Oct 2007 BRIDGE OF SIGHS
Re-issue
plus eight bonus tracks
TRACK LIST
1. Day of the Eagle
2. Bridge of Sighs
3. In This Place
4. The Fool and Me
5. Too Rolling Stoned
6. About to Begin
7. Lady Love
8. Little Bit of Sympathy
Bonus Tracks: BBC “John Peel Sessions”
1. Bridge of Sighs (recorded 3/5/74)
2. In This Place (recorded 3/5/74)
3. Alethea (recorded 3/5/74)
Little Bit of Sympathy (recorded 3/5/74)
5. Fine Day (recorded 1/28/75)
6. Confessin’ Midnight (recorded 1/28/75)
7. Its Only Money (recorded 1/28/75)
8. Gonna Be More Suspicious (recorded 1/28/75)
A bit of trivia about the BBC tracks : These are "live' in the BBC studios .
The background to these recordings :
Musicians Union rules ,intended to keep musicians working, limited radio airplay
of 'recorded music' . This led to "Live " BBC recordings that were broadcast to get around
the limited per day air time play. These 'Live ' sessions could be played
twice per day without affecting the stations limiting air time play.
The BBC had a longstanding practise of recording musicians " In session" , a procedure which
falls half way between making a studio recording and recording a live show.
The sessions averaged 2-3 hours including set up etc and usually resulted in recording
of four or five songs. A backing track was usually rcorded in mono without vocals
or guitar solos. The backing track was then played back to the band thru headphones.
How I got involved ....
April 16, 2007 .... email from Derek Sutton ( Robin's manager in the US)
"" Hey Steve, EMI is putting together a new BoS with some special bonus tracks and a re-created cover ( trying to get as close to the original as possible) Of course they have no archival photographs from the period. None! They have asked us if we know of anyone who might just have a copy of the press pix from about that time. Robin immediately thought of you.
Could you check please? If you do, I'll put you in touch with (EMI) in London. ""
I had most of what they were looking for and with some contacts managed to send EMI a full catalogue of memorabilia from the BOS period. Also got on the phone to chat with Tim from EMI and suggested some of the Thames shots that Fin Costello had taken which had recently surfaced. Had also mentioned the shot of Robin, Reg and Jimmy in front of the car.
If you notice, all the promo material from that album (the posters etc.) appear to have been shot on the same day as the boys were all dressed the same. This included the car shot HERE which I had got from Robin a couple of years ago and he okayed use of it on my web site.
Here is how it was done ...
May 18, 2007
First contact from EMI
Hello Steve, I wonder if you can help me. I am working with Robin Trower and Derek Sutton on a re-issue of 'Bridge Of Sighs' which has the original album remastered and some BBC sessions picked by Robin as bonus tracks. I notice on your splendid site some period materials and photos and I wondered if it is possible to get some higher res scans of it to use in the booklet. I have attached the pieces I am interested in. In the case of the 'car' photo-do you know who took it? I have the Fin Costello shots of the band on the boat and am awaiting Robin's reaction to using them.
Response :
Derek had contacted me and mentioned I might hear from you. I had mentioned the car shot as it is a great shot. About a week after that the shots from Fin came to my attention.
Regarding your e-mail
1)the car photo : I actually got this from Robin a long time ago. It is one of the more unique photos of the band I do not know who took the pictures but it had to be from the promo folks at Chrysalis. If you look at the other images you mentioned (the poster and melodymaker ad)
and even the full-size poster that was released at that time... all the images are the same as the promo photo taken for the press release. From that shot they used the image on a lot of stuff. The car image was the first different one I had seen that had to have been shot the same day as they are wearing the same clothes and the background is similar to the promo pics. I will get you a file on that.
I think the Fin pictures are the best ones from that period that are fresh. I just posted them a week ago. Funny thing was once I got the ok from Fin and the people who own the rights to put them up I sent a link to Robin and Derek because I had never seen ones like that before (and believe me I have seen most of what has been done). I really hope Rob goes for those as they would look great in a book.
From EMI : May 14
....I am hoping to get things done in the next couple of weeks but I am waiting for the BBC masters so it may take longer. If you are willing to mail me stuff that would be great. I will scan within a day and courier it back to you.
... Hello Steve, here is a note from the BBC telling me that they cannot find the session below in stereo. Do you have a decent 'studio' copy ie not 'off air' of the 4 tracks listed. Could you mail me a CDR by first class air mail with, on reflection, the sticker you mentioned-it would be a great help.
FROM THE BBC
Subject: Robin Trower - 3/2/75 Peel session
This second session is missing from our archive.
Tracklist:
Fine Day
Confessing Midnight
It's Only Money
Gonna Be More Suspicious
We do have 3 of the songs in mono version (finding out which exactly) but are you interested in using those as a last resort? Can you lay your hands on the session from elsewhere even?
Let me know how you want to proceed. The other session master is ready to go.
Kind regards
Well it just so happened that I was in possession of the tracks from the studio that they were missing :o) and in stereo. Arrangements were made by EMI to have a courier pick them up. Someone from their logistics dept contacted me and made all the arrangements to get my stuff.
Another note from EMI ... May 30th
............... hopefully DHL will be in contact shortly to arrange the collection of your package.
The listing below are the BBC bonus tracks for the remaster. The BBC have sent me tracks 9-12 in fine quality and stereo. Tracks 13, 14 & -16 are good quality but mono and the BBC do not have track 15 'It's Only Money'.
I sent the discs and received this .... June 6th
........ many thanks for the package which arrived safely. Your CD of the Jan 1975 BBC material in stereo may be the one we need-quality is good.
Then another email on July 18th
.......... we are almost there-Your copies of the second BBC session in stereo were invaluable. I will send you pdfs shortly of the art- am putting your web site on the package-hope that ok.. Release set for early September ....Cheers
I received a package on Wed last week and all the stuff I had sent including the BBC discs and stickers etc. were there along with a very nice note from EMI and four promotional copies of the new release. I may raffle one off to raise money for the Cancer society here.
I haven't really listened to this album in a while but after a few plays I remembered why it inspired me so much.
Inside under the thanks section my name and web site is mentioned. I cannot tell you how much that meant to me.
is there more to come? ................. always!
