Robin Trower - Another Days Blues

Trower Plays the Blues

First, let's be clear... This is blues album, you won't find any Secret Place, Little Bit O Sympathy, Bridge of Sighs, or Hannah here, just the Blues. This album was previously released with Robin singing all the lead vocals (and doing a rather good job overall)as "Someday Blues", but there is no question that Davey Pattison is a better singer. All the guitar and drum parts are exactly the same on both albums only the vocal has been changed. And it's still a pretty good blues album, with a couple good original blues, and some good covers. Robin still gets is some great licks and this material makes a nice addition to his live shows. But it is the Blues, and nothing but the blues, so help me God. April 14, 2008

Great songwriting and playing

Huge Trower fan and I was really disappointed when he put this all-blues album. I recently decided to give it another listen and it is really enjoyable. These aren't all blues "standard" type songs like "Crossroads". There are some songwriting twists which are unmistakenly genuine Robin Trower. The guitar volume is turned down a bit but he still uses some effects and the songwriting is great. His playing rocks on this CD which surprised me. Davey Pattison is also much better when he sings the blues I found. This exact CD was also put out on "Someday Blues" with only Robin singing which is a really strange move. February 23, 2008

Anyman's Blues

I love Robin but I have to tell you this was a most disappointing effort. Nothing on this CD reveals the magic that Robin can create. He just recycles old tired blues lines that you've heard a million times. He has so many better albums you can skip this one. Note that no album (even his live ones) recreate how good he is live. If he's ever in your town, go see him! January 6, 2007

Good album, well worth owning

When I first listened to this disc I was underwhelmed - I prefer Trower's own style (eg. Living Out Of Time) to anyone "playing the blues". But after a few listens I really came to enjoy Another Day's Blues. Trower's guitar sounds great, and Pattison is - as usual - awesome. Pattison has one of the best voices in rock, ever, period.
Most songs are really good: 'Inside Out' and 'Go My Way' are the notable standouts. I found a few songs to be disappointing: 'Crossroads' just doesn't measure up (Clapton set the standard) and 'Extermination Blues' is no where near as good as Trower's original version on the 'Someday Blues' CD.
3+ stars for the album, plus one more because anything from Trower is special. October 17, 2006

Glowing embers can also burn ...

I must say this is my return to listening to Robin Trower after a lapse of twenty years! that's right, I was around when his first lp twice removed came out and cannot quite recall what I felt about that album. I lost touch with Trower's music soon after when I began to drift toward hard blues. My impression of Another Days Blues is colored by the fact I am NOT judging this in light of Trower's entire recorded output prior to this CD. I really like this CD. I love the controlled fire of Trower's playing. The CD does groove, despite some fans' opinion otherwise. I also went out and got the CD Somedays Blues. Guess what? I love this cd AS WELL!! This is despite the fact the Another Days Blues is a virtual remake of Some Day Blues.

Both Cds sound great. My pref at the moment is for the earlier release. The sound is more open and the playing is fresh and hits bulls eye on every track. The recent release has a fuller sound and the playing is equally good. A lot has been written about the fact that Trower's playing might lack the punch or the firewroks of his rock based cds. I cannot compare, but let me assure you that these two cds have enornmous fire to the playing. What about Trower's voice?? Well think about other great blues guitar players who you would not label as great vocalists (Jimmy Vaughan for e.g). My test is whether the playing and singing speak to each other: They do here in spades for me.

Buy both CDs and put them on, turn up the music and let it envelope you. My guess is the killer tone and beautifully conceived playing with space between the notes will pull you in. The five star rating is reserved for CDs that I would not hesitate to play for my friends and those that have stood up to repeated listening and that I can hear something new each time i play them. These CDs pass that test for me. This is great after hours music... October 12, 2006

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