Bridge of Sighs

Born in the 80's, I was not around to experience some of the best guitarists, and some of the best rock bands/artists. But, it soes not mean that I cannot appreciate and groove out to them. Robin Trower's 2nd album, 1974's Bridge of Sighs (tracks 1-8)is in your face boogie/blues rock with multi-layer guitar sounds. James Dewar's blues style vocals are a perfect match for the band's diverse sound. I keep hearing that Trower's guitar sounds are heavily derived from Jimi Hendrix. I do hear some Hendrix acid rock influence in several spots, but it is just an influence. I feel that Trower has his own sound that is textual and deep that does take cues from Hendrix's multi-layer sound. Let me say that every (and I emphasize EVERY) single song on this album rocks hard and is awesome. All songs are band originals also. The title track "Bridge Of Sighs" is now one of my favorite rock songs. It starts with a mellow atmospheric sound for 3 seconds, then a whirlwind guitar riff kicks in, and then the signature slower-rolling, yet heavy, blues kick in, and Dewar's vocals take you to the "blues bar" in your mind where people go to process the hard times in life. Some songs are in the slower blues vein like the aforementioned, and the moody, twangy, slightly jazzy and slightly psychedelic "In This Place." There are some heavy, mid-up tempo boogie jams like the funky "Too Rolling Stoned." Dare I say that the first half of the song almost has a slight disco vibe in the tempo but with heavy and twangy giutar riffs(trust me, the funky soulful groove of the song works very well here). Then in the middle of the song, the traditional 12 bar blues riffs kick in for the remainder of the song. "Lady Love" has an upbeat boogie sound and is a great cruisin' song about longing for the missing element of a woman's love. The opener, "Day Of The Eagle," another Trower classic, starts off heavy with some of Trower's signature heavy riffs. The song mellows out towards the end. I love how many of the songs change tempo and style making the listening dynamic. After song 8, there are the bonus jams from around the same time. Another "Bridge of Sighs" version, without the windy 3 second atmosphere at the start, is present. There is also "Alethea," which appears from the band's For Earth Below 1975 album, a uptempo song showing some Hendrix influence but with more of a funk element, an excellent song that should be on Guitar Hero. The other bonus songs are cool as well. I have just started to listen to Robin Trower, Bridge Of Sighs being a starting place for me, and I am hooked. Trower is quickly becoming one of my favorite guitarists for his dynamic skills and his band's incredible chemistry, which is completely evident here on Bridge Of Sighs. I am ordering a few of the Robin Trower band's other albums and am eagerly awaiting them including For Earth Below.

Always loved this lp and many others buy this group. The quality of the vinyl isn’t that great from this European company.

Robin Trower took guitar tone to a new level in the 70's. From an age in which guitar reigned supreme, Trower stands out from the hordes of guitar heros, thanks to his unparallelled ability to make his Fender Strat sing, wail and occasionally scream. Although Trower would later delve deeper into the world of effects processors (listen to, say, Caravan to Midnight), at this stage in his career, his sound was relatively spare - distortion, a bit of wah-wah, and the Uni-Vibe (a swirly sounding effect made famous by Hendrix) are pretty much all he used here. But as anyone who has ever seen Trower live knows, the secret behind this remarkable sound lies within Trower's hands. With his complete control over bends, vibrato, and the whammy bar, Trower injects the notes with a passion and clarity that, for this listener, has no comparison. Robin Trower remains my all-time favorite-SOUNDING guitar player. With guitar tone this good, pretty much any songs would be worth hearing - but what makes this album so special is that Trower delivers his best collection of killer riffs to go along with the glorious sound. "Day of the Eagle", "Too Rolling Stoned", the title track, "The Fool and Me", "A Little Bit of Sympathy", "Lady Love" ... these are all classic rockers, covering a range of tempos and grooves. Lyrically, the fare is never less than solid, and "Day of the Eagle" resonates as well today as it ever did, an anthem for the peace-seeker forced to live in a tumultous world. We are still "living in the day of the eagle, not the dove." When I was getting into Trower, I picked up the excellent "two-fer" reissues. But this disc is worth getting as well, because it includes a live recording of a five-song promotional gig the band played to support B.O.S.'s release. As great as Trower sounds in the studio, I've always enjoyed his live work even more, and these five live cuts do not disappoint. They are worth the price of admission. If you've never heard Robin Trower, you've never heard how good a guitar can sound.

Bridge of Sighs is a brilliant album, and the vinyl version is excellent. This album was ubiquitous among my crowd when it came out, and I dug it although I never bought it. I'm very late to the Robin Trower party, but I'm so happy to be here. Besides Bridge of Sighs, I've gotten a lot of his other albums, and while his current bassist/vocalist is good, nobody can hold a candle to the brilliant singing of James Dewar. This album is a true showcase for Trower's playing and songwriting skills along with Dewar's remarkable singing. Had the pleasure of seeing Trower play (he's 80) a few months ago. The man is so fluid and skilled it's ridiculous. Yes to Bridge of Sighs.

After owning this superior album from the first month is was released in America, I played it until the grooves wore out. I never did tire of the title cut 'Bridge Of Sighs' and played drums to it religiously in my basement all year. I was actually already into progressive rock but this album always stayed in my collection as one of the the best of the best blues rock(and even rock)releases of all time. I didn't even love the blues, as all the guitarists I ever knew back in 70's thru 90's were always blues grown. I wanted to meet some Robert Fripp, Allan Holdsworth, Steve Howe, Steve Hackett, and Anthony Phillips inspired guitarists. I digress. Okay, so I bought the CD of Robin Trower 'Bridge of Sighs' shortly after it came out. It was still magical and I relived the passion and outright groove to the heart, that this disc gave me from the initial vinyl purchase back in High School. NOW this remastered and expanded version. WOW!!!!!! I got a entirely new high on it. As a good music buddy of mine used to exclaim loudly when he heard a record that blew his mind.. THAT's HELL!!!!!! So here I am with this newly remastered and superbly expanded CD with 8 more tracks on it than the original. WOW!!(again). I have listened to this with Musical Fidelity X-Can V3 headphone amp thru Beyer DT 990 Pro (250 ohm) headphones, and then thru my big system of Moon Equinox SE CD player, Magnum Dynalab 308 Integrated Amp, Triangle Celius 6 way speakers with rear port, all with Cardas interconnects and speaker cable.. etc. And WHEW!!! This new edition of the Robin Trower 'Bridge of Sighs' CD is just simply mind blowing, has never sounded better...EVER!! I am happy to be alive!! If I had just met a guitarist that sounded anything close to Robin I would have been in heaven playing drums with him. Now I just dream. But dream along with this fantastic CD!! THIS IS THE ONE!!!! Take a trip with this and see what I mean. You'll never hear music like this again. A++++++++ recommendation for life!

This is a must have album for fans of rock n' roll. The vinyl, once cleaned, is flawless. Plays perfectly. I'm overall pleased with this purchase. The sleeve isn't what I would consider very good. The vinyl is very good quality once I cleaned it thoroughly. This was worth the money I paid for it.

Robin Trower's second album, Bridge of Sighs, is an absolute scorcher of an album that was released at a time when hard rock had fallen out of favor in place of mellow pop music. Robin Trower is a wicked guitarist and his name is on the marquee but his rhythm section of bassist/vocalist James Dewar and drummer Reg Isidore are just as responsible for how strong this is. "Day of the Eagle" starts the album off like a runaway train, performed at a pace that was seldom heard at the time and then falls into a slow sick groove of which Trower shows off his six-string magic. That vibe continues in the enduring slow blues of the title track and the hazy "In This Place", tracks where Trower makes every note count, Dewar's vocals are emotional and haunting and Isidore plays with just the right touch. "The Fool and Me" is a strong rocker where Trower plays with a ton of fury while "Too Rolling Stoned" is arguably the band's best known tune and for good reason and is similar to "Day of the Eagle" in scope but a lot funkier. "About to Begin" is very mellow and the playing is tasteful throughout while "Lady Love" is an excellent melodic rocker where Dewar's vocals shine. The frenetic "A Little Bit of Sympathy" brings the original album to a close. The remastered version is a real treat with excellent sound quality and 8 bonus tracks that are rawer but just as impressive, several of which would comprise his next album, For Earth Below. All told, Bridge of Sighs is not only a great guitar album but a great album period. All fans of classic rock should own this.

Trower's departure from Procol Harum allowed him to pursue his Hendrix fixation and hone his guitar attack with precision and skill. He finally hit paydirt in 1974 with Bridge of Sighs, a monumental record from a monumental talent. This re-release sound as fresh and vital as if Trower recorded it yesterday. Using a stripped-down three piece ensemble, Trower manages to pack more intense, driving music between the grooves than seems possible -- his mastery of his instrument, his effortless leads, slides, effects, and unique sounds -- enables him to create an virtuosic otherworldly space inside his mind that is fully realized, moody, energetic, beautiful, and thrilling. For me the title track remains one of Trower's finest pieces of recorded music -- intense, brooding, weary, relentless, and ultimately redemptive. Is there anyone who can hear the opening bars of that song, with its amazing and creative wash of sounds, the dragging bass line, the fat guitar, and not feel better? The bonus tracks find Trower's three-piece rocking out in LA in 1974 -- not essential, but coming after the studio versions, an interesting look at how these songs sound live. Hint: pretty darn good.

Si el álbum original del 74 es un clásico atemporal, quizás el mejor de este tío, esta edición tiene un sonido brutal, bastante mejor que mi vinilo original. Pero es que solo por los añadidos en directo en el programa de John Peel en la BBC ya merecería la pena. ¡¡Hacia tiempo que no escuchaba nada así!!!..... Más que recomendable!!!

Robin Trowers 2nd studio Album ‘Bridge of Sighs’ is an absolute Classic Rock gem! A lot has been said about Trowers Hendrix-influenced style but I believe he has forged his own unique musical identity and its highlighted on this Album: tight, funky classic Blues-Rock. The true MVP performance here is the much underrated Vocalist/Bassist James Dewar, his Blues/Soul vocal style should have him firmly placed in the same league as Paul Rodgers or another unrated great Frankie Miller. Just listen to track three ‘In this Place’ to hear a Master class in vocal delivery. There are no filler tracks here from the classic opener ‘Day of the Eagle’ (Covered recently by Steve Stevens on his third Solo Album ‘Memory Crash’) the title track ‘Bridge of Sighs’ ( which segues nicely in to the aforementioned ‘In this Place’) and Live staples ‘Too Rolling Stoned’, ‘Lady Luck’ and ‘Little Bit of Sympathy” It’s nice to own this on high quality 180 gram European Vinyl. A must-own if Classic Rock is your thing!

Goede service geweldige cd

Great service for fast delivery. Truely excellent blues/rock from Robin Trower. Extra tracks which were never on original release. Great price. Trower was always under-rated, but a true rock superstar.

Mycket bra ljud på skivan! Det som stör mig är bonusspåren som inte håller samma höga ljudkvalitet. Jag förstår mycket väl att fans av Robins musik vill ha så mycket som möjligt! Jag hade nöjt mig med skivans åtta originalspår.