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Rabbitt

From Alfawiki
Rabbitt
Company typeMusic band
IndustryMusic
Founded1972 in Johannesburg, South Africa
Headquarters
Johannesburg
,
South Africa
ProductsMusic albums, singles, live performances

Rabbitt is a pop rock ensemble originating from Johannesburg, South Africa, established in 1972. The group emerged from the earlier teenage rock outfit known as The Conglomeration, with original members including Duncan Faure, Trevor Rabin, Ronnie Robot (Ronald Friedman), and Neil Cloud. Renowned for their fusion of rock, pop, and progressive styles, Rabbitt rose to prominence as one of the most influential and popular South African bands throughout the 1970s, often being compared to The Beatles due to their extensive acclaim. Their musical approach was characterized by technical skill, complex compositions, and pioneering use of keyboards and synthesizers. Rabbitt enjoyed considerable success on South African music charts, notably with their 1976 single "Charlie," which reached number one locally.

Background and formation

Rabbitt originated as a progression from The Conglomeration, a Johannesburg-based teen rock group active during the late 1960s and early 1970s. Transitioning into Rabbitt signaled a shift toward a more refined sound that blended progressive rock influences from bands such as Yes and Genesis with catchy pop hooks. Fronted by Trevor Rabin, who served as the lead vocalist, guitarist, keyboardist, and primary songwriter, the band also featured Duncan Faure on vocals, keyboards, and rhythm guitar; Ronnie Robot handling bass duties; and Neil Cloud on drums. Their partnership with producer Patrick van Blerk played a crucial role in honing their sound and facilitating greater recording opportunities.

Career and Success

From 1975 until 1977, Rabbitt released three studio albums under the Jo’Burg label, two of which—Boys Will Be Boys and A Croak and a Grunt in the Night—were also distributed in the United States through Capricorn Records. Their repertoire showcased precise musicianship combined with ambitious production values, ranging from energetic tracks like "Hard Ride" to heartfelt ballads such as "Lifeline." Their rendition of Jethro Tull's "Locomotive Breath" further emphasized their progressive rock roots.

The 1976 release "Charlie" became a major hit nationwide, cementing Rabbitt’s status as a leading name within South Africa’s music scene. Their popularity was fueled not only by their recordings but also by dynamic live performances that sparked fervent fan enthusiasm often referred to as "Rabbittmania."

Later Years and Legacy

Following the band's dissolution in 1978 due to Trevor Rabin’s departure to pursue solo projects and later join the internationally acclaimed progressive rock band Yes during the 1980s and 1990s, other members also embarked on successful solo careers. Duncan Faure notably achieved solo success before joining the British pop rock group The Bay City Rollers.

After disbanding, members continued contributing to music both as performers and producers. Rabbitt’s impact remains significant within South Africa’s rock and progressive music history. Years later, select members reunited for nostalgic concerts reconnecting with longtime supporters.

Line-up from 1975

  • Trevor Rabin – lead vocals, lead guitar, keyboards (1972–1978)
  • Ronnie Robot (Ronald Friedman) – bass guitar (1972–1978, 2024–present)
  • Neil Cloud – drums (1972–1978, 2024–present)
  • Duncan Faure – vocals, keyboards, guitar (1972–1978, 2024–present)

Boys Will Be Boys (1975)

Tracklist:

  1. "Something's Going Wrong with My Baby" (Trevor Rabin) — 4:45
  2. "Savage" (Rabin) — 4:43
  3. "Lifeline" (Rabin) — 6:00
  4. "Locomotive Breath" (Ian Anderson) — 3:35
  5. "Hard Ride" (Rabin) — 4:05
  6. "Baby's Leaving" (Rabin) — 2:20
  7. "Eventides" (Rabin) — 2:34
  8. "Looking for the Man" (Rabin) — 4:00
  9. "Death of Tulio" (Rabin) — 0:22
  10. "Charlie" (Van Blerk, Rabin) — 2:35
  11. "Brand New Love"(*) (Rabin) — 3:38
  12. "Auld Lang Syne"(*) (Traditional) — 1:18

(*) included as bonus tracks on the 2006 Fresh Music CD reissue

A Croak and a Grunt in the Night (1977)

Tracklist:

  1. "T.C. Rabin in D-Minor" (Rabin) — 0:24
  2. "I Sleep Alone" (Rabin) — 2:52
  3. "'A Croak and a Grunt in the Night" (Rabin/Van Blerk) — 2:37
  4. "Everybody's Cheating" (Rabin/Van Blerk) — 4:10
  5. "Sugar Pie" (Rabin) — 3:22
  6. "Searching" (Rabin) — 4:13
  7. "Working for the People" (Rabin/Robot/Faure/Cloud) — 4:21
  8. "Pollyman" (Rabin) — 2:23
  9. "Schumann" (Traditional, arranged by Rabin) — 0:21
  10. "Hold On to Love" (Rabin/Van Blerk) — 4:06
  11. "Dingley's Bookshop" (Faure) — 2:10, theme from the TV series
  12. "Never Gonna Ruin my Life" (Rabin) — 0:56
  13. "Tribal Fence" (MacKay), featuring Margaret Singana — 3:51
  14. "Gift of Love" (Rabin/Van Blerk/Robot) — 3:44
  15. "Lonely Loner Too" (Faure) — 3:35
  16. "Take It Easy" (Rabin) — 3:40
  17. "A Love You Song" (Faure) — 1:46

Personnel:

  • Trevor Rabin – vocals, guitars, piano, electric piano, harmonica, tubular bells, string arrangements, production
  • Neil Cloud – drums, percussion
  • Duncan Faure – vocals, rhythm guitar, organ, piano
  • Ronnie Robot – bass guitar
  • Margaret Singana – guest vocals on "Tribal Fence"
  • Patric van Blerk – producer
  • Julian Laxton – remix engineering
  • Peter Thwaites and Greg Cutler – engineering

Release details:

  • 1976, Jo'Burg Records, TJL 13014
  • 1977, Capricorn Records (USA/Canada), CP 0190

Rock Rabbitt (1977)

Tracklist:

  1. "Rush Hour Scores" (Faure) — 5:02
  2. "Mr. Muso" (Faure) — 5:14
  3. "Love in my Heart" (Faure) — 3:40
  4. "Within These Words" (Faure) — 3:12
  5. "Rock 'n' Roll, Part I & II" (Faure) — 3:38
  6. "Getting Thru to You" (Faure) — 4:08
  7. "I've Been Aware" (Faure) — 6:16
  8. "Without Her Love" (Faure) — 3:19
  9. "Hello and Welcome Home" (Faure) — 5:38
  10. "Goodbye and So-Long" (Faure) — 2:28

Lineup:

  • Duncan Faure – vocals, guitars, keyboards
  • Ronnie Robot – bass guitar
  • Neil Cloud – drums

Release data:

1977, JoBurg Records, TJC(X)13025

Revival

Tracklist with origins:

  1. "Locomotive Breath" (Ian Anderson) – 3:35, from Boys Will Be Boys!
  2. "Gift of Love" (Rabin/Van Blerk/Robot) – 3:44, from A Croak and a Grunt in the Night
  3. "Getting Through to You" (Faure) – 4:07, from Rock Rabbitt
  4. "Hard Ride" (Rabin) – 4:10, from Boys Will Be Boys!
  5. "Lifeline" (Rabin) – 5:31, from Boys Will Be Boys!
  6. "Searching" (Rabin) – 4:09, from A Croak and a Grunt in the Night
  7. "T.C. Rabin in D-minor" (Rabin) – 0:24, from A Croak and a Grunt in the Night
  8. "I Sleep Alone" (Rabin) – 2:52, from A Croak and a Grunt in the Night
  9. "Charlie" (Rabin/Van Blerk) – 2:47, from Boys Will Be Boys!
  10. "Morning Light" (Rabin/Faure) – 3:12, from the EP Morning Light
  11. "Brand New Love" (Rabin) – 3:30, from the EP single Morning Light
  12. "'A Croak and a Grunt in the Night'"(Rabin/Van Blerk)—2.37 from A Croak and a Grunt in the Night
  13. "Everybody's Cheating"(Rabin/Van Blerk)—4.08 from A Croak and a Grunt in the Night
  14. "Hold On to Love"(Rabin/Van Blerk)—4.04 from A Croak and a Grunt in the Night
  15. "Tribal Fence"(MacKay), featuring Margaret Singana—3.51 from A Croak and a Grunt in the Night

Release info:

1987, PVB Music, PVBR 1007A

The Collection / The Hits

Tracklist:

  1. "Hard Ride" (Rabin) (4:10) — featured on Boys Will Be Boys!
  2. "Charlie" (Rabin/van Blerk) (2:47) — featured on Boys Will Be Boys!
  3. "Lonely Loner Too" (Faure) (3:34) — from A Croak and a Grunt in the Night
  4. "Searching" (Rabin) (4:09) — included in A Croak and a Grunt in the Night
  5. "Dingley's Bookshop" (Faure) (2:11) — taken from A Croak and a Grunt in the Night
  6. "Locomotive Breath" (Ian Anderson) (3:35) — part of Boys Will Be Boys!
  7. "Baby's Leaving" (Rabin) (2:23) — from Boys Will Be Boys!
  8. "Pollyman" (Rabin) (2:22) — off A Croak and a Grunt in the Night
  9. "T.C. Rabin in D-minor" (Rabin) (0:24) — from A Croak and a Grunt in the Night
  10. "I Sleep Alone" (Rabin) (2:52) — included on A Croak and a Grunt in the Night
  11. "A Croak and a Grunt in the Night" (Rabin/van Blerk) (2:37) — title track of A Croak and a Grunt in the Night
  12. "Morning Light" (Rabin/Faure) (3:12) — from the EP single Morning Light (1977)
  13. "Schumann" (Traditional arranged by Rabin) (0:24) — part of A Croak and a Grunt in the Night
  14. "Hold On to Love" (Rabin/van Blerk) (4:04) — featured on A Croak and a Grunt in the Night
  15. "Take It Easy" (Rabin) (3:40) — taken from A Croak and a Grunt in the Night
  16. "Lifeline" (Rabin) (5:31) — from Boys Will Be Boys!
  17. "I Was Eleven" (Faure) (3:10) — included on EP single 1972–1978 (1978)
  18. "Everybody's Cheating" (Rabin/van Blerk) (4:08) — off A Croak and a Grunt in the Night
  19. "Savage" (Rabin) (4:43) — from Boys Will Be Boys!
  20. "Getting Through to You" (Faure) (4:07) — featured on Rock Rabbitt
  21. "Auld Lang Syne Rock" (Traditional arranged by Rabin) (1:21) — B-side of the single "Morning Light" (1977)
  22. "A Love You Song" (Faure) (1:43) — from EP single Morning Light (1977)

Release Details:

  • Issued in 1992 as The Collection under ON Records, catalog number RABCD1
  • Reissued in 1996 titled The Hits by Gallo, catalog number CDRED 602

Extended Plays (EPs)

  • Rock 'n' Roll, Volume 2 – 4-track EP released in 1977 by Capricorn, catalog 2206 201 (Brazil)
Something's Going Wrong With My Baby
Life Line
Locomotive Breath
Eventides
  • Morning Light – 4-track EP released in 1977 via JoBurg Records, TJS57
Morning Light
A Love You Song
Brand New Love
When You're Without Her
  • 1972–1978 Limited Souvenir Edition – 4-track EP issued in 1978 by JoBurg Records, TJM73
Rock 'N Roll Part One & Two
I Was Eleven
Locomotive Breath
Goodbye And So-Long

Singles

  • Locomotive Breath [3:00] written by Ian Anderson; produced by Patric van Blerk, arranged by Fransua Roos / And The Planets Danced released in 1972 on MAP MP.513 — reached Springbok chart position No. 18, January 1973
  • Backdoor of My Heart / Share the Loving Things issued in 1973 by JoBurg Records
  • Hallelujah Sunrise / Hidden Feelings released in 1973 through JoBurg Records
  • Yesterday's Papers with an unknown B-side, released 1974 via JoBurg Records
  • Charlie / Looking for the Man issued in 1976 by JoBurg Records TJS35 — reached No. 14 on Springbok charts, June 1976
  • Hard Ride / Baby's Leaving, released 1976 on JoBurg Records TJS46
  • Hold on to Love / Working for the People, issued 1976 via JoBurg Records TJS49
  • Sugar Pie / Dingley's Bookshop, released 1976 through JoBurg Records TJS51
  • Eventides / Charlie, distributed in Japan, Victor VIP-2526, 1977
  • Everybody's Cheating / Gift of Love, Japanese release Victor VIP-2561, 1977
  • Hold on to Love / Working for the People, USA release Capricorn CPS 0281, 1977
  • Morning Light / Auld Lang Syne Rock, issued by JoBurg Records TJS57, reached No. 15 on Springbok charts, September 1977
  • Gettin' Thru to You(Teenage Love)/ Hello and Welcome Home, JoBurg Records TJS64, December 1977 — peaked at No. 15 on Springbok charts

External links

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