#somebody calling

Song Review: Robin Trower - “Somebody Calling” (Live, 2024)

Working in a trio format has remained exciting across the decades because “everybody is trying to make up for the missing instrument.”

So says guitarist Robin Trower, in a statement accompanying the just-released video of him, singer/bassist Richard Watts and drummer Chris Taggart performing “Somebody Calling” in 2024 in the U.K.

“They have to watch me a bit, because obviously I’m leading and they have to follow - but they do a brilliant job,” Trower said.

Even as bandmates have come and gone over the years, Trower has remained remarkably consistent, cranking out guitar-based, blues-rock that always leaves room for Trower to strut his six-string stuff.

And he does that here, adding nearly three minutes to the 1977 original with slow-burning solos that singe rather than scorch as Watts and Taggart lay it down thick.

Grade card: Robin Trower - “Somebody Calling” (Live, 2024) - A

12:56 AM EST February 3, 2021:

Robin Trower - "Somebody Calling" From the album In City Dreams (1977)

Last song scrobbled from iTunes at Last.fm

2:06 AM EDT April 16, 2025:

Robin Trower - "Somebody Calling" From the album In City Dreams (June 19, 1977)

Last song scrobbled from iTunes at Last.fm

This album is a rather dramatic change for Trower. Not only does the cover look like they'd've used for a 12" disco single, there is definitely a sleazy patina of echoplex and smooth jazz lacquered over everything. Just learned today that they'd actually brought in a bassplayer more familiar with the funk; James Dewar, whom anyone familiar with Trower knows was quite the serviceable bassist, is only singing on this one, and the bottom is provided by one Rustee Allen, late of Sly and the Family Stone.

The Robin Trower Band, no longer Power, and no longer Trio.

In a way, the circumstances remind me of the way Jeff Beck went from BBA to Blow by Blow. Trower, too, is softening up, leaving the blues rock behind but taking all his technique with him. And certainly, a player of Trower's talent and stature should do whatever the hell he wants to try. But where the Beck comparison breaks down is in that Blow by Blow is in no way slight, and has plenty of tuneage. Maybe if Trower had covered, oh I dunno, something from Herbie Hancock's Headhunters, In City Dreams would have had a little more gravitas, and a little more songsmithery, both of which it is decidely lacking. It's not a terrible album; if you're fully aware of the album's origin point in time comg in, it's certainly a decent listen, and Trower is always always always going to be a guitarist of tremendous feel and dexterity. The title track I think hangs with some of his best. But maybe the second best tune might be "Sweet Wine of Love," and that one is only as good as it is because of the unabashed cheese factor.

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9:34 AM EDT September 13, 2024:

Robin Trower - "Somebody Calling" From the album In City Dreams (June 19, 1977)

Last song scrobbled from iTunes at Last.fm

This album is a rather dramatic change for Trower. Not only does the cover look like they'd've used for a 12" disco single, there is definitely a sleazy patina of echoplex and smooth jazz lacquered over everything. Just learned today that they'd actually brought in a bassplayer more familiar with the funk; James Dewar, whom anyone familiar with Trower knows was quite the serviceable bassist, is only singing on this one, and the bottom is provided by one Rustee Allen, late of Sly and the Family Stone.

The Robin Trower Band, no longer Power, and no longer Trio.

In a way, the circumstances remind me of the way Jeff Beck went from BBA to Blow by Blow. Trower, too, is softening up, leaving the blues rock behind but taking all his technique with him. And certainly, a player of Trower's talent and stature should do whatever the hell he wants to try. But where the Beck comparison breaks down is in that Blow by Blow is in no way slight, and has plenty of tuneage. Maybe if Trower had covered, oh I dunno, something from Herbie Hancock's Headhunters, In City Dreams would have had a little more gravitas, and a little more songsmithery, both of which it is decidely lacking. It's not a terrible album; if you're fully aware of the album's origin point in time comg in, it's certainly a decent listen, and Trower is always always always going to be a guitarist of tremendous feel and dexterity. The title track I think hangs with some of his best. But maybe the second best tune might be "Sweet Wine of Love," and that one is only as good as it is because of the unabashed cheese factor.

--

10:12 PM EDT October 19, 2023:

Robin Trower - "Somebody Calling" From the album In City Dreams (1977)

Last song scrobbled from iTunes at Last.fm

6:07 AM EDT April 28, 2022:

Robin Trower - “Somebody Calling” From the album In City Dreams (1977)

Last song scrobbled from iTunes at Last.fm

So: after 1983’s Back It Up, James Dewar retires as the voice of the Robin Trower Band. But Robin of course wants to keep playing, so he hires a guy named Dave Bronze to sing for him and to play bass. And I’m sure Dave Bronze is a nice enough guy, but to say that he doesn’t have the baritone presence of either Dewar or Jack Bruce would be a little of an understatement.

It is against this background that I tell you how my buddy and I went to see Trower in the late ‘80’s, as the guitarist was touring off either Passion or Take What You Need.

My buddy is thinking how great it would be to have an autograph of Mr. Trower, but the other salient fact is that my buddy was not a vinyl guy; he was a cassette tape guy. I told you this was the '80’s, right?

So he does what’s required and makes a special trip to the record store to try and buy some Trower on vinyl, so he can take it to the show and have the guitarist sign it.

But then as it turns out, said record store doesn’t have any Trower on vinyl–all it has on vinyl is The Best of Procol Harum. Certainly not ideal, but hey, he’d made the trip and he wanted to have something for Trower to sign, and Trower DID play on many of the cuts, so, no doubt thinking about our imperfect universe, my friend buys The Best of Procol Harum.

So we get out to the show, and Dave Bronze ain’t James Dewar, but Robin remains Robin, and it’s pretty fucking great, even if the songs from Passion are perhaps a little too obviously poppy. And my buddy’s clutching his Procol Harum record throughout.

And then afterward, he sees a small throng forming stage right, and he’s like, that’s where I’m going, and I’m like, I’ll be outside.