ROBIN TROWER – Bridge of Sighs (4-Disc 50th Anniversary Edition) (2024)
”Bridge of Sighs” is ROBIN TROWER‘s sophomore album following his departure from Procol Harum. Lauded critically and commercially a breakthrough, the album saw Robin push his trio’s initial concept into exciting new territory. Accompanied by James Dewar on soulful vocal & bass duty, and Reg Isidore underpinning their blues sound with masterful drumming.
50 years later, the recordings have been newly mixed from the original tapes, and ”Bridge of Sighs (4-Disc 50th Anniversary Edition)” is being released.
Disc 1 is the original album remastered from the tape transfers. Disc 2 is a 2024 Stereo Mix along with a selection of outtakes and rarities never heard before. Disc 3: You can hear the trio amid a US tour supporting the album, Live At The Record Plant, Sausalito, 29th May 1974, available in its entirety for the first time and newly remastered from the original tape transfers. Disc 4 is a blu-ray, with all the previous plus the original instrumental version of the album, also remastered.
The 2024 remaster of the album sounds great, but the must is the 2024 mix. Some of the songs indeed sound different than the original release and you’ll find new layers of sound. The guitar solo on the title track sounds even more like Hendrix which is cool as can be. There is plenty of lower end with good bass response that really make this a delight to listen to. I will say that the extended versions of Lady Love and Little Bit Of Sympathy sound much better than the edited original versions do. Both versions are nice and flat with the stereo mix flawless throughout.
Then there’s the outtakes and previously unreleased, worth of listen too. The Live At The Record Plant, Sausalito, 29th May 1974 concert is complete, with a very good sound / remastering. This trio was really hot live.
CD2 2024 stereo mix is in fact as the original tapes were found – unedited, longer versions, and some tracks ends abruptly. This exactly recreates the studio sessions as they were.
A much regarded piece of classic rock, ”Bridge of Sighs” finally gets its expanded edition, very well done and with tons of new things to discover.
Highly Recommended
CD1: 2024 Remaster
01 – Day Of The Eagle (2024 Remaster)
02 – Bridge Of Sighs (2024 Remaster)
03 – In This Place (2024 Remaster)
04 – The Fool And Me (2024 Remaster)
05 – Too Rolling Stoned (2024 Remaster)
06 – About To Begin (2024 Remaster)
07 – Lady Love (2024 Remaster)
08 – Little Bit Of Sympathy (2024 Remaster)
CD2: 2024 Stereo Mix + Additional Outtakes & Rarities
01 – Day Of The Eagle [2024 Stereo Mix] (2024 Remaster)
02 – Bridge Of Sighs [2024 Stereo Mix] (2024 Remaster)
03 – In This Place [2024 Stereo Mix] (2024 Remaster)
04 – The Fool And Me [2024 Stereo Mix] (2024 Remaster)
05 – Too Rolling Stoned [2024 Stereo Mix] (2024 Remaster)
06 – About To Begin [2024 Stereo Mix] (2024 Remaster)
07 – Lady Love [2024 Stereo Mix] (2024 Remaster)
08 – Little Bit Of Sympathy [2024 Stereo Mix] (2024 Remaster)
09 – Day Of The Eagle [Single Version] (2024 Remaster)
10 – Day Of The Eagle [Instrumental Rehearsal] (2024 Remaster)
11 – Day Of The Eagle [Outtake 1] (2024 Remaster)
12 – Day Of The Eagle [Outtake 2] (2024 Remaster)
13 – Bridge Of Sighs [Outtake 2] (2024 Remaster)
14 – Bridge Of Sighs [Outtake 3] (2024 Remaster)
15 – The Fool And Me [Instrumental Outtake] (2024 Remaster)
16 – Little Bit Of Sympathy [Alt. Take] (2024 Remaster)
17 – Lady Love [Early Version] (2024 Remaster)
18 – Lady Love [Extended Alt. Take] (2024 Remaster)
CD3: Live At The Record Plant, Sausalito, 29th May 1974
01 – Twice Removed From Yesterday [Live] (2024 Remaster)
02 – Bridge Of Sighs [Live] (2024 Remaster)
03 – Alethea [Live] (2024 Remaster)
04 – Lady Love [Live] (2024 Remaster)
05 – Daydream [Live] (2024 Remaster)
06 – Too Rolling Stoned [Live] (2024 Remaster)
07 – I Can’t Wait Much Longer [Live] (2024 Remaster)
08 – Day Of The Eagle [Live] (2024 Remaster)
09 – Little Bit Of Sympathy [Live] (2024 Remaster)
10 – Rock Me Baby [Live] (2024 Remaster)
CD4: [Stereo Instrumental]
01 – Day Of The Eagle [Stereo Instrumental] (2024 Remaster)
02 – Bridge Of Sighs [Stereo Instrumental] (2024 Remaster)
03 – In This Place [Stereo Instrumental] (2024 Remaster)
04 – The Fool And Me [Stereo Instrumental] (2024 Remaster)
05 – Too Rolling Stoned [Stereo Instrumental] (2024 Remaster)
06 – About To Begin [Stereo Instrumental] (2024 Remaster)
07 – Lady Love [Stereo Instrumental] (2024 Remaster)
08 – Little Bit Of Sympathy [Stereo Instrumental] (2024 Remaster)
Robin Trower – guitar
James Dewar – bass, vocals
Reg Isidore – drums
BUY
www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0CX5KTZGK
Disc 2, tracks 10 and 11 are identical
That’s the way the album was released.