Bridge of Sighs (Robin Trower album)

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Bridge of Sighs
Trower Bridge of Sighs.jpg
Studio album by
Robin Trower
Released20 April 1974
Recorded1973–1974
Studio
Genre Blues rock, [1] hard rock
Length37:22
Label Chrysalis/Capitol
Producer Matthew Fisher
Robin Trower chronology
Twice Removed from Yesterday
(1973)		Bridge of Sighs
(1974)		 For Earth Below
(1975)
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar half.svg [2]

Bridge of Sighs is the second solo album by guitarist and songwriter Robin Trower. Released in 1974, it was his second album after leaving Procol Harum, and was a commercial breakthrough for Trower. Songs such as "Bridge of Sighs", "Too Rolling Stoned", "Day of the Eagle" and "Little Bit of Sympathy" became live concert staples.

Contents

History

The album was produced by organist Matthew Fisher, formerly Trower's bandmate in Procol Harum. Beatles engineer Geoff Emerick was this album's sound engineer.

In an interview with Guitar World , [3] Trower explained how the album got its title. Robin said that he had the first line of the song for years and one day saw some sport pages which listed a racehorse called Bridge of Sighs, which he thought would be a great title. The horse likely got its name from the famous Bridge of Sighs in Venice, Italy, built in the 1600s.

Bridge of Sighs was the second Trower release to feature cover art by "Funky" Paul Olsen, the first being 1973's Twice Removed from Yesterday . Early printings of the original album cover had the front image upside-down and were more greenish in colour. The album reached Number 7 in the United States during a chart stay of 31 weeks. It was certified Gold on 10 September 1974.

The album was remastered and remixed in 1999 with five bonus tracks recorded on 29 May 1974 for KMET radio at The Record Plant in Los Angeles. It was remastered once again and released in 2007 with eight bonus tracks from BBC Radio 1's "John Peel Sessions" made on 28 January and 5 March shows.[ citation needed ]

A four-CD expanded version was released in 2024. It includes 2024 remaster of album, outtakes and full performance of concert from 1999 reissue. [4]

Covers versions

The title track was covered by guitarist George Lynch formerly of Dokken for his 2005 album, Furious George [5] It was also covered by Opeth for the special edition of their 2008 album, Watershed . [6] Steve Lukather covered it for his 2021 album, I Found the Sun Again , [7] and Ann Wilson of Heart covered it for her 2022 solo album, Fierce Bliss [8] A segment of it also appears as a hidden track on Metallica's 1998 cover album Garage Inc . It was covered by the Mountain Goats and released in a 2 part EP Aquarium Drunkard's Lagniappe Session. [9]

"Day of the Eagle" was covered by Billy Idol guitarist Steve Stevens on his third solo album Memory Crash (2008). Tesla also covered the song on their 2007 Real to Reel album as did Armored Saint on their Nod to the Old School record.

"Too Rolling Stoned" was covered by Drivin N Cryin with Warren Haynes for the 1995 Hempilation benefit compilation album. Guitarist Michael Schenker and former Gamma and Robin Trower singer Davey Pattison covered it in 2005 for their second "Schenker Pattison Summit" album, "The Endless Jam Continues". [10] In 2017, UFO included the song on their covers album, The Salentino Cuts.

Track listing

All tracks are written by Robin Trower; except where indicated.

Side one
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Day of the Eagle" 4:59
2."Bridge of Sighs" 5:05
3."In This Place" 4:28
4."The Fool and Me"James Dewar, Robin Trower3:57
Total length:17:29
Side two
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
5."Too Rolling Stoned" 7:29
6."About to Begin" 3:43
7."Lady Love"James Dewar, Robin Trower3:21
8."Little Bit of Sympathy" 4:20
Total length:18:53
1996 Mobile Fidelity UDCD 684
No.TitleLength
9."Day Of The Eagle" (Single Version)2:56
1999 reissue: bonus tracks
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
9."Day Of The Eagle" (Live) 3:49
10."Bridge Of Sighs" (Live) 5:16
11."Too Rolling Stoned" (Live) 6:27
12."Lady Love" (Live)James Dewar, Robin Trower3:13
13."Little Bit Of Sympathy" (Live) 4:48
2007 reissue: bonus tracks
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
9."Bridge of Sighs" (John Peel BBC Session) 4:54
10."In This Place" (John Peel BBC Session) 4:04
11."Alethea" (John Peel BBC Session) 3:55
12."Little Bit Of Sympathy" (John Peel BBC Session) 3:52
13."Fine Day" (John Peel BBC Session)James Dewar, Robin Trower3:22
14."Confessin' Midnight" (John Peel BBC Session) 4:47
15."It's Only Money" (John Peel BBC Session) 5:01
16."Gonna Be More Suspicious" (John Peel BBC Session)James Dewar, Robin Trower2:58

50th Anniversary Edition

2024 reissue - disc one: Bridge of Sighs 2024 remaster
No.TitleLength
2024 reissue - disc two: 2024 Stereo Mix with longer/unedited versions + Outtakes & Rarities
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."USA Radio Spot 1" 0:14
10."USA Radio Spot 2" 1:05
11."Day Of The Eagle (Instrumental Rehearsal)" 3:50
12."Bridge Of Sighs (Outtake)" 5:47
13."The Fool And Me (Instrumental Outtake)"James Dewar, Robin Trower5:21
14."Lady Love (Extended Outtake)" 4:02
15."Little Bit Of Sympathy (Alternate Take)" 2:00
16."Lady Love (Early Version)"James Dewar, Robin Trower4:04
17."Day Of The Eagle (Single Version)" 2:58
18."USA Radio Spot 3" 1:02
2024 reissue - disc three: Live At The Record Plant, Sausalito, CA, USA (29th May 1974)
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Twice Removed From Yesterday"James Dewar, Robin Trower3:57
2."Bridge Of Sighs" 5:25
3."Alethea" 4:24
4."Lady Love"James Dewar, Robin Trower3:15
5."Daydream"James Dewar, Robin Trower6:45
6."Too Rolling Stoned" 6:18
7."I Can't Wait Much Longer"Frankie Miller, Robin Trower6:19
8."Day Of The Eagle" 4:09
9."Little Bit Of Sympathy" 5:04
10."Rock Me Baby" Riley B. King, Joe Josea 5:01

Personnel

Additional personnel

Charts

Chart (1974)Peak
position
Australia (Kent Music Report) [11] 41
United States (Billboard 200)7

References

  1. ↑ "The Top 30 British Blues Rock Albums Of All Time". Classic Rock . Future plc. 23 March 2007. Retrieved 1 September 2018.
  2. ↑ Horowitz, Hal. Robin Trower - Bridge of Sighs (1974) album review, credits & releases at AllMusic. Retrieved 28 August 2011.
  3. ↑ "Dear Guitar Hero: Robin Trower Discusses 'Bridge of Sighs,' His Vibrato, Guitars, Effects and More | Guitar World". Archived from the original on 6 February 2015. Retrieved 11 February 2015.
  4. ↑ Amazon
  5. ↑ "Furious George". discogs.com. Retrieved 11 July 2025.
  6. ↑ Robin, Laurent (9 July 2024). "Albums". Opeth - Official Website. Retrieved 1 July 2025.
  7. ↑ "I Found the Sun Again". Steve Lukather Official Website. Retrieved 1 July 2025.
  8. ↑ "Fierce Bliss". discogs.com. Retrieved 11 July 2025.
  9. ↑ "Aquarium Drunkard's Lagniappe Session, by the Mountain Goats". the Mountain Goats. Retrieved 1 July 2025.
  10. ↑ "The Endless Jam Continues". discogs.com. Retrieved 11 July 2025.
  11. ↑ Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (illustrated ed.). St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. p. 313. ISBN   0-646-11917-6.
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