Timeline 4
New Partnerships - Jack Bruce and Beyond

The start of the 1980s saw Trower at a crossroads in his career. Eager to expand his horizons and having been caught in a bit of a rut, he teamed up with ex-Cream singer and bassist, Jack Bruce. Drummer Bill Lordan was added and they called the power trio B.L.T. In a way, it was almost inevitable that Trower and Bruce would join forces, with Bruce having previously played with heavyweights Eric Clapton and Leslie West. Trower rounded out the repertoire.

After a couple of albums with Jack Bruce, Trower took one more kick at the can with James Dewar (sans Lordan), releasing one album in 1983. Finally, in 1987, vocalist Davey Pattison replaced Dewar for good.

What followed, with Pattison on vocals, was some of the best work from Trower since his classic period. The music was much more lush, more produced and contemporary. Throughout the 80s, Trower proved to his fans that he was indeed an extremely durable artist.

B.L.T.

This first collaboration with Bruce, recorded in early 1981, stands the test of time very well. Into Money, the lead-off track is a gem. The rest of the album includes similar hard-core riff-rock. Obviously, the one thing that pervades the album is Jack Bruce's nasal twang. If you're a fan, it's great--if you're not . . .

Truce

Truce, released later in 1981, is more of the same, but with 'Bridge of Sighs' drummer Reg Isidore returning to replace Bill Lordan. The band's name was also changed to Robin Trower/Jack Bruce. This album is nothing special, but objectively speaking, anything Trower plays on contains at least a couple of killer tunes. On 'Truce', Gonna Shut You Down and Last Train to the Stars are standouts.

Back It Up



1983's 'Back It Up' marks the last time James Dewar appears on a non-anthology Robin Trower album. Dave Bronze, who soon replaces Dewar briefly on vocals, plays bass. Most Trower fans agree that 'Back It Up' is a somewhat misdirected attempt to tap the old well one more time. He seems to be in need of inspiration, and unfortunately, while this LP does has a few moments, it largely misses the mark.

Beyond The Mist



'Beyond the Mist' can be classified as a transition album. Most of it was recorded live in April, 1985, with only two new studio tracks appearing. Dave Bronze takes his hand at lead vocals, with laudable results. I suspect there are more than a few Trower fans out there who aren't even aware this album exists! Those who have heard it rate the live version of Bridge of Sighs as worth the cost alone.

Passion



If the 80s up to this point were tough times for Trower and his fans, 1987's 'Passion' makes up for it all--in spades! An extremely well produced piece of work, the songwriting is fresh and the playing is sharp. With Davey Pattison's incredible voice at the forefront, this album seems to rejuvenate Trower. Arguably one of the top five or six Trower tunes is the moody blues number, No Time. Also deserving mention are Caroline, Won't Even Think About You and the title track.

Take What You Need



1988's 'Take What You Need' easily matches 'Passion' in writing, sound and vitality. Chock full of top-notch tunes, this album is often undeservedly ignored. Love Won't Wait Forever, I Want You Home, Careless and Take What You Need From Me are all great numbers. Unfortunately, this is the last LP recorded with this unit, and as the 80s closed out, Trower's career was once again taking a major turn.