It is now galloping towards four decades since Robin Beck sent the global airwaves into meltdown with her all-conquering Coca-Cola theme, First Time. Though widely considered a one-hit wonder, her new album Living Proof is her 11th studio album.
Robin Beck – Living Proof
Release Date: 15 May 2026
Words: Brian Boyle
Despite being a lady of advancing years, 71-year-old Beck’s voice has not lost any of its youthful rasp. The title track plays out like a swaggering show of strength, or a reminder of what a lot of us have been missing out on.
Love And Money carries on in much the same vein, with the Jim Steinman-like chorus adding an extra touch of pizazz, while Trouble Or Nothing keeps the sassy rock-chick vibe strutting along, and thankfully stays clear of teeth-watering Shania Twain territory.
Coincidence or just a giant chance of the arm, but the intro to What A Night has more than a mere resemblance to the opening of her career-defining hit First Time. Either way, it works, but this ballad leans more towards a Frozen movie theme than the traditional fists aloft variety.
However, there’s more to be worried about. Karna, Never Going To Let You Go, and the woeful Na Na Na are nothing more than ’80s refried fillers, ideally suited for a soccer mom school run.
But the good far outweighs the bad. The groove-packed Voodoo has so much floor-filling energy about it, and you might think it came from the funky pen of Chic supremo Nile Rodgers. Despite a bit of over-exuberant yelping, Don’t Tempt Me is a very likeable little romp, with a slight aura of a girl-next-door era of Sheena Easton floating about.
Closing with a ballad is not always a good move, especially if elements of the album have less life than a vegan buffet. But while Let It Rain won’t catapult Beck back to the summit of the charts, this heartfelt performance shows, in her case anyway, that class really is permanent.
Or to be a bit more brash, she could wipe the floor with anyone.
Robin Beck releases Living Proof on 15 May 2026 via Frontiers Music s.r.l. For more details, visit ffm.bio/livingproofalbum.
