Robin Trower Albums (25)
What The Critics Say
Though Robin Trower found his greatest career success in the mid-'70s, his intensely soulful brand of Jimi Hendrix-inspired psychedelic blues-rock guitar playing helped him maintain a healthy audience decades past his commercial heyday. During his long career he worked with several different singers, most notably ex-Stone the Crows bassist James Dewar, who, along with drummer Bill Lordan, constituted the "classic" Robin Trower band lineup found on the legendary albums Live! and Bridge of Sighs. Surprisingly, however, Trower himself never assumed sole lead vocal duties until 2009's What Lies Beneath. Fortunately, the veteran rocker was revealed to be possessed of wonderfully earthy, R&B-influenced pipes often reminiscent of J.J. Cale and Dire Straits' Mark Knopfler. On the majority of tracks, including highlights "Time and Emotion" and "Wish You Were Mine," the London native favors a mellower, more ethereal approach that will please lovers of vintage fan favorites "Daydream" and "I Can't Wait Much Longer." That said, there are a few nods to Trower's "Day of the Eagle"/"Too Rolling Stoned"-style power blues numbers of yore, especially on the viciously funky, Thin Lizzy-esque "Skin and Bone" and the muscular, hooky "Freefall." As with the majority of Robin Trower's catalog, however, the most striking feature about What Lies Beneath is the man's utter mastery of electric guitar tone and phrasing. Though the vocals and songwriting are appealingly solid, it's the deeply emotional warmth of Trower's subtly magnificent Stratocaster work that will put listeners under the virtuoso axe slinger's aural spell. ~ Pemberton Roach, All Music Guide
What The Critics Say
British guitarist Robin Trower re-enters the fray with a solid, electric, British blues record. Another Days Blues features longtime drummer Reg Isidore, vocalist Davey Pattison (who sounds an awful lot like the late James Dewar), organist Nicky Brown, and bassist Dave Bronze, as well as a couple of ringers like keyboardist/bassist Paul Page, drummer Pete Thompson, and vocalist Hazel Fernandez. But the real story is the playing. Trower structured the sound and feel of this recording to be juxtaposed against albums like Twice Removed from Yesterday and Bridge of Sighs. While all the tracks are blues cuts, the silvery liquid darkness of his guitar and the background atmospherics stretch this beyond the usual Brit blues cage. His playing is better than ever -- a listen to the tasteful, slow yet biting "Someday Blues," the steamy roll in "21st Century Blues" or the gritty, punch-drunk fervor of "Next In Line," or the sheer wah-wah Hendrixian whomp of "Go My Way" is all the evidence one needs to know this is the best Trower recording in a dog's age -- or even two. Even the ballads such as "Shining Through," or the dreamy, psychedelic haze of the album's closer "This Blue Love," are shot through with teeth and taste. Highly recommended. ~ Thom Jurek, All Music Guide
What The Critics Say
Guitarist extraordinaire Robin Trower has reassembled the core of his late-'80s band, once again joining forces with Dave Bronze (bass), Davey Pattison (vocals), and Pete Thompson (drums). On 2004's Living Out of Time, they equal (if not best) their work on 1987's Passion and 1988's Take What You Need with 11 sides that reconfirm Trower's breathtaking instrumental capacity, as well as his knack for writing heavy rockers that don't come off as trite or excessive. Selections such as the soulful "Please Tell Me" and the straight-ahead title track, "Living Out of Time," reiterate the decades of comparison between Trower and Jimi Hendrix, especially in the case of the former track, which oozes with the same primordial urgency that drove Trower's earliest solo affairs. The bluesy and languid "I Want to Take You With Me," the introspective "One Less Victory," and the power balladry of "Another Time, Another Place" allow his expressions to contrast directly with the ballsy and exceedingly heavier driving riffs on "You Still Come Back" and the pulsating opener, "What's Your Name." Pattison is in good voice throughout, yet lacks the aggression that informed his earlier collaborations with Trower. In fact, there are several spots -- primarily "The Past Untied" -- where Pattison seems somewhat uncertain as to the tack he should take with the song. Conversely, "You Still Came Back" and the slightly sinister "Ain't Gonna Wait" sound custom-built for him. Granted, Trower may never regain the power and majesty of 1973's Twice Removed from Yesterday or the following year'sBridge of Sighs; however, this is a solid outing, more so than much of the fodder that his contemporaries (Jimmy Page, anyone?) have lent their names to for years. Enthusiasts are encouraged to give the platter a spin, as Trower Power is definitely the rule, rather than the exception, on Living Out of Time. ~ Lindsay Planer, All Music Guide
'Take What You Need'
Release Date 1/27/2004
Tracks 9
Label Wounded Bird
See Album Tracklist and Review
'Greatest Hits Live'
Release Date 1/1/2003
Tracks 12
Label King Biscuit Flower Hour
See Album Tracklist and Review
What The Critics Say
One of the best features about the King Biscuit Flower Hour CDs is that none of the titles in its Greatest Hits Live series is dressed up in any way. These are shows recorded and presented as they were performed, warts and all. This Robin Trower date, recorded in 1977 at the New Haven Coliseum, is a case in point. The balances are off on the sound and some of the levels are in the red, but too damn bad because the performance here is frighteningly raw, passionate, and on. Compared to Trower's officially released live album, this one blows it away. The song selection is terrific in that it opens with one of his most underrated classics, "Lady Love," which is as much a hard R&B tune as it is a rocker, and then slips through the most important tracks from Bridge of Sighs while touching on For Earth Below and introducing material from In City Dreams and Caravan to Midnight -- his two most underrated records. On "Somebody Calling," Trower proves there's more to him than Hendrix flash; there's a real rhythm section that can funk it up as hard as Jeff Beck did on "Superstition." The Trower power trio is augmented here by bassist Rusty Allen, freeing the late James Dewar up to concentrate on being the tough soul singer he was. By this time, Bill Lordan had replaced Reg Isidore on drums and the unit gelled, turning blues, psychedelic hard rock, and funk into a massive wall of melodic noise. Check the gritty funk of "Falling Star," the rollicking "Too Rolling Stoned," played in overdrive, the dreamy floating textures in "Smile," and the screaming blues-rock of "Fool & Me." From here, Trower kicks into three more from Bridge of Sighs, including the title track, "Day of the Eagle," and "Little Bit of Sympathy." The set ends with "Further on Up the Road," with everything turned up to ten and bleeding through the channels on the PA, and it makes not one whit of difference. If anything, it makes this live album feel live. This is a burning performance, inspired as it gets with all of the excesses and mistakes left in. Highly recommended. ~ Thom Jurek, All Music Guide
What The Critics Say
Robin Trower's first rock, as opposed to blues, studio album in five years, returns the guitarist to the fluid, Hendrix-infused trio sound of his salad days. While the songwriting isn't quite up to the quality of his '70s work, Trower's snaky, echoed, languid guitar and his powerful duo's sympathetic backing make this a welcome addition to his extensive catalog. While the smooth, soulful whisky-soaked vocals of original singer Jimmy Dewer are sorely missed (Trower, who handles some of the singing here is at best adequate), the songs still shimmer with the uniquely silvery quality fans have come to expect from the guitarist. Tunes like "Into Dusk," "Run With the Wolves," and, especially, the nine-minute opening title track with their "Little Wing"-"Third Stone From the Sun" grooves, would have been right at home on Bridge of Sighs. The snappy mid-tempo rocker "Too Much Joy" shoehorns Trower's distinctive guitar solo into a three-minute pop tune, but the similarly inclined chunky "This Old World" doesn't rise above its blues-rock clichés. Trower excels on ballads and slightly funky, slowly simmering psychedelic rockers like "Take This River" where his lava lamp guitar flourishes intricately weave between the dreamy words and construct musical visions uniquely his own. Likely difficult to find because of its indie label release, Go My Way is a welcome return from Robin Trower. Those unfamiliar with his work are advised to first hunt down his '70s classics, but longtime fans will be delighted with this solid, uncompromising album. ~ Hal Horowitz, All Music Guide
What The Critics Say
Robin Trower's peak commercial period occurred during the mid-'70s, when the bluesy guitarist specialized in a style that relied heavily on the power of the almighty riff (as evidenced by just about any selection from his best known release, 1974's Bridge of Sighs). But on his 1997 offering, Someday Blues, Trower tries a different approach, as he cuts back on the Jimi Hendrix-esque riffing, and focuses more on Albert King-style licks, and letting Hammond organ fill in much of the open spaces. This approach is best sampled on "Feels So Bad" (which features some great vocalizing by Trower -- who handles all singing on the album as well) and the slow-burning title track. And for fans of a classic, searing Fender Strat tone, the album-closing "Sweet Little Angel" is a must-hear. While there's nothing here that matches the six-string pyrotechnics of, say, "Day of the Eagle," Trower still proves to be a major blues-rock force on Someday Blues. It's just that now Trower puts an added emphasis on the "blues" rather than the "rock." ~ Greg Prato, All Music Guide
'King Biscuit Flower Hour (In Concert)'
Release Date 2/27/1996
Tracks 12
Label King Biscuit
See Album Tracklist and Review
What The Critics Say
Recorded on October 18, 1977, at the New Haven Coliseum in Connecticut, King Biscuit Flower Hour captures Robin Trower moving into a more R&B-driven phase of his career, although the heavy blues-rock of his smash Bridge of Sighs album is amply represented in addition to the newer material on In City Dreams, the album he was supporting at the time. For this performance, originally broadcast on the King Biscuit Flower Hour radio show, Trower's band features vocalist James Dewar, bassist Rusty Allen, and drummer Bill Lordan, formerly of Sly & the Family Stone. It's a versatile band, and in some ways, the live venue is an even better way to hear them than on their studio output. ~ Steve Huey, All Music Guide
