Tag: robin trower (Page 2 of 3)

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.

To say Robin has found a rich vein of material in his latter years, would be an understatement. This is studio album number 26, and it’s a real quality record. Don’t want to go on about age too much, as Robin is now 76. There are musicians who are a lot younger and more in the mainstream who complain about making new music as they don’t make any money – and here’s me thinking artists did it for the art.

For a while, Robin was handling vocals himself, but on this album he is joined by Richard Watts whose tone compliments Robin’s beautiful guitar sound. Robin’s never been one for throwing in a million notes that don’t mean a whole bunch, it’s all about what’s right for the song. Check out the slow funk groove of Deadly Kiss to see what I mean. It’s a simple riff and groove, great vocal, and some sublime playing from Robin – a great song! There is not a bad moment on the album and I love it all. There is even a nod to earlier days with The Razors Edge, where Robin’s tone feels like Bridge Of Sighs era. This is a very groovy album and deserves your attention.

10/10 from The Grooveman.

The first seven Trower albums are peerless and wonderful, they are a lesson in soul, tone, and groove. This is the sixth, and was released in ’78. I bought this on its day of release and I still play it regularly.

There are no Day Of The Eagle moments on this album as it’s quite laid back. The attention is more on the songs, the feel, and the vibe. My Love opens up the record and is a typical Trower song with a killer vocal from James Dewar. Second track in is the title track and is an instrumental. The slow funky soulful groove is just a joy, and Trower’s playing is just sublime. I’m Out To Get You follows and why this was not released as a single just blows my mind. Such a cool funky song with a killer melody and vocal from Dewar, and again, Trower’s playing is off the charts for me. This is one of may favourite Trower tracks from all of his catalogue. Lost In Love closes out Side 1 and it’s a really chill song with a slow funky blues groove. Another awesome vocal from Dewar.

Side 2 is up and running with Fool, and in a similar vein to how Aide 1 started. One of the most heartfelt beautiful love songs Trower released is up next with Its For You. Dewar’s vocals and Trower’s guitar compliment each other so well on this song. Birthday Boy is another slow moving piece with lots of emotion and feel. King Of The Dance is probably the most up-tempo track on the record, and has that killer soulful funky rock groove. The album closes out with Sail On, and it sums this album up perfectly . It’s a very soulful beautiful piece with loads of feel from both Dewar and Trower.

Another album that I adore and it’s 10/10 from The Grooveman.

Robin has been a solo artist for over 50 years after leaving Procul Harum in ’71. This is his 23rd solo studio album, and for me, it’s a return to the vibe and sound of his earlier albums. This was recorded as a two piece, Robin playing all guitars, bass, and vocals, and Chris Taggert playing drums. Now I know Robin is no James Dewar with his vocal style, but the tone and sound of his voice suits the music really well. Robin is now 76 years old and he is still cranking out quality music. Early in his career he was passed off as a Hendrix copyist, but there is so much more to his playing. He plays with so much feel and soul, and his tone is incredible. No one plays like this today.

My personal favourite tracks on this release are the title track, which is such a beautiful tune and his playing is just sublime. No widdly-diddly nonsense here – every note means something. Someone Of Great Renown, which has a beautiful slow funk groove – and again – superb playing, the dirty slow blues of Tell Me, which is just superb and possibly my favourite track on the album, and Don’t Ever Change just gives me goosebumps when I hear it – the tone is incredible. 23 albums in and he drops such a great album.

10/10 from The Grooveman.