THE LINEUP
Robin Trower looks back to the days when guitar-led power trios shook the foundations with high-decibel progressive rock
Artist: Robin Trower
Album: Twice Removed From Yesterday 50th Anniversary (Chrysalis)
The fact that we’re enjoying so many 50th anniversary album re-releases now proves the point that the early 1970s was an absolute treasure hoard of brilliant music. One such gem is the first solo album from Robin Trower. Initially coming to prominence with Procol Harum, it wasn’t long before Robin flew the nest to put his own band together with his signature Uni-Vibe-drenched psychedelic guitar sound to the fore. We catch up with Robin to reminisce about the album that set the course for his solo career.
How did you come to put the band together for the album?
“When I left Procol Harum I actually teamed up with a singer called Frankie Miller and we put a band together. It was Clive Bunker, from Jethro Tull, on drums, and Frankie brought in a friend of his, James Dewar, on bass and background vocals. The band didn’t really work, we didn’t make any real headway and we never recorded. But I did discover what a great singer Jimmy was. Working with Frankie sort of fell by the wayside and I decided I wanted to have a three-piece and Jimmy was absolutely ideal for that on bass and vocals. So he and I got together and searched for a drummer. I think it was Jimmy, actually, that found Reg Isidore and we started rehearsing material for the first album.”
The power trio was a big thing back in those days, with bands like Cream, Taste and Mountain blazing a trail.
“Yeah. I think I liked the idea of it because it just gave me a bit more room, a bit more space, so it became more about the guitar than the singer, if you know what I mean. Even though Jimmy was a fabulous vocalist. But the writing became more about what the guitar was doing.”
What was it like to be a touring band in the early 70s?
“Well, we did a little bit of gigging around London, but when the album came out the record company, Chrysalis, put us on as support for two of their big acts. One was Jethro Tull and the other was Ten Years After, so we got incredible exposure – in the States, especially. And because it was such a big tour we were travelling very comfortably, flying and staying in nice hotels, which we wouldn’t have been if we’d have just been going around playing clubs and what have you.”
Can you remember what the writing sessions were like for Twice Removed From Yesterday?
“I think what would happen was I would bring in the guitar parts for the s
