Robin Trower Maxi Priest Livingstone Brown Santa Claus Is Back In Town single cover

Trower, Priest, Brown

By Martine Ehrenclou

Robin Trower, Maxi Priest and  Livingstone Brown release ‘Santa Claus Is Back In Town,’ the brand new track from this powerful team of legendary artists who released their debut album, United State of Mind on October 9, 2020 on Manhaton Records. Here’s to this trio of legendary artists releasing another song today.

‘Santa Claus is Back in Town’ is a bit bluesier than most of the tracks on the debut United State of Mind album. This version of the old Elvis Presley classic is given a real soul drenching feel. The bands blues influences are greatly enhanced, not only by Robin’s extended guitar solos, but the addition of top harmonica player Paul Jones (Manfred Mann/Blues Band)

And bluesy and soulful it is. It’s one of the best versions I’ve heard of this tune, if not the best. Two-time Grammy nominee Maxi Priest’s expressive, smoky vocals bring this track to life in concert with Trower playing some scintillating blues guitar licks and Brown working his magic on bass. Featured guest is Paul Jones on harmonica whose chops couldn’t be any better.

 
Featured Artist: Paul Jones
Producer: Livingstone Brown
Bass Guitar: Livingstone Brown
Drums: Chris Taggart
Guitar: Robin Trower
Harmonica: Paul Jones
Lead Vocals: Maxi Priest
Composer: Jerry Leiber

United State of Mind came about after a chance meeting in Livingstone’s studio in Brixton, UK, and this unlikely trio hit it off. Robin Trower, Maxi Priest, and Livingstone Brown are all directly influenced by soul and gospel and have a deep appreciation for music and share a passion for all genres.

The trio wrote nine new songs leading to the recording of an album that showcases Priest’s soulful vocals and Trower’s superb guitar playing. Robin and Maxi were born just two miles apart and both went on to enjoy glittering world-wide careers. Maxi Priest has been a pioneer for the UK by achieving several top 10’s worldwide and on the US Billboard charts. Having received multiple Grammy nominations, he’s sold millions of records worldwide. Not a stranger to duets and crossing genres, Maxi and Roberta Flack’s timeless classic ‘Set The Night To Music” achieved top 10 on the Billboard charts.

United State of Mind is a brilliant mix of contemporary blues and R&B with hints of rock, showcasing Priest’s soulful, silky vocals, Trower’s emotive guitar playing, and Livingstone’s ‘Midas touch’ on production. The musicianship is superb, as are the nine tracks. The album is a work of art, cutting edge and ahead of its time. Using instruments and vocals not tempered by technology, this is an album that features breathtaking tracks with the raw talents of three notable artists who come from completely different musical orientations and find common ground.

If you haven’t listened to United State of Mind yet, I highly recommend you do so. Here is “Walking Wounded” from the album for the uninitiated.

Trower, Priest and Brown Online

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