My thoughts and reviews on
classic rock and today's new music

Robin Trower

I remember when I first heard Robin Trower. I had just started playing guitar, and, thanks to Beaker Street radio program, was hearing new music almost everynight. I kept a cassette recorder handy, and when I heard something I liked, I put the mircophone up to the speaker to record it.

One of those songs was "Bridge of Sighs." The ethreal guitar at the start of the song was something new to me. I was capitavated by these sounds. I had never heard of Robin Trower. I did not even know what a Stratocaster was. So, I set out to get his albums. I bought the Bridge of Sighs lp, which was his biggest selling one at the time. That led to his Live lp, which showed that he was a master of the Stratocaster, and had a tone that was unlike anyone else. I wore that lp out and still listen to it, pops and scratches and all. It holds up today. This lp was probably Robin at his peak 1970's popularity. Along with the great voice of the late James DeWar and the drumming of Bill Lordan and Reg Isidore, Robin released Twice Removed From Yesterday, Bridge of Sighs, For Earth Below, Robin Trower Live, Long Misty Days, In City Dreams, and Caravan to Midnight during the 1970's. He added bassit Rusty Allen in the late 70's, moving Janes DeWar to vocals only.

Robin plays a Fender Stratocaster exculsively, mostly through Marshall amps, along with a Univibe, wah-wah pedal and a distortion pdeal. I personally do not think he was trying to be a new Jimi Hendrix. He forged his own sound and style. I am still a fan of Robin, and recently got his live DVD filmed in Germany, where he uses his Fender Robin Trower signature Stratocaster.

I like to break out the old albums from time to time. Hearing the opening bars to "Bridge of Sighs" takes me back to a time when I was just starting up on guitar, and absorbing as much music as I could. It was all new to me and is still sound fresh. I hope the young guitar players of today pick up on Robin Trower.

Here are a few lings to Robin. His Wikipedia page, Trower Power page

Lauren Ellis

Lauren Ellis is a multi-instrumentalist, singer and songwriter, who is getting known for her guitar work, with an emphasis on slide.

Now located in Los Angeles, she has worked as a guitarist with Rita Coolidge and Nell Carter, and has toured all over the world. She released the critically acclaimed Push the River and after relocating to Nashville, Tennessee, released her second record, Feels Like Family, featuring stellar players like Tony Joe White, Viktor Krauss, Dean Parks and Kenny Malone. Feels Like Familiy was met with great reviews by the music critics.

From her website: On her first self-produced CD Push The River, Lauren showcases her skills on acoustic and electric guitars, Dobro, lap steel, and even electric sitar, but perhaps most impressive are the songs... heartfelt, memorable, and hook-laden, with strong lyrics and a vocal style that is honest, hopeful, and defiantly real. She is accompanied on the album by friends Roy Bittan on keyboards (Bruce Springsteen's "E" Street Band, and producer for Lucinda Williams), session guitar wizard Dean Parks (Lyle Lovett, Steely Dan, co-writer of Push the River's "Real Love"), Neil Stubenhaus on bass (Quincy Jones, Eric Clapton), and Herman Matthews on drums (Tower of Power, Meredith Brooks).

Lauren has a few of her songs on her website. I highly recommend giving them a listen. As a fan of slide gutiar, I find her to be an excellent slide player and a great songwriter.

Animal Logic and Deborah Holland

In 1990, we went to see Animal Logic at the Fine Line Cafe in Minneapolis. We got there early, sat near the front, and ordered up lots of food to keep us busy for the two hours we would have to wait.

The wait was worth it, as we were able to see Stewart Copeland,Deborah Holland and Stanley Clarke close up. Rusty Anderson was the guitarist. Rusty had played on the album, and went on to fame as the guitarist for Paul McCartney many years later.

The band put on one of the best concerts I have ever seen. Animal Logic were not a guitar-based band. Clarke handled most of the solos on record, but Rusty cut loose and gave the songs a sonic punch that made it hard for me to listen to the CD. I wanted to hear him again!

Deborah Holland is a magnificent singer and songwriter. I can see why she was chosen. I had read that they had auditioned many singers, and were about to give up, when her demo tape made its way to them. She wrote almost all the material, which was quite an accomplishment when surrounded by such talent. She should have been a huge star, in my opinion.

Stewart Copeland is one of the best drummers in rock, and made my wife say that she never realized how much a drummer can add to the band. To see him up so close was a treat.

This concert was the last of the tour and may have been one of the last in America. Animal Logic released one more CD, Animal Logic II, then broke up. That CD had alot of great songs on it, including the minor hit, I Won't Be Sleeping Anymore. Stanley Clarke carries the song, Stone In My Shoe, which is one of my favorites. There is not much prominent guitar on this CD, but it does not matter.

Standout tunes from the first release, Animal Logic, are Firing Up My Sunset Gun, Elijah, and the hit, Spy in the House of Love.

The band has a MySpace page, which has most of the videos from YouTube. And they have a website from IRS Records. The Wikipedia page has links to interview with the band.

Deborah Holland, to my surprise, is in a group called The Refugees. The last time I read about her she was a music professor at California State University, Los Angeles.

The Refugees also have Wendy Waldman and Cindy Bullens as members.

I am glad to see her still writing and recording music. Her solo material is quite different than Animal Logic, but still nice to listen to her fantastic voice. Her newest release, Bad Girl Once..., shows off her sense of humor and a few of the songs, such as "My First Born" are about the thrills of being a parent.