Robin Trower: Bridge Of Sighs CD Track Listing

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Robin Trower Bridge Of Sighs (1974)
Originally Released April 20, 1974\nCD Edition Released 1985\nMFSL Gold CD Edition Released October 15, 1996\nRemastered + Expanded CD Edition Released August 10, 1999\n\nAMG EXPERT REVIEW: Guitarist Robin Trower's watershed sophomore solo disc remains his most stunning, representative, and consistent collection of tunes. This 24-bit digitally remastered 25th anniversary reissue, which tacks on five live tracks adding nearly 25 minutes to the original playing time, actually improves upon the original. Mixing obvious Hendrix influences with blues and psychedelia, then adding the immensely soulful vocals of James Dewer, Robin Trower pushed the often limited boundaries of the power trio concept into refreshing new waters. The concept gels best in the first track, "Day of the Eagle," where the opening riff rocking morphs into the dreamy washes of gooey guitar chords that characterize the album's distinctive title track that follows. At his best, Trower's gauzy sheets of oozing, wistful sound and subtle use of wah-wah combine with Dewer's whisky-soaked soul-drenched vocals to take a song like the wistful ballad "In This Place" into orbit. "Too Rolling Stoned," another highlight and one of the most covered tracks from this album, adds throbbing, subtle funk to the mix, changing tempos midway to a slow, forceful amble on top of which Trower lays his quicksilver guitar. The live tracks, although similar to the album versions, prove that even without overdubs and the safety of the studio, Trower and band easily convey the same feel, and add a slightly rougher edge, along with some low-key, crowd-pleasing flourishes. One of the few Trower albums without a weak cut, and in 2000, unfortunately one of the only ones still in print in the U.S., Bridge of Sighs holds up to repeated listenings as a timeless work, as well as the crown jewel in Robin Trower's extensive yet inconsistent catalog. -- Hal Horowitz\n \nAmazon.com Editorial Review\nRobin Trower left Procol Harum to pursue his own musical vision and, while Spinal Tap has made the efforts of those who pursued such "heaviness" seem positively ludicrous, one listen to side one of Bridge of Sighs should prove once and for all that such pursuits are not always in vain. Trower leads a power trio of unrestrained heaviness, anchored by his sublimely bloated lead guitar and bassist James Dewar's throaty vocals. The wind sounds that segue the title track into "In This Place" may be a bit too much mystical gobbledygook but Matthew Fisher's subtle production throughout makes this one of the finest introductions into early-'70s wasted drug rock. --Rob O'Connor \n\nAmazon.com Customer Review\nRobin Trower "Bridge of Sighs", May 18, 2004\nReviewer: JAMES MCCORMICK (cedar rapids, Iowa United States)\nMany consider this to be Trowers finest hour. As for myself I might enjoy Trowers first, "Twice Removed from Yesterday's" spacey strecthed out Hendrix inspired "Bold as Love" peroid explorations a hair more, but "Bridge of Sighs" is Trowers most focused album. It is hard to argue with the sonic explosion that is "Day of the Eagle," that starts this album. Just killer heavy duty blues/rock guitar turned up to eleven, then followed by one of Trowers finest heavy riffed spacey songs, the title song "Bridge of Sighs." WOW! I remember hearing these two songs in tandem back in the 70's & I was hooked for good. Trower is truely a master of his instrument, his thick tone, shimmering sustain, sense of melody, & passion really come off as some of the heaviest most melodic guitar playing known to rock. Pigeoned holed as a Hendrix clone, Trower is much more than that. He is Hendrix's ace disciple easly rivaling his mentor's inspiration with this album, & maybe even surpassing it. \nThe passionate singing of bassist Rob Dewar is an overlooked treasure on many of Trowers albums. Here on "Lady Love" Trower & Dewar crescend in a seamless whole of sincere delicate axemenship & impassioned singing to make it a listeners delight. On "Too Rolling Stoned" Dewar shows us he is able to thump the bass to Trowers rollicking leads & riffs. Trower shows some of his funk on "The Fool & Me." Really there is not a clinker in this whole album, it's is a collection of flawless work from a master of his instrument. For lovers of killer Rock guitar!!! \n\nAmazon.com Customer Review\nLike Hendrix on Downers (Not a Bad Thing), April 4, 2004\nReviewer: K. Oda "tkoart" (Silver Spring, MD United States)\nThis album was my first exposure to guitarist Robin Trower back in the 1970s. I was knocked out by it back then, and I still enjoy it today. Trower fronted a power rock trio with a very distinctive sound. He is often called a Hendrix clone, and there are superficial similarities. His harmonically sophisticated chord voicings, walking leads behind the vocals, and heavy use of sustain on his solos are all obviously influenced by Hendrix. But where Hendrix was always exuberant and sexual in his playing, Trower has a languid and introspective undertone. I think of him as Hendrix on downers, and I mean that in a positive way. Hendrix was a better and more versatile guitarist, but Trower has more emotional depth.\nOn slower songs like "Bridge of Sighs", "In This Place", and "About To Begin", Trower's guitar work is beautifully moody both in texture and melody. On the upbeat numbers, Trower proves he can rock, but there's still that little edge of emotion underneath. Trower is not super fast as a guitarist--I would put him in the same league as Eric "Slowhand" Clapton--but he is a master of the "sustain and bend" technique. He knows how to make the guitar sing like the human voice.\n\nAmazon.com Customer Review\nSummer of 1974, December 29, 2001\nReviewer: peterstoll (Michigan) \nTrower- Bridge of Sighs\nA truly unique record for all time, 'Bridge of Sighs' is perhaps the best non-Zep heavy offering of the period. Although many considered Trower's sound here to be merely Hendrix-esque, it was, and is, unique.\n\n1974 was, at once, a bounty and a bit of a no-man's land for hard rock. Zep took a big break, and Cooper's 'Muscle of Love', while great, left a massive opening for Trower and this record. 'Bridge' was THE heavy record of the year. But it was, and is, much more.\n\nCompletely original tonal dynamics, brilliant songwriting, and literally-perfect musicianship are the hallmarks of this fantastic effort. Every song is, at once, mellow and heavy. This goes not only to outstanding production, but also to perfect conception and execution on the part of the Trower power trio itself. Rock somehow came of age on this record. It owes nothing to any other band of the time; in that alone, this album is an unqualified success.\n\nA disc without 'hits', this album was, nevertheless, the stalwart of AOR DJs during the summer of '74, and beyond, and was a surprisingly-smashing commercial success, sold by the near-millions at stores for approximately $5.00. Go figure.\n\nFor those seeking the Roots of Rock in the 1970's, buy this one, for sure...\n\n'Day of the Eagle' opens the record, and a new time: a time when every great new record destroyed what came before. A real groove, clearly distinct from Zep, Sabbath, and Aerosmith in all ways, this song gets right down to business immediately without pretense, and crushes previously-standard time signatures in deference to a truly new sound. This fact cannot be overstated.\n\nWith its rolling pull-off start, the title track follows. Nicely-depressing, droning, and slow, the stage is set. If you were stoned, young, and 'there', this was IT. If not, the album may lack some meaning, but it's still awesome. A tricky fade gives rise to the next, slower than molasses, bluesy track, and all that follows: rare, utter perfection.\n\nAn awesome A+ collection ensues. This is neither Plant nor Osborne, Page nor Blackmore. Here, Trower shreds through his new sound, but always relinquishes before becoming self-indulgent. Everything flows like the perfect trip. Perhaps the greatest compliment that can be given to this record is the fact that no one attempted to copy it. It was, in some critics' eyes, the capstone of a very brief, but incredibly cool time. \n\nTrower's original chord choices, and tunes, make this thing. The vocals of Dewar are monumentally outstanding (listen!), but I'm selling Trower, the guitarist, without remorse. Not a tough sell.\n\nBluesy, but not blues, the buzzy set will take control of all who listen, with heretofore undone syncopation, and the album-wide restatement of the real birth of a new phase-shifted sound. Andy Summers, for better or worse, eat your heart out. \n\nFor you kids, this is a must-have. Everyone else, you've got it, rotting in your basement. Rediscover it on CD.\n\nAmazon.com Customer Review\nSuicide, September 6, 2001\nReviewer: Joe Traas (Monona, Wisconsin United States)\nAs for Robin Trower's lasting power, he still tours and sells out most venues he plays. He is consigned now to the smaller clubs and I recommend you catch him. As I understand, Bridge of Sighs is about a bridge, (in France?), where people who have succumbed to life's miseries and hardships, throw themselves off to end it all. Never have I heard a more mournful song that describes this ending as Bridge of Sighs. It is a classic that endures when all other music is forgotten.\n\nAmazon.com Customer Review\nOne of the best guitarist of the 70's., March 18, 1999\nReviewer: A music fan\nRobin Trower did himself a favor by leaving Procol Harum and going out on his own. This, his second album, is proof of that. No songs from his old band match Day Of The Eagle or Too Rolling Stoned. Besides that, he plays some of the nastiest blues guitar this side of Jimi Hendrix. This album proves that all music released in the 70's was not so bad. Check this one out...it will leave you wanting more.\n\nAmazon.com Customer Review\nMood blues that stays cruchy even in milk!, May 16, 1998\nReviewer: A music fan\nI have been listening to this since it came out. As a young, stumbling guitarist in the 70's I wore out my record player (yes, record player) on 33and 1/3 trying to emulate this guy. Now twenty years later and I still can't pull it out like Robin did on this album. A must buy for the ultimate blues-rock collection. He was compared to Hendrix and never quite got the recognition or fame he deserved. His and Hendrix's styles were similar but very different.\n\nHalf.com Album Credits\nGeoff Emerick, Engineer\nMatthew Fisher, Producer\n\nAlbum Notes\nPersonnel: Robin Trower (guitar); James Dewar (bass, vocals); Reg Isidore (drums).\n\nThe MFSL Gold Disc reissue of BRIDGE OF SIGHS includes the single version of "Day Of The Eagle," which did not appear on the original release.\n\nThe Expanded Edition of BRIDGE OF SIGHS includes five bonus tracks from a live radio broadcast from the Record Plant, Los Angeles, California in 1974.\n\nReissue producer: David K. Tedds.\nIncludes liner notes by Jon Sutherland.\nDigitally remastered by Bob Norberg (Capitol Mastering).
This rock cd contains 8 tracks and runs 37min 19sec.
Freedb: 5e08bd08
Buy: from Amazon.com

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