Search - Robin Trower :: Essential Robin Trower

Excellent Anthology of the Chrysalis Years

J. E FELL | Carterville, Illinois United States | 05/11/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This is a single disc compilation of Robin Trower's solo work for Chrysalis from 1973-1981. Robin Trower broke away from Procol Harum after he fell under the influence of Jimi Hendrix. He switched guitars from a Gibson to a Stratocaster and went solo. He formed a power trio and played in the style of Hendrix but did not go over the top like say Frank Marino. His adaption of the style was more funky and bluesy with ethereal type ballads interspersed for contrast. He is no mere copyist however and is good song writer. Most of his songs are originals with the occasional blues cover tune thrown in for good measure. Another reason the band was successful was due in large part to the whiskey-throated vocals of bass player James Dewar. After Dewar left the band Trower's popularity began to wane. One cut on this anthology features the vocals of former Cream bass player Jack Bruce who replaced James Dewar for 2 albums. Some of my favorite tracks include "Too Rolling Stoned", "Lady Love" "Bridge Of Sighs", "Shame The Devil" and "Messin' The Blues". I was disappointed that the compilers omitted "Little Bit Of Sympathy" and "Fool & Me". That being said this is the best retrospective of Trower's solo work currently available. If you enjoy inventive 1970's era axe work, you will enjoy this disc. I also recommend the "King Biscuit Flour Hour" disc and the remastered "Bridge Of Sighs" disc with extra bonus tracks."

A Great Anthology, Even If A Few Songs Are Absent

J. E FELL | 09/13/2002

(5 out of 5 stars)

"THE ESSENTIAL ROBIN TROWER is a great compilation of much (but not all) of Robin Trower's greatest work. Sure, it's missing "Little Bit Of Sympathy", "Day Of The Eagle", and "In This Place", but you do get hard-to-obtain songs such as "Hannah", "Victims Of The Fury", and the vow of caution "Gonna Be More Suspicious." This, and BRIDGE OF SIGHS, are the first Robin Trower albums to get."

Underrated guitar wizard shines through on this compliation!

James L. Chatfield | Canon City, CO United States | 04/12/2000

(5 out of 5 stars)

"A lot of critics have slammed Trower for copying the style of Jimi Hendrix. Like this is a bad thing? Yeah, his playing sounds a lot like Hendrix, almost to the point of being downright eerie now and then ("I Can't Wait Much Longer" and "Bridge of Sighs" are the best examples herein), but hey, it makes for some great blues/prog rock. There are a few songs from Trower's extensive workload that were overlooked, particularly "Man of the World" and a guilty pleasure of my own "Jack & Jill" from the Victims of Fury album (at least they put "Victims" on here). But "Hannah", "Too Rolling Stoned", and the classic ballad "Daydream" are all present and accounted for to display one God's greatest gifts to the Stratocaster."