Image via Wikipe
Robin Trower’s career has spanned more than four decades. He is one of the finest guitarists in Rock n’ Roll history.
Robin Trower spent the early 60′s playing guitar in various London based outfits, the most successful one being The Paramount’s. They specialized in mostly covers, but managed to issue several singles between 1963 and 1965 and were a favourite band of the Rolling Stones. It wasn’t until 1967 that Trower received his big break when he joined Procol Harum. Trower was a member of Procol Harum until 1972.
After leaving Procol Harum, Trower embarked on his solo career and found the success that has made him a legend today. Armed with his fluid and powerful guitar style, redefined during his stint with Procol Harum. All of his early albums share a tough, explosive style mixed with his trademark “soft psychedelia” that made Robin Trower a power trio that will forever remain in Rock n’ Roll history.
Throughout his long and winding solo career, guitarist Robin Trower has been called the “White” Hendrix due to his uncanny ability to channel Hendrix’ bluesy/psychedelic, Fender Strat-fueled playing style.
Trower released his solo debut, Twice Removed From Yesterday, in 1973. The album barely left a dent in the US charts, but that would change soon enough with his next release 1974′s “Bridge of Sighs“. The album skyrocketed into the US top ten, peaking at number seven selling a million and a half copies and it still sells 15,000 copies a year to date worldwide.
I urge you to increase that number of sales as this is one of the finest Rock Guitar Albums you will ever buy,this guy really is and was the White Hendrix here is my review :-
“Bridge Of Sighs” is a sweet slab of 70′s blues rock that is still as captivating as it was in 1974. Procol Harum did not give Robin Trower the freedom to express the blues roots that had grown within him and so he broke free. Robin Trower went on to form the ideal vehicle to express his art and eventually mastered his recipe on “Bridge Of Sighs.” “Day Of The Eagle” is a sonic assault that kicks with a bruising fury that eventually fades into oblivion. “Bridge Of Sighs” finds Robin Trower creating visionary sheets of sound that transport you into a world filled with a somber uneasy solitude. “Too Rolling Stoned” begins as a caustic boogie which in turn becomes a swaggering blues jam where Robin Trower unleashes a smoking display of guitar virtuosity complemented with enthusiastic shouts and screams from the studio crowd. Howling winds evoke the beginnings of the meditative “In This Place” which features James Dewar’s rich soulful vocals and concludes with some delicate yet penetrating guitar playing by Robin Trower. This is the definition of “cool” in blues rock. “Little Bit Of Sympathy” is a cooker in the style of Santana with enough fire to burn a house down. You have wailing guitar pyrotechnics,commanding vocals,and a brutal display of percussion. Marvelous! “Bridge Of Sighs” enslaved me with its spell the first time i heard it and the spell has not been broken. Go ahead and buy a little magic for yourself.
Although “Bridge of Sighs” was to be his most popular solo release, Trower’s stock continued to rise throughout the mid 70′s, as he became an arena headliner on the strength of such hit albums as 1975′s For Earth Below, 1976′s Robin Trower Live and Long Misty Days, plus 1977′s In City Dreams. Further releases followed in the 80′s, and a brief union with ex-Cream bassist/vocalist Jack Bruce spawned a pair of releases, 1981′s B.L.T. and 1982′s Truce, before Trower returned back to his solo career.
The 80′s saw Trower expand his audience with several releases that updated his blues-rock style (such as 1987′s slick produced Passion). During the early 90′s,Trower returned back to Procol Harum for a brief reunion (1991′s Prodigal Stranger), before backing ex-Roxy Music singer Bryan Ferry on a few releases (1993′s Taxi and 1994′s Mamouna, the latter of which Trower earned a co-producer credit for). The 90′s saw Robin consistently touring the USA with his power trio.
In 2002, Trower returned to the production role, linking up with Bryan Ferry again, to work and play on Bryan’s “Frantic” album. In the following years Trower concentrated on writing and producing film music for releases such as “Good Humour Man”.
In 2005, Fender released a Robin Trower signature guitar to mark the 50th anniversary of the Stratocaster, along with this there is I believe a “Bridge of Sighs” custom shop Stratocaster, of which only 100 will be made and will mark the legendary album’s 30th anniversary. To celebrate this event, Trower decided to return to live work in Europe.
NEW MUSIC from Robin Trower!
The most recent Studio recording from Robin Trower was released in 2005 on V-12 Records (Robin Trower’s own label) is titled “Another Days Blues”. It is a stellar addition to his prolific and impressive catalogue and continues the legacy of this unique Artist.
The most recent Live release from Robin Trower is the LIVING OUT OF TIME: LIVE! DVD – and it’s companion CD by the same name. The song list includes material from various albums including Bridge Of Sighs, Living Out Of Time, 20th Century Blues, Go My Way, Someday Blues, and more. The DVD is well shot, great sounding, well lit, the band is on fire and the crowd is full on energetic and loving every minute of it! This performance took place on Robin’s 60th birthday – March 9, 2005! If you think age equates to old and lifeless, think again! This is Robin Trower on TOP of his game and better than ever! Accompanying Robin is the band heralded as THE BEST LIVE TROWER LINE-UP EVER
Davey Pattison on Vocals
Dave Bronze on Bass & BackingVocals
Pete Thompson on Drums
Robin Trower on Guitar & Backing Vocals
So all you young ones out there born since the 1980′s get your ears around some Robin Trower,you will not be disapointed!
