Robin Trower - 1991 "Essential"

Essential is a strong single-disc collection that features 16 highlights from Robin Trower's long career at Chrysalis, including such staples as "Too Rolling Stoned," plus several key album tracks. While such albums as Bridge of Sighs work as individual albums, this does a nice job of rounding up highlights from uneven records, making it a nice sampler both for casual fans and the curious.

Former PROCOL HARUM axe slinger ROBIN TROWER, who appeared on groundbreaking albums such as A SALTY DOG and SHINE ON BRIGHTLY, pumped out a popular series of HENDRIX-inspired blooze-rock spouting platters under his own name throughout the seventies. Like so many guitar gurus, TROWER left the vocals to others, notably JAMES DEWER, whose ominous growl charges through the intense six string synergy of SHAME THE DEVIL, TOO ROLLING STONED and MESSIN' THE BLUES. Legendary CREAM singer/bassist JACK BRUCE turns up to inject INTO MONEY with his signature blue eyed soul, but the main focus falls naturally on TROWER's cosmic forays into hard rock, prog, psychedelia and RNB that made him a tasteful guitar hero for the ages. Hardcore fans have long ago worn out their copies of TWICE REMOVED FROM YESTERDAY and BRIDGE OF SIGHS...but for casual listeners who just need a taste, the sixteen track ESSENTIAL is a fine appetizer.

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.

Track listing:

01. Too Rolling Stoned
02. Lady Love
03. Bridge of Sighs
04. Daydream
05. Shame the Devil
06. Hanna
07. Messin' the Blues
08. Pride
09. Alethea
10. Confessin' Midnight
11. Victims of the Fury
12. Gonna Be More Suspicious
13. Sweet Wine of Love
14. I Can't Wait Much Longer
15. Into Money
16. Bluebird