Too Rolling Stoned (Live 1975)

Zoo Freaks, your hippie DJs at THE ZOO are cranking up the vibes with Too Rolling Stoned (Live 1975) from Robin Trower's blistering album Live!. This track, recorded at the Stockholm Concert Hall in Sweden on February 3, 1975, captures Trower and his band at their rawest and most uninhibited. In a 2006 interview with Guitar Player, Trower revealed the band thought they were just playing for a radio broadcast, not knowing the show was being taped for a live album. This lack of pressure let them cut loose, delivering what Trower called one of their best performances ever. The result? A searing, bluesy rendition of Too Rolling Stoned that’s become a fan favorite for its hypnotic guitar riffs and James Dewar’s soulful vocals.

Digging into the song’s roots, Trower shared in a 2024 interview with The Strange Brew that the chord sequence in the chorus was inspired by a James Brown track, Down and Out in New York City, from the 1973 film Black Caesar. Trower admitted to “pinching” the progression, blending it with his own style to create that infectious, rolling groove. On social media, Trower posted on X in May 2024, sharing a remastered clip of the song’s “vamp” section from the Bridge of Sighs Dolby Atmos version, calling it one of his favorite riffs. Fans on Reddit have also chimed in, with one user noting the song’s galloping bass intro by Dewar sets the stage for Trower’s Stratocaster to soar, evoking comparisons to Jimi Hendrix’s Little Wing, but with a distinctly Trower flavor.

Now, let’s rewind to how Robin Trower got his start. Born on March 9, 1945, in Catford, London, and raised in Southend-on-Sea, Essex, Trower was bitten by the music bug early. Inspired by Elvis Presley’s guitarist Scotty Moore, he picked up the guitar as a teen. By 1962, he formed The Paramounts, a rhythm-and-blues outfit that included future Procol Harum member Gary Brooker. The band gigged locally, covering James Brown and Bobby Bland, but disbanded in 1966. Trower then formed a short-lived trio called The Jam (not the later Paul Weller band) before joining Procol Harum in 1967, right after their hit A Whiter Shade of Pale. He stayed until 1971, contributing to their first five albums, but felt constrained by the band’s keyboard-heavy sound. Craving more freedom, Trower left to form his own power trio with bassist/vocalist James Dewar and drummer Reg Isidore, launching his solo career with the 1973 album Twice Removed from Yesterday.

Zoo Freaks, you can keep up with Robin Trower on his Facebook, Instagram, and X accounts, where he shares tour updates, new releases, and clips like that killer Too Rolling Stoned riff. Fans are buzzing on the Robin Trower Fans Facebook group, a lively spot for trading stories, setlists, and vinyl finds. For deeper dives, check out the fan-run Trower Power website, packed with discographies, tour archives, and tributes to Trower’s legacy. So, crank up the volume, let Too Rolling Stoned take you away, and stay tuned to THE ZOO for more righteous tunes!