|
A big supporter of the band in
its formative years, the late great broadcaster John Peel [1939-2004] talked to Robin about the ‘Live’ album.
The interview, broadcast on John’s Radio One show on the night of 19 February 1976,
included an exclusive airplay of the entire ‘Live’ album weeks before its official release.
|
|
Robin: Yeah they’re all off the previous three albums and as I say it wasn’t really planned to
do a live album.
It’s just that we did this show in Stockholm and Swedish Radio were recording it. We didn’t even think about it being recorded at the time and then we got a copy of the tape sent to us a
couple of weeks later.
We didn’t think anything of it but Bill the drummer he listened to it and he kept on pushing and pushing and saying we should try and remix it and do it as a live album because
it’s such a good performance.
He pushed for months and months to convince us to do it and then we finally did take it into the studio and listen to it, the actual 8-track of it. It was remix-able and it
certainly was good enough for a live album.
John: I always like live albums but reviewers tend not to like them, to prefer the things recorded in the studio. But I’ve always been a live album buff.
Robin: Personally from my point of view, I think its best thing we’ve put out on record because I always felt the best thing about our music was our live performance and it’s something we can’t seem to get to
in the studio.
John: Before we play side one, you start on your tour so you might as well tell us where you’re going.
Robin: On the 20 and 21 (February) we’re in Manchester. 22 and 23 we’re in
Newcastle and 28 in Glasgow at the Apollo. March 2 and 3 in Birmingham and 5 March, we’re at Wembley.
John: What do you do after that?
Robin: We go straight to America more or less. Have a few days
off and then that’s it.
John: Its hard work isn’t it?
Robin: No we haven’t done a lot lately because we’ve been working on mixing the live album and then after that we went straight in the
studio and started recording the new studio album, which is nearly finished now.
John: OK we’ll talk about the new studio album once we’ve heard side one of ‘Robin Trower Live’.
(Cue the music!)
John: Side One of ‘Robin Trower Live’ and the three titles ‘Too Rolling Stoned’, ‘Daydream’ and ‘Rock me Baby’ but you don’t really need me to tell you that. You were saying about the
studio album you done, what’s that like?
Robin: It’s turned out very very well. We’ve been working with Geoff Emerick who worked on ‘Bridge of Sighs’ with us. He and I are co-producing it.
We’ve gone for a much more live approach to recording it. Really it’s come about from the work we’ve done on the ‘Live’ album. We’ve seen that we came off a lot better in that way so we’ve tried to
record this new studio album, to try and make it sound as ‘live’ as possible
John: Are all the tracks on it, things composed within the group?
Robin: All but one.
John: What’s the one?
Robin: It’s a Sutherland Brothers song called ‘Sailing’
John: I shall be very interested to hear how you do that. Why did you decide to do that?
Robin: I think I heard you play it on the
radio one day and I thought it was a good number. I’ve always liked the Sutherland Brothers, a lot of their things.
John: The Pie was another good song.
Robin: Yeah, that was one of my favourites too.
John: OK we’ll listen to side two of the LP now which, in case if you’re a bit late joining us, was recorded on February 3 last year by the Swedish Broadcasting Corporation in Stockholm.
(Cue the music)
John: Side two of ‘Robin Trower Live’ and once again just in case you’re taking notes, the titles ‘Lady Love’, ‘I can’t wait much longer’, ‘Alethea’(I’ve known how to
pronounce that – very nasty too rash all over your body) and ‘Little bit of sympathy’.
Thanks very much Robin for coming in and letting us hear this new album, and letting us hear it first.
Robin: Pleasure!
John: You’d better get off to bed because you’ve got this tour to start on. I hope it’s a good tour.
Robin: So do I. Looking forward to it.
John: OK is there any record
that we can play you before you go?
Robin: Yeah, I’d like to hear a Little Feat track, one of my favourite bands.
John: Are they? Well you’ve chosen very well. OK thanks very much for coming along.
You’ll get your postal order from the receptionist.
Robin: OK then, see ya John. Bye bye.
(Door slams)
John: What a funny bloke!
|
