Tag: robin trower (Page 1 of 3)

Now, I’ve already reviewed the original version of this album. But, I was very interested to hear what this 50th anniversary mix would sound like compared to the classic original.

Along with the album proper, there is a second disc comprised of b-sides and rough mixes, plus a John Peel session from the BBC. The remaster of the original is superb. Daydream just gives goosebumps as the clarity alone is stunning. The extra tracks are mainly edits, apart from B-Side Take A Fast Train which is a non album track and has a big Hendrix vibe, I guess it was left off because space. The Peel session is a killer addition. I hadn’t heard it before and is a warts and all power trio doing what it does best.

It’s worth buying for the remaster alone and it gets an extra half a mark.

9.5/10 from The Grooveman.

This is Robin Trower’s third album to feature Davey Pattinson on vocals and would be Robin’s last for Atlantic. I do like Davey on vocals, but nobody can beat Jimmy Dewar singing this type of music.

If you’re used to hearing Robin doing his patented heavy blues/funk groove then this album is a bit of a departure. Eddie Kramer was brought in to produce it and the result is a lot more polished and clean.

Turn The Volume Up feels like an attempt to do a big rock song, especially with the hook and sing a long gang chorus. If that’s what they were aiming for then they missed the boat by a few years. I realize I’m being a bit negative and that gives a false impression, as the record is very enjoyable indeed. In fact, there are plenty of groovy moments. For example, Natural Fact has a real cool blues funk riff with a great swing to it, and I Would Still Be Here For You is pure old school Trower with a killer riff and the guitar tone is superb it’s my favourite track. However, the big rock grooves of Everybody’s Watching is a close second with a massive hook and chorus!

Robin doesn’t make bad records and even though the feel of this one is different from old it’s still a great record.

8.5/10 from The Grooveman.

This was a side step for Robin at the time as after the Victims Of The Fury album and tour he recorded this with Jack Bruce. It would be the first of many hook ups they did over the years. Robin was deep into the funk at this time, and I personally think his best work was with James Dewar. I loved both Caravan To Midnight and Victims Of The Fury and I was shocked when he seemingly left James behind, which he would do permanently after the Back It Up record, to record with Bruce.

There are some killer moments on this album like No Island Lost which has the feel of a one take tune, especially Robins guitar. It’s a great old school blues/funk romp with a very loud “wah wah” guitar. My favourite track is the last track on the album, Endgame. A back to basics slow blues tune, which seems to fit Jack’s voice so well, and of course Robin plays as only he can.

7/10 from The Grooveman.

This is Robin’s first album, released in ’73 after leaving Procul Harem to go solo. These early Trower albums are pure gold. Great heavy sound and tone to his playing but with real soul and feel, and Jimmy Dewar’s vocals just can’t be beaten. Quite unfairly tagged with being a Hendrix copyist, if the hacks who wrote those comments had paid a little attention to the music that was being played they would have heard that was not the case. Sure, Hendrix was an influence as he was to many, but that was it.

Right from the opening notes of I Can’t Wait Much Longer you know that you are hearing a genius play. Superb groovy tune with a killer vibe. Daydream is my favourite track and is a real slow tune, but the hairs still come up on my arm when hearing this after all these years. Just superb playing! Hannah follows and is another slow paced track, at least at the start, then a killer funky vibe takes over. The guitar sounds so heavy and yet very melodic. Side 1 closes out with the soul/funk of Man Of The World; a short groovy piece.

I Can’t Stand It opens up Side 2 and I love the riff, and Jimmy is singing with a spoken style. You can tell Robin is still finding his feet as a solo artist as he holds back on the solos on this album. The good old standard Rock Me Baby is next up and this version has a dirty swing to the groove with plenty of guitar. The title track is up next and this is the one track I don’t quite connect with. Sinners Song follows and the initial picked riff is quite simple. The groove is quite funky and I really love the middle section. The album closes out with Ballerina and it’s just Robin and Jimmy with the most beautiful delicate piece.

9/10 from The Grooveman.