Robin Trower (Photo from his website)
Robin Trower has canceled his 2024 tour of the U.S., citing an upcoming “major operation” due to ongoing health issues. In a June 3 post on his Facebook page, the 79-year-old guitarist, who just played four U.K. dates to support the expanded edition of his second solo album, 1974’s Bridge of Sighs, revealed that he been hospitalized recently. He added: “My doctor advised me that the only possible way for an effective solution is to undertake a major operation as soon as possible.
“I have also been advised that the recovery time to 100% full fitness could take a while,” Trower wrote. “This makes committing to a fixed touring period in the near future impossible. I have struggled with this decision but realize I cannot continue touring at this time.” The U.S. shows were scheduled to take place in September and October.
“I am very hopeful that this procedure will give me a new lease of life,” he wrote, “and I can return to doing what I love the most: playing live. I look forward to catching up with you all as soon as I am able.”
Watch Trower perform in the U.K. in May
The upgraded 50th anniversary edition of the guitarist’s acclaimed release includes a 2024 remaster, an unedited stereo mix, outtakes, rarities and live recordings. It arrived June 7 as a 3-CD/1-Blu-ray set (with a Dolby ATMOS mix) and as a 2-LP edition on 180g vinyl, via Chrysalis. It’s available in the U.S. here; it was released on May 17 in the U.K. here. As Trower, himself, remarked on June 7, “Incredibly, Bridge of Sighs never made the British chart but spent over five months on the U.S. chart, reaching #7.”
From the March 7 album announcement: Following his departure from 1960s baroque rockers Procol Harum, the gifted guitarist set sail on forging a solo career and in doing so assembled a new band bringing in James Dewar on vocal and bass duty, and Reg Isidore on drums. The new power trio set the tone on Trower’s 1973 solo debut solo, Twice Removed From Yesterday, but it was the follow up, Bridge of Sighs, that would catapult Trower into an international guitar hero.
Photo (c) Brain Cooke
Recorded in just over two weeks at Olympic and Air Studios in London under the auspices of Trower’s former Procol bandmate, producer Matthew Fisher, Bridge of Sighs also benefited greatly from the presence of famed Beatles engineer Geoff Emerick who brought with him a whole array of recording techniques that greatly inspired Trower. “He came up with a way of recording the guitar I don’t think had been done before,” Trower says. “It was a big room and he had one mic in close, one mic set in the middle distance, and one mic set fifteen feet away to get the sound of the room. That was a very big factor in how the song and the whole album sounds.”
Bridge of Sighs features some mesmerizing guitar work from Trower. The title track and gems such as “Day of the Eagle,” “Too Rolling Stoned,” “In This Place,” “Little Bit of Sympathy” and “Lady Love.” Toto’s Steve Lukather says, “In 1974, I got the album and it blew my mind. I was devouring everything guitar based as I was an up-and coming player, and the sound of Robin’s guitar hit my soul. The tone-touch and feel was so incredible.”
Critically applauded upon release, Bridge of Sighs became a radio staple in the U.S., where the album reached #7, and helped establish Trower, born March 9, 1945, as one of the big touring attractions of the mid-‘70s.
50 years later, the recordings have been newly mixed from the original tapes. The package includes a 24-page booklet featuring newly written liner notes by David Sinclair, newly conducted interviews with Trower and Fisher and testimonials by Bryan Ferry, Robert Fripp, Lukather, Clive Bunker, Andy Parker and album cover designer Paul Olsen, all alongside previously unseen photographs.
Robin Trower Bridge of Sighs 50th Anniversary Edition (Click here for the track listing)
Disc 1: Bridge of Sighs 2024 Remaster
Disc 2: Bridge of Sighs 2024 Stereo Mix + Outtakes & Rarities
Disc 3: Live at The Record Plant, Sausalito, May 29, 1974
Disc 4: Blu-Ray: 2024 Remaster | 2024 Stereo Mix | Atmos | 5.1 | Stereo album instrumentals | Outtakes & Rarities | Live at Record Plant, Sausalito, May 29, 1974
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3 Comments so far
Jump into a conversationI saw Reg, James and Robin live shortly after Bridge of Sighs was released, opening for Wishbone Ash (who performed all of Argus), and ZZ Top with a crowd of a few hundred in San Bernardino. Incredible show, particularly from Robin and mates, and the Ash.
I believe tickets were $5, LOL. We were at the foot of the stage until the Top came on and blasted us to the back of the room. They were LOUD!
Luv Robin Trower band ever since those early days
Saw the Bridge of Sighs tour in Seattle around 76, I believe. My ears are still ringing. I think I remember them saying it was 35,000 watts.