Spins: Robin Trower Live! expanded 50th anniversary 2xLP
Robin Trower
Live! expanded 50th anniversary 2xLP
(Chrysalis)
Robin Trower is an enduring guitar hero from the golden age of classic rock and roll. The veteran British musician is still thrilling fans with work including 2025âs Come and Find Me and packing theaters as an energetic octogenarian. Still, most fans will prize 1974âs Bridge of Sighs and 1975âs Live! as catalog favorites. Chrysalis now offers a 50th anniversary edition of Live! that features a robust new mix, adds the half hour of songs missing from the original release (increasing from 7 to 12 tracks), and returns the songs to the originally performed order heard by the fans on February 3, 1975 in Stockholm, Sweden. Trower has often praised the album as capturing one of the best shows by his lineup, including late bassist/singer James Dewar and drummer Bill Lordan.
Since Bridge of Sighs had been released the prior year and was still enjoying a strong response, the original Live! downplayed the best-traveled songs from that album (âDay of the Eagleâ and the title cut) in favor of deeper cuts, three songs from solo debut Twice Removed from Yesterday, and âAletheaâ from successor For Earth Below. The latter album was released the same month that the concert took place.
The 50th anniversary set includes a revved-up and spine-tingling âDay of the Eagleâ and a turbulent âBridge of Sighsâ as the set-opening songs. Itâs not hard to imagine the influential âBridge of Sighsâ as performed here as a heavy, blues-based precursor to Soundgardenâs âBlack Hole Sunâ in combination with the Beatlesâ psychedelic pop.
âGonna Be More Suspicious,â âFine Day,â and âConfessinâ Midnightâ from For Earth Below are additional riff-centric blues rockers restored to the set list. Lordanâs opening cadence gets the crowd clapping along to âConfessinâ Midnightâ before Trower and Dewar fall into the heavy groove. The band locks in powerfully to the fundamental riff as a well-tuned groove machine. Lordan and Dewar maintain the sturdy foundation whenever Trower heads skyward on solo flights. The band is clearly in the spirit when playing these fresh cuts, and they make an impactful addition to the listening experience today.
Dewar has a captivating presence with soulful and gravel-etched blues-rock vocals on songs including the moody psychedelic blues of âI Canât Wait Much Longer.â
Itâs no wonder Trower is highly praised among other innovative blues-rock guitar aces, including Jimi Hendrix, David Gilmour, and Eric Johnson. Trowerâs corner of the pantheon is earned by his uniquely melodic and soulful phrasing and his sublime, saturated tone with ample amounts of swirling Uni-Vibe and wah-wah. Live! focuses on the style and songs that established Trowerâs reputation following his departure from Procul Harum. The original release served as a concise calling card of the Robin Trower Bandâs prowess as a taut and compact performing unit. This 50th anniversary set offers the full helping. Itâs essential for Trower fans and worthwhile for any classic rock devotee.
â Jeff Elbel
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