ROBBS Before, Then & After (3xCD + DVD-four discs total)

This four-disc set contains 55 tracks and five video appearances by the Robbs, covering the bands entire recording career. With so much music on offer, a hearty helping of band history seems to be in order. Musically, the Robbs were noted for their use of harmony vocals, and instrumentation-clearly inspired by folk-rock, bubblegum music, and jangle pop. Great stuff-and a real labor of love for the label.

Spotted by Dick Clark, the band was signed to Mercury Records in 1966, and moved to California to appear as regular performers on Where The Action Is during late 1966 and early 1967, replacing Paul Revere and the Raiders. The Robbs had some regional success between 1966 and 1970, at first for Mercury and subsequently for a variety of record labels. The Robbs have the distinction of placing the most singles on Billboard magazine's "Bubbling Under" chart (five as The Robbs, plus a final single as Cherokee) without ever once crossing over into the Billboard Hot 100 (ouch!).

The Robbs were never able to garner a true nation-wide hit. Their lone album, from 1967, was compiled from the A-side and B-sides of their 1966 and 1967 singles, along with two new tracks. This self-titled LP made the Billboard 200 chart for one week in January 1968, peaking at #200, and the band was shortly thereafter dropped by Mercury Records. Upon signing to Atlantic in 1968, The Robbs pursued a more country rock orientation. After their two Atlantic singles missed even the "bubbling under" charts, Atlantic let the band go, and they were picked up by ABC/Dunhill in 1969. The Robbs continued to release singles for this label, with the usual regional success and some "bubbling under" appearances, but no national breakthrough. In 1971, the group changed their name to Cherokee, and re-emphazised their country rock influenced sound.

They released one self-titled album as Cherokee, as well as the 1971 non-LP single "Girl, I've Got News For You". Both the album and the single featured the participation of Chris Hillman of The Byrds.