James Dewar (last known recording)‘Word For Word’
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 18 พ.ย. 2020
- This is the last known vocal recording by James (Jimmie) Dewar, singer/bassist for Robin Trower Band, Lulu and The Luvers and Stone the Crows. The original vocal track heard here was produced by John Rewind and recorded in 1986. Rediscovered in 2015, the song was completely rearranged and all instruments were played and rerecorded by Fred Sampson. Many thanks to David Clark for his bass performance.
For a Digital Download please go to: www.cdbaby.com/cd/jamesdewar or www.amazon.com/Word-James-Dew...
The Making of "Word For Word"
Ever wish you could hear just one more song from your favorite recording artist, but that artist has passed on to the great jam band in the sky? Well, that once in a lifetime wish has been granted to fans of James Dewar. A classic track originally recorded in 1986, and lost for 29 years, has been unearthed, meticulously restored, and released for all his fans to enjoy.
Jimmy Dewar (1942-2002) possessed one of the sweetest and most soulful voices in all of rock’n roll. Born in Glasgow, Scotland in 1942, Jimmy’s career started with Lulu and The Luvvers in the early 1960s, graduating to vocals and bass in Stone The Crows with Maggie Bell, and ultimately to fronting the Robin Trower Band in 1973. Jimmy’s vocal prowess can be heard on such legendary RTB tracks as “Daydream”, Bridge Of Sighs”, “I Can’t Wait Much Longer”, “Too Rolling Stoned”, Hannah”, “Long Misty Days”.
The story behind this extraordinary event is as follows: In 1986, Jimmy traveled to Northern California with the possibility in mind of starting his solo career back up again after leaving the Robin Trower Band. He recorded a song called “Word For Word”, written by two successful San Francisco songwriters Janet Minto (the famous “Janet Planet” - the former Mrs. Van Morrison), and Pam Barlow (married to Bruce “Buffalo” Barlow from Commander Cody). It was produced and recorded by John Rewind, a successful Bay Area producer and old friend of Jimmy’s from his RTB days. After the session was completed, Jimmy, who was having some health problems, returned to his family in Glasgow. The session was shelved and forgotten.
Fast forward to 2015. John Rewind was taking inventory in his studio tape vault and noticed an unmarked box of 1” tape. Curious, he threaded up the tape. After one listen, he realized what he had and it all came rushing back to him. There was no doubt that Jimmys’ vocal performance on the track was inspired, but the music needed some serious updating. After all, it had been intended to be only a demo and needed to be brought up to master quality. John knew there was only one person to collaborate with on this task.
The 2015 recording of “Word For Word” is a direct result of the musical and technical know how of Fred Sampson, a brilliant guitarist and songwriter, who co-wrote “I Need Your Love” with Tom Scholtz for Boston’s ‘Walk On’ CD. Fred and John, formerly with the Hoodoo Rhythm Devils and producer of Georgia Whiting, Davey Pattison, and Bobby Black, are both diehard Jimmy Dewar fanatics. Both consider this opportunity to collaborate posthumously with Jimmy a rare honor and privilege.
With the able assistance of Randall Greenlease serving as their ‘sonic and content advisor’, the three worked on the production in recording studios in both in California and Nevada. The finished track has been mastered by Paul Stubblebine , also from the San Francisco Bay Area, who is one of the premier mastering engineers in the world, and one of the owners of The Tape Project, a boutique music company that releases many of the great recordings of history on two-track reel to reel tape.
So, please sit back and enjoy, at long last, "Word For Word" performed by James Dewar. Who says miracles don’t happen? - เพลง
What a voice. I'm 67 and i was captivated by James as soon as Twice Removed dropped. Robin ia a super fantastic player but when asked what made their band so great he said "it was James' voice" RIP James.
I love Robin Trower but I agree...Jimmy made the music EXTRA
I can listen to him sing anything. The best voice ever. My first concert ever Robin Trower in 1973. To this day that show changed my music love forever. Thank you James RIP
Art is subjective. James Dewar is my favorite singer in rock history. I'm 63 and grew up during the most creative time in music history. So thankful.
Agreed. Being a late teen in the mid 1970s was - looking back - really fortuitous all of us who were. Robin Trower DEFINITELY was among the most listened to but ever more so, admired - kinda working man's royalty (Rory Gallagher too but Trower somehow more, "English" to Rory's "Irish." I know for sure, we midwestern Americans loved both.
James Dewar was a special kind of singer. Way ahead of his time & super underrated.
@@fernandomartinez5812 - How exactly was he “ahead of his time”? He was great - one of the best singers ever - but “ahead of his time” has to be the most overused and meaningless phrase in the English language. James Dewar was exactly of his time.
bang on young Sir ,I'm 65 love the guy RIP James Dewar
Love pours out his voice
Been a RT fan from the start, have heard all of his lead singers and the one that stands out from all of those talented singers is Jimmy Dewar. I beleive the RT sound was at its best during the Jimmy Dewar years.
Dewar and Pattison as a very very close 2nd
I am 74, seen just about all, 60s 70s 80s.[Yes, I am a boring old twat] Saw this guy in mid 70s [with Robin]. To this day he remains, IMHO, the goat singer in this genre. Unique. RIP fella. Respect.
Well said.
a great sweet voice
Trower and Dewar were the best ever in Blues rock Trowers guitar and Dewars vocals The Best
No at all...it s Free and Paul Kossoff the best of the best in heavy blues english rock.
@@padovaniroland ......it all depends on which pair of ears it's going into, I agree with Yuri up there, you don't.
My sediments exactly 😎
One thing is for sure...Robin Trower was not the vocalist...
James Dewar was underrated.His voice was beautiful....Patricia
Jimmy Dewar was absurdly underrated.
One of the best soulful voices ....
This man had one of the best blues voices ever!
Favorite mine song with James Dewar and Mr. Trower is the live version "I am Sailing" from 1976. Is a beautiful version 🌹💜
James was a big part of what made Robin Trower's music above everyone else. While most heavy blues/acid rock guitarists are weak on the vocals, James brought so much sensitivity and soul, which elevated Trower's sound way about the vast majority of blues rock or psychedelic bands. The Robin Trower Band was the best of the genre in my opinion, thanks to the expressiveness of both Robin and James.
Fantastic,everyone envolved in bringing Mr Dewar back to our Music Minds.First heard him on Stone the Crows LP's when i was kid,brilliant voice along with Maggie and the rest is History.Rock On.
I must admit he was the best one could be his voice brought life to the songs he sang ! He would capture your soul and move your heart like no other, he definitely had magic that can't be fulfilled be anyone else he was by the very best of the best!
One of the all time greats. Emotionally supercharged singing,at its best. Trower and Dewar are masters of the craft.
Trowers , For Earth Below and Bridge of Sighs , two of the best albums from the deep 70s
His work with Trower is still as powerful today as it was the first time I heard his voice.
R.I.P. James Dewar, you will be forever missed.
I'll see you soon.....
Been sliding down a YT rabbit hole of 80s music and after enjoying Robin Trower with James I found this lovely recording. What a talent he was.
Best known for being the vocalist on all those great Robin Trower recordings 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼
To hear Mr. Dewar's voice in a different setting is stimulating, .I never had the chance to say thank you for your music with Robin Trower. The music from my past is still the music I treasure. May you rest in Heaven and sing along with the Angels!!
I used to go to a pub called Burns Howff in Glasgow every Saturday lunchtime & watch Jim play & sing with the band that became Stone the Crows. Jazz guitarist Jim Mullen would sometimes sit in with band which featured Maggie Bell on vocals & Les Harvey (brother of Alex Harvey) on guitar. NO cover charge in Scotland just great music & a few pints.
A very young Jim also featured in Lulu's band back in the early 60s.
James voice coupled with Robin’s guitar is perfection. I only wish he was still with us and more people were lucky enough to experience them. I was lucky enough to see them live.
I saw Robin,James and Bill 5 times together and Robin a few more times after that.Robin,Jim and Bill were so great together!
youre lucky
What a great voice 👍🏻
One of the very best, but very underrated !
Hard to beat Trower, Dewar👍🏻
Bridge of Sighs is my favorite album of all time, but it wouldn't be what it is without that voice. Trower's guitar with Jimmy's voice was/is magical. Trower has said that he would certainly have wanted to work with Jimmy again if it had been possible. Thanks to those responsible for finding and sharing this gem.
And Reg Isadore
Great work. Thank you to all who participated in making it happen ❤👍👍💯
Dewar 's vocals and bass made Trower great!
He'll always be in my top 5 best blues rock singers. RIP.
I LOVE Robin Trower. I think Jim Dewar was at least 40% of "Robin Trower".
his voice was like a fine instrument, one that had been cared for and played for years that had settled into such a sweet condition, had he looked more like david coverdale he wouls have been bigger than anyone who ever did it. but, jimmie looked more like the plumber from down the block, the best voice of his day
I vote James Dewar the best vocal
in the world
I consider myself lucky in life, having frequently seen Jimmy play with Stone the Crows in a wee pub in Glasgow, a young man of
obvious talent. Robin Trower was one of my favourite guitarists and it was just a dream to see the two of them in one band. This track and the
accompanying detail means so much to me.
Your saying that James Dewar was in fact born in Scotland,where Billy Connolly (the Fourtles banjo second,) said lost the vowel,Not the late and much appreciated James Dewar.Old Chris, a retired fiddler of Albuquerque NM D A E B .
@@oldchris3398 Saw him play several times with Stone the Crows at the Burns Howff (a tiny pub) in Glasgow. Sounds strange but when I was in Paisley visiting I went to his graveside.
James wherever you are now, thank you.
A great singer and songwriter. R.I.P. James Dewar.
RIP
Most underrated voice fronting a band ever..!
in City Dreams- is my first album that I heard from James Dewar. "This is the voice of God" - I thought.
Me again. As you so rightly say we often wish we could hear our favourite whatever just one more time and of course (normally) we never can and the yearning goes unanswered. I listen to this a lot and the magic is always there. Moving because not only is it the great James Dewar but it triggers, as music so often does, memories of my youth and people and feelings and excitements, now long gone. Thank you very much.
I can truly relate to what you’re saying here. Cheers!
That’s the way the auditory system is linked up to the limbic system….all sorts of memories and emotions are elicited.
What a gem. I still remember the first time I heard his voice. BOS aired on the radio '75. The rest is history. R.I.P. James.
You heard BOS on Radio? Not in western NYS that I ever heard with the 40 song play list of bad co.bosto,and cheap Trix.Old Chris
@@oldchris3398 yeah 101kgb f.m. San diego. Ca
What a gift to come across this today, although it is bittersweet. I am all choked up. I miss him.
Good song and, of course, THAT voice. Thanks for the upload.
You’re welcome - enjoy!
I played a show and Jimmy Dewar was our guest1987 Dumbarton cutty sark pub huge place Scotland he sang the Dylan Song i shall be released i backed him on bass guitar he sat beside me for 4 hours how about that true story.
You have rock singers and soul singers . James could do both very well what most singers of his time could not .
Great singer and a Great Bass player.
I have many Robin Trower albums including the solo album of James Dewar, Stumledown Romancer, thanks for sharing another master piece sang by James. Cheers Glenn from NZ
Absolutely awesome.. a beast of a bass player and singer... maybe the best 👌 his voice never fails to stir deep emotions, and sometimes tears...
James Dewar! I have covered so many Trower / Dewar songs. God, Iwish I could do him justice. Love you man, in whatever other world you now inhabit!
this track is so good.Excellent playing and vocals by everybody.
Thank you! Glad you enjoyed it.
Great to hear James's voice again
Thank you so very much for this! And thanks to Fred Sampson for the loving work he did to make this sound quite presentable indeed! Excellent all the way around...
Thank you. ♥️🎼
My late cousin John took me to see Trower at The Spectrum in Philly, and I can’t tell you how much I appreciate this share. ♥️☮️
EXCELLENT! What a voice! Imagine if Robin had played on this??
had played
I love this song and James Dewar.Never a bad song.
My first time hearing a non Trower tune by JD. What a special soulful talent!!!
Couldn’t agree more! Be sure to track down his Stumble Down Romancer solo project. It’s here on TH-cam. Cheers!
I play guitar and played as many as 8 of their songs, i think I liked it more because of Dewar
Mr Dewar has been in my Top10 since Victim’s of The Fury
He Is Missed
♥️☮️
One of the best blues rock voices ever! No one can duplicate that awesome voice! GOD speed my friend!
S.O.S., I Can’t Live Without You is perfection to me. Little hard to listen to since my husband passed, but man that voice.
🙏🏼♥️☮️🎼
@@reemclaughlin4260 Robins guitar tones on that song give me chills …. Sending positive vibrations your way ♥️
JD was an awesome bassist with an incredible voice.
His voice was a gold mine.R.I.P. Jimmy.👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏
FLOORED. CRACKIN' Beautiful job. Are there Grammy's for 'Best SAVE'??? There SHOULD BE!!!
Wouldn't that be something? Thank you.
I can't thank the producers of this track enough. Beautiful job on a song I never had heard of. Jimmy sounds fantastic. My favorite male vocalist in any genre.
Thank you! It was purely a labor of love. A total privilege working on this track.
@@fredsampson I can imagine!
It was a very nice surprise to come across this recording. Thank you for sharing.
thanks so much, miss Jimmy Dewar, miss his voice, miss his soul...
Blessed with a distinctieve voice very special 🙏❤️🦋
I didn't know what it was, but knew there was sumthin' different, unique 'bout that voice! So I pulled up his history, his music influences, style, part of the "Blue Eyed" Soul movement(s). There it was!
RIP GREAT ONE ❤
This is so special. We need more!
Wow, still can’t get enough of such grand excellence… never will, Rest In Peace friend!
James Dewar the perfect partner for
Robin !
One of the best singers. Made trower famous.
A nice tune and James sounds great. I'm glad this got found and released.
A great one by Jim,love this a lot!
Great song, I really like this. What a superb voice Jimmy had.
How about an interview with John Rewind about James Dewar and their relationship? Little material about rocks best ever singer is available online.
Blues as his best... Blues for Blues... and I remember everything.
Don't know how I missed out on this song for somany years. It has become a favorite as i've played it every day for the past month.
I feel so blessed to have had to see Dewar and Trower two years in a row. Yeah, they were that good. Mindblowing. Dewar is one of my favorite rock vocalist's ever.
A real gift for us all! Thank you
Quite an accomplished recording. Kudos Fred Sampson for stellar production and a wonderful arrangement. A high achievement. Dewar would be proud.......
Thank you! This was a total labor of love. So glad it resonated with you.
I absolutely love this guys voice ❤ 👌! And what a Bass Player
Thanks for posting this James Dewar song. It seems to me he was over looked when it came to rock/blues vocalists. I'm not sure why because he was one of the best there was. I don't play a lot of music from that era but I still play Robin Trower with James Dewar. The live album from the King Biscuit Flower Hour is easily one of the best live recordings ever made. That voice endures.
Yeah I can never understand why Robin & Jimmy never fully get the respect they deserve. As songwriters and performers they're up there with anybody (they are the best imo) and they had many more songs which should have had and should still get much more radio play than the usual 2/3. Totally agree on that King Biscuit Flower Hour album, some of the best versions of some of their songs I've ever heard. The subtle changes Jimmy made to some of the vocals and that tone that Robin had on there...damn!
My favorite. Saw him at the Music Hall in Houston with Trower .
I made a super 8 film of Robin Trower in 76 at Dome Arena Rush Henrietta NY I used the sound from KBFH for Bridge of Sighs and Daydream.Opening was lousy Starz and strange Starcastle with Terry Lutrell on vocals,never new he sang with Starcastle until years later,of course he sang on REO Speedwagon first with 5 men, anti establishment man,etc.I may have made Jim Dewar nervous, filmed right in front of me , Robin Trower to my Left.Old Chris
Mr Sampson, this started as an emotional memory lane thing. I have been a fan of The Robin Tower Band since their Twice Removed from Yesterday/Daydream days in the early 70s and saw them live at what was then called The Hammersmith Odeon back in (maybe) late 70s/early 80s--support band U2!!. I was about 32 (I'm now 74) and I took the son of my then girlfriend who was only about 13 and a punk--the son not the girlfriend!! Some 40 years later I'm still a great fan and have seen Robin Tower in the last few years and rather surprisingly that young punk lad, who is now a 50 something Professor of Physics at Buffalo University NY, is also still a fan and he saw Robin in Buffalo about 5 years ago. I won't go on about Robin's guitar style which still gets me every time. But that band was just as much about James's voice. Top 5 as we blokes like to say. If pushed I'd say number 1, in front of Paul Rodgers, Cliff Bennett, Frankie Millar and a few others. I've played Word for Word over and over. It's not just a curio, in my view; it stands up as one of James' best pieces of work so thank you for the memories and thank you for something that I will carry forward as a living delight.
Thank you Graham, for your reminisces. Jimmy was unique, wasn't he? Hard to lump him in with the other 'top five' guys. He had his own deep and soulful thing going on. Means the world that you've found this long lost performance worthy of his legacy. Cheers!
Saw Robin Trower '77 in Memphis. Jimmy's voice is so distinctive, soulful & 'Most Underrated vocalist' ever, Trower also underrated as one of the world' best. (note: Dewar is the name of the famous Scots whisky; from Perthshire, Scotland (which is the home shire in central Scotland of the clans Dewar & McGregor (Rob Roy is buried there) & McLaren (of the world famous (auto) racing team (which is my name as well))---
Phil lynott has always reminded me of the great James dewar. What a beautiful voice James has(had).
Jimmy was so soulful. Shame he had to leave us so soon.
Thank you Fred Sampsen for your work here, really appreciated hearing it
Thank you for giving this song a listen!
@@fredsampson I ordered a couple of copies of the CD from Rear Window and don't know how I was unaware of this video and project until now
An incredible singer who was overshadowed by Robin Trower's guitar playing in that band. He should have had so many more opportunities as a vocalist. That said, I don't know his whole history. And he played bass while singing with Trower.
We miss you James ... Rest in Peace . PK
Great voice with feeling. I saw the band Robin Trower at The Lyceum London and The Reading Festival.
Thanks.
I miss his voice. Such a talent.
To never have heard such a voice would have been the big loss...
Well said! He sang so sweetly.
Back in the day, down here in Sydney, Australia , I was in a Robin Trower type band, (Black Jack/ Street Level) we did a lot of their songs . What a great band to be inspired by. Robin and James... Magic . Guitar, Lyrics, Voice, I was the token James in our Band.
So glad you released this this .Thank You
Thank you so much for this, Mr Fred Sampson.
You’re very welcome. Working on recording and mixing this song was truly a labor of love. Missing Jimmie.
Enjoyed this SO much TY! Great tune and of course James vocals always a pleasure!
What a great and haunting song... thanks for rescuing this from almost forgotten.
My favorite singer
Such a soulful voice....RIP....
The most “Under rated” Voice ever…
Voice very rich in expression, painful. R.I.P. Tx
Thank you for not letting hid voice go silent
Legendary Voice
Legendary Artist
✌️
Thank You for sharing this masterpiece...
Just found this, more stellar stuff from James Dewar. RIP Sir Dewar. Been a fan of RT since my first live concert at the Santa Monica Civic Auditorium in 1978. Thank you for this post.
You’re very welcome!