Speed of Sound: The Best of Robin Trower

AMG Review of Speed of Sound: The Best of Robin Trower

Chris Nickson
All Music Guide

For fans of Robin Trower, this compilation is a mixed blessing. On the plus side, the remastering is pristine (even if there's nothing in the CD booklet to indicate it's happened). However, most would rather have the individual albums -- with original artwork -- sounding this clean. And, clocking in at just around an hour, there could have been more material. However, Bridge of Sighs, his best album, is well-represented here, including a fiery live version of the title cut, showing how Trower turned the strong Hendrix influence he absorbed into his own style, thanks in large part to the great rhythm section of the late Jimmy Dewar on bass and vocals, and drummer Reg Isadore (replaced by Bill Lordan) -- perhaps finding a zenith with "Too Rolling Stoned." This album does include one track from the B.L.T. album with Jack Bruce, in addition to a reading of the lues standard "Farther Up The Road" from In City Dreams. All in all, there's nothing wrong with this disc -- simply more of it would have made it even better.