Rock
Robin Trower Day Of The Eagle (2008)The Best Of [FLAC] *PLANXTY*
Torrent info
Torrent Files List
Torrent description
2008 compilation of digitally remastered cuts from the English guitarist and Rock legend, often compared to Jimi Hendrix due to his bluesy Psychedelic style.
He was originally a member of Procol Harum but soon left to pursue a solo career. Throughout the '70s, Trower was a staple on FM radio alongside many other great Classic Rock artists.
Since his heyday, his output has not been as prolific, although he is still respected and revered by fans of Classic Rock and guitar heroes. 17 tracks including 'Caledonia', 'Bridge Of Sighs', 'Man Of The World', 'Day Of The Eagle' and many more.
Biography from Allmusic.com
Throughout his long and winding solo career, guitarist Robin Trower has had to endure countless comparisons to Jimi Hendrix, due to his uncanny ability to channel Hendrix's bluesy/psychedelic, Fender Strat-fueled playing style. Born on March 9, 1945, in Catford, England, Trower spent the early '60s playing guitar in various London based outfits; the most successful one being the R&B group the Paramounts, who specialized mostly in covers, but managed to issue several singles between 1963 and 1965. It wasn't until 1967 that Trower received his big break however, when he joined Procol Harum. The group had just scored a worldwide smash hit with "A Whiter Shade of Pale," but the only problem was that the band's leader, singer/pianist Gary Brooker, didn't have a proper band to back him. Brooker was previously a bandmate of Trower's in the Paramounts, and offered the guitar slot in his new fast-rising project to his old friend. As a result, Trower appeared on such Procol Harum classics as 1967's Procol Harum, 1968's Shine on Brightly, 1969's A Salty Dog, 1970's Home (which spawned the popular Trower tune "Whiskey Train"), and 1971's Broken Barricades.
While Procol Harum helped launch Trower's career, the guitarist realized there was limited space for his guitar work, and eventually left for a solo career. Enlisting singer/bassist James Dewar and drummer Reg Isidore (who was soon replaced by Bill Lordan) as a backing band, Trower issued his solo debut, Twice Removed From Yesterday, in 1973. The album barely left a dent in the U.S. charts, but that would change soon enough with his next release, 1974's Bridge of Sighs. With rock fans still reeling from Hendrix's death a few years earlier, the album sounded eerily similar to the late guitarist's work with the Jimi Hendrix Experience (especially his 1968 release, Electric Ladyland), and as a result, the album sky rocketed into the U.S. Top Ten, peaking at number seven.
Although Bridge of Sighs was to be his most popular solo release, Trower's stock continued to rise throughout the mid-'70s, as he became an arena headliner on the strength of such hit albums as 1975's For Earth Below, 1976's Robin Trower Live!, and Long Misty Days, plus 1977's In City Dreams. Further releases followed, yet by the dawn of the '80s, it became quite obvious that Trower's star was rapidly fading, as each album sold less than its predecessor. A brief union with ex-Cream bassist/vocalist Jack Bruce spawned a pair of releases, 1981's B.L.T. and 1982's Truce, before Trower returned back to his solo career.
The '80s saw Trower try and expand his audience with several releases that attempted to update his blues-rock style (such as 1987's slick produced Passion), but none returned the guitarist back to the top of the charts. During the early '90s, Trower returned back to Procol Harum for a brief reunion (1991's Prodigal Stranger), before backing ex-Roxy Music singer Bryan Ferry on a few releases (1993's Taxi and 1994's Mamouna, the latter of which Trower earned a co-producer credit for). Trower continued to issue solo albums in the 21st century (2000's Go My Way), while a steady stream of live sets and compilations appeared. Trower returned to work with Ferry once more on 2002's Frantic, again earning a production credit. Reassembling most of his late-'80s band, Trower released Living Out of Time in 2004 and returned with Another Days Blues in late 2005. What Lies Beneath appeared in 2009 from V-12 Records.
Review from Amazon.com.
Robin Trower, as great as he is, probably does not get the recognition he deserves as a guitarist and songwriter. The original guitarist for Procol Harem set out on his own in 1971 to pursue a different direction. Often criticized for his overt Hendrix influence, Trower, not necessarily shaking the comparisons, has earned his place as an original and inspired player that few can match. Trower's greatest moment is, arguably, his 1974 release "Bridge of Sighs" which seems to showcase all of his winning attributes better than any of his other releases, perhaps even the compilations, including this one.
What you get here is a 17 song summation of Trower's work spanning from 1973's "Twice Removed From Yesterday" through 1980's "Victim's of the Fury." These were obviously his peak years as far as popularity is concerned but it does a disservice to the rest of his catalogue, which really has not waned in quality as one may suspect. The remastering of classics like "Day Of The Eagle," "About To Begin," and "Caravan To Midnight" all sound incredible with much added depth to the original recordings. However, the tracks selected from his live work from 1976's "Robin Trower Live" can, at times, lean towards sounding a little muddy. Unfortunately one of his best songs, "Too Rolling Stoned" from his "Bridge of Sighs" is represented here in a live version. Hey, it still smokes but wouldn't a 17 song compilation want to throw on the most well known version of a classic? In addition, the songs are not in chronological order but depending on your preference, this may not matter. All of this aside, there are some amazing recordings here that sadly many people are not familiar with. As an added bonus fans of Trower will be pleased to see the rare "Take a Fast Train" included, as it was originally the b-side to "Twice Removed From Yesterday" from his debut album of the same name. Speaking of which, where is THAT song? Well, it's not here.
Obviously this retrospective is meant as an introduction to a fabulous artist and to perhaps convince you to dig deeper into his often overlooked catalogue. Just be aware in doing so that there is so much more to hear from Robin Trower, whose career did not end in 1980, but continues to this day. If you like your blues rocking and are not familiar with Trower's post Procol Harem material you owe yourself the favor to pick this up. While you're there, grab a copy of "Bridge of Sighs." You can thank me later.