Robin Trower – Twice Removed From Yesterday (2xLP, 50th Anniversary Edition)

Robin Trower’s Twice Removed From Yesterday arrived in March 1973 as his first solo album after leaving Procol Harum, and it immediately set out the sound of the trio he built with bassist and singer James Dewar and drummer Reg Isidore. Rather than leaning on sheer flash, Trower shaped these songs around a more melodic, spacious take on blues-rock, with his Stratocaster tone doing as much of the talking as the riffs themselves.

The album also matters as the starting point for Trower’s mid-70s rise: it introduced the approach he would develop further on later records, while already showing real personality on tracks like the title song, “Daydream” and “I Can’t Wait Much Longer.” Dewar’s vocals are a big part of that appeal, giving the record warmth and weight alongside Trower’s focused guitar playing. It is a debut that feels exploratory without sounding tentative.

This 50th Anniversary Deluxe Edition gives the record some welcome context. Newly remastered for 2023, it expands the original album with three unreleased versions of album tracks, the B-side “Take A Fast Train,” and four BBC John Peel session recordings from March 26, 1973. For anyone curious about how Trower’s solo identity took shape, this is a strong way to hear the opening chapter.

Features

• 2xLP, Black Vinyl, 50th Anniversary Deluxe Edition
• Newly remastered for 2023
• Gatefold sleeve
• Includes three unreleased versions, the non-album B-side “Take A Fast Train,” and four BBC John Peel sessions from March 26, 1973

Reviews

• a must for any Robin Trower fan. - AllMusic.com