By 1974 America had embraced Robin Trower’s blazing boogie and Hendrix-influenced jams.
Written by: Eric
ARTIST: Robin Trower
ALBUM: Bridge Of Sighs
LABEL: Chrysalis
SERIAL: CHR-1057
YEAR: 1974
CD REISSUE: Discogs Reissue List
COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: England
LINEUP: Robin Trower – guitar * James Dewar – bass, lead vocals * Reg Isidore – drums
TRACK LISTING: 01 Day Of The Eagle * 02 Bridge Of Sighs * 03 In This Place * 04 The Fool And Me * 05 Too Rolling Stoned * 06 About To Begin * 07 Lady Love * 08 Little Bit Of Sympathy
WEBLINKS: Site Link
Background
Full force blues rock is hardly what Procol Harum fans expected when guitarist Robin Trower released his first solo ‘Twice Removed from Yesterday’ in 1973. But it was the dawning of a successful career with Trower becoming a massive stadium draw especially in America where his blazing boogie and Hendrix-influenced jams were lovingly embraced by self-aware bell-bottomed kids much like myself.
The 1976 album ‘Long Misty Days’ was my introduction to Trower, but it’s his earlier record ‘Bridge Of Sighs’ that blew my cheesy Radio Shack speakers to kingdom come with electric-charged psychedelic blues that still sounds as kick-ass as it did in my misspent youth.
The Songs
With Paul Rodgers sound-alike James Dewar on bass backed by sure-fire but short-term drummer Reg Isidore, Robin Trower had the tightest three piece burning blues outfit on the planet since, oh dare I say Cream?
Well believe me when I say its riff-rock heaven on the rumbling opener ‘Day Of The Eagle’ and the ringing in the ears kicks in while sliding into the cavernous Sabbath-meets Floyd title track. Slow moving with howling wind effects, this is proggy headphone rock, gatefold sleeves and Roger Dean with the dovetailed ‘In This Place’ an equally majestic masterstroke of epic proportions.
Back to reality with oodles of Hendrixy inspiration the breathtaking boogie rock of ‘The Fool And Me’ and ‘Too Rolling Stoned’ gives way to more panoramic psych blues with ‘About To Begin’. The album finishing with the top notch heavy chords of ‘Lady Love’ and the slightly traditional but still exceptional ‘Little Bit Of Sympathy’.
In Summary
1980’s ‘Victims Of The Fury’ was last time I dropped cash on Robin Trower product until the invention of the CD, but the magic was gone in my opinion and I had moved on musically with other styles capturing my imagination. These days I come back to Robin Trower, often older, wiser and far more appreciative of his music than an excuse to annoy the neighbors.
You can’t go wrong with any of his early albums up to 1977’s ‘In City Dreams’ but start with the 2007 ‘Bridge Of Sighs’ reissue which is chock-full of bonus tracks and worth every penny.
