Customer Reviews

Rising Free: The Very Best of Trb

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This is about as complete and comprehensive a collection of Robinson's early work with TRB as you'll find; that is, unless you already own both of the band's classic albums from the late 70's. More than half of the songs on this CD are culled from their powerful 1978 debut "Power In The Darkness"; actually, most of the songs from that particular album are included here, with only four missing (technically five, if you include the lackluster live version of "I'm Alright Jack").

There are only two songs from "TRB Two" included here: the shoulda-been-hits "All Right All Night" and "Bully For You" (the latter song co-written with Robinson by Peter Gabriel). The only one I didn't care for was the silly, Lou Reed-penned live track "Waiting For My Man", with it's disoriented playing style and Robinson's manic, slap-happy vocals. He just seemed to go off into the Twilight Zone on this one and make a mockery of himself, but maybe that was the whole point of it? Who knows, and Tom sure ain't tellin'...

On the plus side, the rare track "Getting Tighter" is from the 1981 "reunion" album "Tom Robinson Band", released primarily in England, and has been long out of print (and much-bootlegged) since then. The CD ends with "Never Gonna Fall In Love (Again)", which was co-written with Elton John; this song finds Robinson jumping on the disco bandwagon, and while it's loaded with great hooks, it suffers greatly from the disco vibe. By this time in his career, Robinson had made a few musical "experiments" such as this (often with disastrous results), and lost most of his hardcore audience in the process.

For fans of early TRB, this is a must-have CD; for my money, it's worth the price of admission not only for the classic late 70's tracks, but for the inclusion of "Getting Tighter". Buy it and enjoy it!

I would have given this Cd a 5 star, but my alltime favourite cut from TRB 2 Sweet Black Angel is not included. But the first cut 2,4,6,8 Motorway sets the tone. At the end of the seeventees Tom Robinson Band were big in Europe, and this hitsingel was often played on radio in Norway. Power in the Darkness, the other big singelhit is also included. Sweet Black Angel, my fauvorite rocker from TRB 2, the hit that should have been, is not here, but you get All right All night from the same album. Anyway if you have you not listen to TRB, before this is a fine way to check the artist out. Every body raise your fist and yell. That`s the power in the darkness.

This album contains the Classic "2,4,6.8 Motorway" which was a hit back in the late 1970's and it is a shame that you don't often hear to hear it on FM Radio these days. If you like your Rock music LOUD and Uncompromising this album is for you and the tracks on it sound just as fresh today as they did over 25 years ago."Me and my radials trucking on through the night". I can relate to that being the Compulsive Driver that I am in search of an another open road and FREEDOM!!!

Being a fan, I was somewhat disappointed by the track listings on this disc. Yes, it's only Tom Robinson Band stuff from his first two EMI/Harvest albums. Nope, it doesn't shed any new light on Tom. Other labels have produced slightly better collections (look for Connoisseur's Back In The Old Country anthology), but NO ONE has yet produced a complete over-view of Tom's incredible songs. Fans should stay away. Those who are curious and don't want to hand over money for two A+/totally recommended titles can dig in...

This may not provide the comprehensive overview of TRB that the fanatical aficionado wants, but, with the exception of the atrocious "Glad to be Gay," this album rocks hard. A must-have CD for anyone who loves British rock from the late seventies.