of The Year" (Elektra Records, 1977) (LP)
Hargus 'Pig' Robbins "A Pig In A Poke" (Elektra Records, 1978) (LP)
(Produced by Hargus Robbins)
An absolutely dreadful instrumental album from pianist Hargus Robbins. One of the ultimate "usual suspects" players, Robbins is joined here by several of his session-player brethren, such as fiddler Johnny Gimble, steel player Lloyd Green and guitarist Pete Wade. It's a truly horrible album, though, with Robbins indulging in a little bit of synth and clavinet (as well as regular old piano) and delving into some of the schmaltziest arrangements imaginable. There's a tiny tinge of disco in there as well, but unless you're really into ironic "library music" (or whatever you want to call it) this one really isn't worth listening to. Still, Floyd Cramer, eat your heart out...
Hargus 'Pig' Robbins & The Nashville Superpickers "Alive From Austin City Limits" (Flying Fish Records, 1979)
Hargus 'Pig' Robbins "Unbreakable Hearts" (Elektra Records, 1979) (LP)
