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Pete Feenstra chatted to Robin Trower for his show on Get Ready to ROCK! Radio. First broadcast 30 June 2024
Chrysalis (3CD/Blu Ray, 50th Anniversary Edition) [Release date 17.05.24]
Blues/rock guitarist Robin Trower has had a long and distinguished career, and is still rocking.
Making his name with Procol Harum before going solo. Released in 1974, ‘Bridge Of Sighs’ was Trower’s second solo album and here it gets the 50th Anniversary
Trower joined Procol Harum in 1967, just after the release of ‘A Whiter Shade Of Pale’, and played on their first five albums (six if you include the 1970 side project finally released in 1997), before going solo. His debut ‘Twice Removed From Yesterday’ was released in 1973, featuring bassist/vocalist James Dewer (formerly of Stone The Crows) and drummer Reg Isidore, and was produced by Procol Harum’s Matthew Fisher.
The same line-up released Bridge Of Sighs in 1974, and is considered Trower’s commercial breakthrough, with several tracks remaining in the live set for many years. The album reached #7 in the US charts.
Opening up this lavish looking (and feeling, if a little stiff) digibook, with booklet featuring sleevenotes and comments from Robert Fripp, we get four silver discs. The first is the original 1974 album, given a 2024 remaster. The album opens with ‘Day Of The Eagle’, an uptempo blues rock number, a clear power trio influence (and a nod or two to Hendrix). A solid riff from the bass, allowing the guitar to solo over the top. The title track slows things down considerably, a touch more atmospheric, a hint Mountain, and just as heavy, powerful too.
‘In This Place’ another slowed down track, quite moody, some nice guitar effects. ‘The Fool And Me’ is a solid rocker too, a hit of Nazareth. ‘Too Rolling Stoned’ runs to 7 minutes and is a fantastic work out, Dewar’s bass and vocals both the perfect foil to Trower’s guitar.
Overall the album has a great feel, the remaster has a solid yet crisp and clear feel. And the album is much heavier than the artwork would imply.
Disc 2 features a 2024 stereo remix of the album, and it sounds and feels like they’ve gone back to early tapes as not only do the tracks have a different edge, but they’re all a minute or so longer too.
This may take a few listens to get into, but initially the preference would depend on your mood. The remaster on disc 1 has certainly made this the definitive ‘go to’ edition. So this is a bonus. Also on this disc are a number of bonus tracks, including outtakes and rehearsals. A must for fans then.
Disc 3 features 10 tracks recorded live at the Record Plant, May 1974. A fantastic and well recorded live show that is essential listening. Five of these tracks were added to 1999 release of the album, so it’s great to have this set expanded.
Then Disc 4 is a blu ray, with the material from the first 3 discs (plus additional outtakes and rarities), plus a 2024 instrumental mix of the album. Just having a blu ray player is not enough for these, you’d really need a decent full set up to really appreciate the sound quality; if you have that.
The one issue I have – and this plagues too many artists, too many releases, where there are multiple reissues over the years – is that there’s rarely a definitive version with the bonus tracks. As mentioned above, a 1999 release had some live tracks, these were replaced by some radio show recordings (I think John Peel) on a ’00s release, and while we get the full live show now, we don’t get those radio tracks.
That aside, with the quality of the music, the sound quality, the performances, and the package, this ranks up there in the “Every home should have one” section. ****1/2
Review by Joe Geesin
Gig review (Islington Assembly Hall, May 2024)
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