Robert Holmes

Rupert Holmes followed up "Widescreen" (1974) with a self-titled LP that utilized a band rather than an orchestra, and was somewhat more accessible in its sound. Yet Holmes still was true to himself in composing its musical vignettes, again produced by Jeffrey Lesser. “Studio Musician” was a powerful Wall of Sound explosion that would be reverentially covered by Barry Manilow on his chart-topping Barry Manilow Live album, while “I Don’t Want to Hold Your Hand” was such a spot-on, deadpan Beatles send-up that George Martin reportedly told Holmes it was superior to the original recording! “Everything Gets Better When You’re Drunk” sounds like a toe-tapping ode to the perennial pleasures of booze, but it has a dark undercurrent of irony. The most enduring song on Rupert Holmes, though, may be its least commercial. “Brass Knuckles” was longtime mystery buff Holmes’ attempt to tell a detective noir story in under four minutes of song. Its songwriter remains proud of this one-of-a-kind song’s lyrics having been published in numerous crime anthologies and even reviewed in Ellery Queen’s Mystery Magazine.

Rupert Holmes (born David Goldstein on February 24, 1947) is a British-American composer, singer-songwriter, musician, dramatist and author. He is widely known for the hit singles "Escape (The Piña Colada Song)" (1979) and "Him" (1980). As a recording artist, Holmes broke through with his first album, 1974's "Widescreen" on Epic Records, which introduced him as a presenter of highly romantic, lushly orchestrated "story songs" that told a witty narrative punctuated by clever rhymes and a hint of comedy. Barbra Streisand discovered this album and asked to record songs from it, launching Holmes on a successful career. She then used some of his songs in the movie "A Star Is Born". Holmes also arranged, conducted, and wrote songs on her 1975 album "Lazy Afternoon" as well as five other Streisand albums.

"lullaby and… The Ceaseless Roar" is Plant’s first record since 2010’s Band of Joy, which followed 2007’s six-time Grammy Award–winning collaboration with Alison Krauss, "Raising Sand". Justin Adams and John Baggott of The Sensational Space Shifters appeared on Plant’s 2002 release Dreamland, while all but Camara and Smith appeared on 2005’s Mighty Rearranger. The new-album line-up recently toured the world before recording lullaby and… The Ceaseless Roar at Helium Studios in Wiltshire and Real World Studios in Bath, UK. The track “Rainbow” was recorded in Contino Rooms in London. Tchad Blake mixed all but three tracks on the album.