Rory Gallagher
Band members Related acts
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line up 1 (1971-72) - Wilgar Campbell -- drums, percussion harmonica,
sax line
up 2 (1972-78) Wilgar Campbell) harmonica, sax NEW
- Lou Martin (RIP 2012) -- keyboards, guitar line up 3 (1978) - Rory Gallagher (RIP 1995) -- vocals, guitar, mandolin, harmonica, sax
- Lou Martin (RIP 2012) -- keyboards, guitar
line up 4 (1978-81) - Rory Gallagher (RIP 1995) -- vocals, guitar, mandolin, harmonica, sax
- Ted McKenna (RIP 2019) -- drums, percussion
line up 4 (1981) - Rory Gallagher (RIP 1995) -- vocals, guitar, mandolin, harmonica, sax
- Lou Martin -- keyboards, guitar
line up 5 (1992-94) NEW - Mark Felham -- harmonica - Rory Gallagher (RIP 1995) - vocals, guitar, mandolin, harmonica, sax NEW - Jim Liverton -- replaced (Lou Martin) NEW - Richard Newman -- drums, percussion (replaced Brendan O'Neill)
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- Band of Friends (Gerry McAvoy) - The Co-Operative (Gerry McAvoy) - Crayon Angels (Rod De'Ath and Lou Martin) - Downliners Sect (Lou Martin) - Killing Floor (Rod De'Ath and Lou Martin) - Gerry McAvoy Jam - Nine Below Zero (Gerry McAvoy)
- Ramrod (Rod De'Ath) |
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Genre: blues rock Rating: *** (3 stars) Title: Rory Gallagher Company: ATCO Catalog: SD 33-368 Country/State: Ballyshannon, Ireland Year: 1971 Grade (cover/record): VG/VG+ Comments: minor ring wear Available: SOLD catalog ID: SOLD 4697 Price: SOLD $10.00
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A unique, if grossly under recognized figure in modern rock, the late Rory Gallagher spent the majority of his adult life touring (though seldom in major venues). Steadfast and uncompromisingly preaching the blues, over some twenty years he released a large catalog of material, establishing a sterling reputation within the business (The Rolling Stones were interested in recruiting him as a replacement for Mick Taylor) and as a longstanding critics' favorite. Ironically, prior to his death in 1995, Gallagher never came close to enjoying any true measure of commercial success.
I was lucky to see him twice.
The first time at an odd free show and several years later at a club. Living in Brussels, Belgium
one cold Winter night in 1976 or 1977 a friend by the name of Mark
Funk and I were walking down a street in the
city's shopping district when Mark noticed a large crowd gathered around
someone playing blues tunes. That
wasn't anything special since Brussels was full of street performers.
Checking it out Mark discovered Gallagher was playing a free Christmas
concert. We rushed around the corner to get a couple of beers (Belgium
= beer) and when the bartender wouldn't put our Stella Artois into plastic
cups (he apparently didn't have any), I seem to remember we somehow convinced him to let us take these
big glasses of beer out with us (I think I still have my glass). I
remember it was bone chillingly cold and thinking whoever this band was,
they better be good 'cause my butt was cold. At the time I didn't know
who the world Gallagher was (Mark always had better musical tastes than I
did), but decked out in his
trademarked plaid shirt and backed by a crack band, the guy simply
sizzled. I remember him playing an beat up old strat that
looking like sh*t; not it hardly mattered since he somehow managed to coax an
amazing array of effects out of that instrument. What a show ... thirty years onwards I still have fond
memories of the cold evening. Wonder if I got any of the details
right. Wherever he is, Mark probably remembers it better than I
do. (Geez, I hope it was Gallagher and not some lame-butt pop band.)
Signed by Polydor (ATCO acquiring US distribution rights), 1971's cleverly-titled "Rory Gallagher" set the standard for what was to come. Featuring ten Gallagher originals (Gallagher also handled production chores), anyone familiar with Taste will be comfortable with this album. Like the former band, the predominant influence here is the Delta blues, though on material like 'I Fall Apart' and 'I'm Not Surprised' Gallagher showcased a surprisingly likeable voice. While minor, my only real complaint with the debut stemmed from the fact save 'Heads Up' and 'Sinner Boy' (spotlighting his stinging slide playing) Gallagher's dazzling strat was under-represented throughout the set. Personal favorite; the catchy closer 'Can't Believe It's True'. Not my favorite Gallagher solo effort, but a consistent and enjoyable debut.
"Rory Gallagher" track listing: (side 1) 1.) Laundromat (Rory Gallagher) - 4:38 2.) Just the Smile (Rory Gallagher) - 3:40 3.) I Fall Apart (Rory Gallagher) - 5:10 4.) Wave Myself Goodbye (Rory Gallagher) - 3:27 5.) Hands Up (Rory Gallagher) - 5:24
(side 2) 1.) Sinner Boy (Rory Gallagher) - 5:30 2.) For the Last Time (Rory Gallagher) - 6:34 3.) It's You (Rory Gallagher) - 2:38 4.) I'm Not Surprised (Rory Gallagher) - 3:35 5.) Can't Believe It's True (Rory Gallagher) - 2:15
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Genre: blues rock Rating: **** (4 stars) Title: Deuce Company: Polydor Catalog: 2383 076 Year: 1971 Country/State: Ballyshannon, Ireland Grade (cover/record): VG/VG+ Comments: UK pressing; minor edge and corner wear Available: 2 Catalog ID: 5542 Price: $20.00
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1971 saw Rory Gallagher and his rhythm section (drummer Wilgar Campbell and bassist Gerry McAvoy) return with the self-produced "Deuce." I've always been surprised that a major label would let such a young and unproven act produce himself; quite a display of faith in the band. Unlike the debut, this time out Gallagher made an effort to capture more of his live sound. That meant many of the recording sessions took place in the wake of concert appearances. Personally I didn't think the album was drastically different from the debut. Musically material like the opener 'Used To Be', 'Should've Learnt My Lesson', 'In Your Town' and 'Whole Lot of People' marked a continuation of Gallagher's Taste-styled blues-rock. That said, there were a couple of startling exceptions. The acoustic flamenco-influenced acoustic ballad 'I'm Not Awake Yet' stood as one of the prettiest melodies and most commercial things Gallagher ever recorded. Elsewhere 'There's a Light' and 'Maybe I Will' (the latter sporting a nifty jazzy solo), would have made wonderful FM hits. As always, Gallagher's guitar proved the star. The second half solo in 'Should Have Learnt My Lesson' might have been worth the price admission. Forget fancy effects, Gallagher simply didn't need 'em. Possibly the best slide player around (check out the solo on 'Crest of a Wave'), the man had chops to spare. Equally surprising, while not the most gifted singer you'd ever heard, Gallagher knew how to make the most of his talents. Of the ten tracks, the only ones that struck me as forgettable were the straightforward -blues numbers 'Don't Know Where I'm Going' and 'Should've Learnt My Lesson.' Not bad, just familiar and forgettable.
The LP proved a modest seller in the UK, but hampered by a lukewarm Rolling Stone review, the LP did little in the States. For what it's worth, while there were no bells or whistles on this collection, that stripped down sound may be one of the reasons it's one of my favorite Gallagher releases. Come to think of it, this may be my favorite Gallagher studio set.
1.) Used To Be (Rory Gallagher) - 5:06 rating: **** stars The
guitar lick that kicks along 'Used To Be' has always reminded me of
something Free's Paul Kossoff might have created. It's actually stick
in terms of ear candy factor. That said, the solos are 100% classic
Gallagher. Interestingly the secret sauce on this one was Wilgar
Campbell's frenetic drumming. The man must have been exhausted after
recording this track. Taken from an appearance on the German BeatClub
television program, YouTube has a great performance of the track at: Rory
Gallagher - Used To Be (1971) - YouTube Folks
tend to overlook Gallagher charms on acoustic guitar. In addition to
being one of the prettiest songs he ever wrote, the beautiful ballad 'I'm Not Awake Yet '
was a great example of his acoustic talents. Once again drummer and bassist
Gerry McAvoy provided smooth support throughout. This
one would go on my Gallagher top-10 list. Fans
love this country-blues performance, but it doesn't do a great deal for
me. YouTube has a fascinating clip of Gallagher performing the song
for French television. Always wondered where they got the car. Rory
Gallagher - Don't Know Where I'm Going - Lille, France 1975 - YouTube With
a jazzy edge, 'Maybe I Will' was a fascinating change of pace for Gallagher
and company. His speed of light guitar runs remained dazzling, but it
was such a different sound ... It was also nice to hear Gallagher
voice stripped of the usual blues-rocker shouting. Love
it. McAvoy's
melodic bass line powered 'Whole Lot of People' allowing Gallagher to
unleash some of his patented slide guitar. Another killer performance. (side 2) 1.) In Your Town (Rory Gallagher) - 5:43 rating: **** stars If
you ever need a tutorial on slide guitar, 'In Your Town' would be a good
place to start. Given the stereo separation with solos flipping from
side to the other, this is a great tune to listen to on good headphones or a
loud stereo. Here's another Beat Club clip: Rory
Gallagher - In Your Town (1971) - YouTube Fans
will dump all over me, but 'Should've Learnt My Lesson' stuck me as a
conventional slice of Chicago blues. Yeah, it was interesting to hear
a young Irish guy singing the blues with such authenticity and the solo was
nice, but the song wasn't anything life altering. You
weren't going to confuse this with Weather Report, but 'There's a Light'
was another tune exhibiting a distinctive jazzy vibe. Gallagher's guitar
provided one of his most unique melodies and his overlooked voice seldom
sounded as good. Kind of a Santana spirituality vibe in the air with
this one. I
would not have expected to be enamored with an acoustic country-blues
number like 'Out of My Mind.'
This one's just Gallagher, guitar and mike ... stunning. And as good as the bottleneck slide work was on 'Whole Lot of People' it got even better on 'Crest of a Wave.' In fact, this may be the album's standout performance. The song just built and built and built tension.
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Genre: blues rock Rating: **** (4 stars) Title: Rory Gallagher Live! In Europe Company: Polydor Catalog: PD 5513 Year: 1972 Country/State: Ballyshannon, Ireland Grade (cover/record): VG+/VG+ Comments: minor ring, edge and corner wear Available: 1 Catalog ID: not listed yet Price: $20.00
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With Polydor assuming American distribution duties, 1972's "Rory Gallagher Live! In Europe" marked the artist's third release in twelve months. Recorded before enthusiastic crowds at various early 1972 European dates, the self-produced collection offered up a mixture of blues covers and bluesy originals. Given "live" sets tended to cover hits and previous releases it was interesting that only 'Laundromat' and 'In Your Town' had been previously released. Simply said, the album captured Gallagher, drummer Wilgar Campbell and bassist Gerry McAvoy in prime form. Pure blues; extended rave-ups such as 'Messin' with the Kid.' Gallagher's own blazing 'Laundromat' and the stark and haunting harmonica and slide-guitar driven 'I Could've Had Religion' weren't exactly fancy, but more than compensated for the raw sound with their driving enthusiasm. Electric blues simply didn't get much better than the nearly ten minutes of 'In Your Town,' or the mandolin-powered 'Going To My Home Town.' At the same time, the set's not in my top-five Gallagher releases. Admittedly I'm not a hardcore blues fan and the absence of some of his more commercial and rock oriented material was a distraction for me.
In Europe the collection earned platinum sales and Melody Maker's "Musician of the Year" Award. Shortly after the album's release, the line up underwent it's first major change; drummer Campbell was replaced by Rod De'Ath. Gallagher also expanded the line-up with the addition of keyboard player Lou Martin.
Peaking at #101, the album also provided Gallagher with his first taste of American commercial success. 1.) Messin' with the Kid (Junior Wells) - 6:24 rating: **** stars Always
loved the elaborate stage introduction - a simple "Rory
Gallagher" and
we're off. Gallagher wasted no time trotting out his blues bona fides
opening up with a dignified cover of Junior Well's classic 'Messin' with the
Kid.' Kudos to the Campbell - McAvoy
rhythm section. One
of two previously released performances (it appeared on his 1971 debut),
'Laundromat' was bluesy, but also hinted at the more commercial and rock
direction Gallagher would explore. But, my could the man play !!! Traditional
blues given the Gallagher touch. Switching
to acoustic guitar, I liked Gallagher's vocal, but I have to admit his cover
of Blind Boy Fuller's 'Pistol Slapper Blues' was just too bluesy for my
tastes. (side 2) 1.) Going To My Home Town (traditional - Rory Gallagher) - 6:13 rating: **** stars Rock
and roll mandolin ... Who would have thought one of the hardest
rocking tunes on the album would have been his arrangement of the traditional
'Going To My Home Town.' The audience certainly was into the track. Originally
released on 1972's "Deuce" 'In Your Town' was the album's
toughest rocker and one of the standout performances. Yeah, it went on a
couple of minutes too long, but there are worse things in life. Anyone who doubted Gallagher's vocal chops should check out the glistening 'Bullfrog Blues.' Blues for people who don't like blues ...
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Genre: blues rock Rating: **** (4 stars) Title: Blueprint Company: Polydor Catalog: PD-5522 Year: 1972 Country/State: Ballyshannon, Ireland Grade (cover/record): VG+/VG+ Comments: -- Available: 1 Catalog ID: not listed yet Price: $25.00
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In the personnel department 1972's "Blueprint" saw original drummer Wilgar Campbell replaced by ex-Killing Floor drummer Rod De'Ath. The album also found Gallagher expanding his band to a four piece with the addition of ex-Downliners Sect keyboard player Lou Martin. Curiously it took a bit of effort for me to warm up to collection. That was kind of odd since musically the set wasn't a major departure from Gallagher's earlier albums. Once again, exemplified by material like 'Banker's Blues', 'Unmilitary Two-Step' (which was erroneously credited as a Gallagher-penned effort) and 'Hands Off' blues-rock dominated the grooves. Elsewhere the addition of a fulltime keyboardist gave the set a fuller, more varied sound than earlier releases. The change was the most obvious in the form of the ballad 'Daughters of the Everglades.' One of Gallagher's prettiest compositions, had it been released as a single, the song could have generated radio play. 'Walk On Hot Coals' and 'The Seventh Son of a Seventh Son' were two of Gallagher's hardest rocking tunes; both which should have become staples of your local FM station. 'Race the Breeze' offered up a slice of country-blues, while 'If I Had a Reason' was best described as a county-waltz.
Initially I heard this as a solid, if slightly under whelming release. Over the years and after dozens of spins, it's proven far, far better than that.
"Blueprint" track listing" (side 1) 1.) Walk On Hot Coals (Rory Gallagher) - 7:01 rating: **** stars Yeah, 'Walk On Hot Coals' was a patented example of Gallagher's blues-rock attack, but this one had a distinctive rock edge to it. Add in a razor sharp vocal and a couple of killer solos and it didn't get much better than this. Complete with plaid shirt, YouTube has a wonderful live 1973 performance of the tune on the Old Grey Whistle Test television program. What's fascinating to me is the fact Gallagher sounded exactly the same in the studio recording and the live performance. Shame we can't all take the same joy out of our jobs. No overdubs for this guy. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xKaiHamPT54 2.) Daughters of the Everglades (Rory Gallagher) - 6:10 rating: **** stars 'Daughters of the Everglades' was one of the prettiest tunes Gallagher ever wrote. Keyboardist Martin played a little riff that kicked the song along and Gallagher's vocals were near-perfect. This could have been a radio hit. 3.) Banker's Blues (Rory Gallagher - Broonzy) - 4:44 rating: *** stars Traditional blues, 'Banker's Blues' should have pleased his longstanding fans. Nothing with the performance, but it lacked the joy of the earlier two songs. YouTube has a 1975 solo live performance for French television: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jrJeAVwxUvg 4.) Hands Off (Rory Gallagher) - 4:32 rating: **** stars Martin's keyboards add the secret sauce to this rollicking blues number. They just sound like they are having so much fun. Here's a clip of from a 1973 Old Grey Whistle Test appearance. Check out Martin's performance: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jmESka2OAvI
(side 2) 1.) Race the Breeze (Rory Gallagher) - 6:52 rating: **** stars 'Race the Breeze' was country-blues for people who don't like country-blues. It was a train song for people who don't like train songs. As if Gallagher's guitar work wasn't good enough, his slide work was just as impressive. 2.) The Seventh Son of a Seventh Son (Rory Gallagher) - 8:52 rating: **** stars Ah, the concept of a healer - the seventh son of a seventh son ... 'The Seventh Son of a Seventh Son' was almost as good as the opener. Like 'Walk On Hot Coals' the emphasis was on the rock component of blues-rock. The only thing that kept it from reaching the same height was Gallagher seeming running out of lyrics and turning to some needless scatting. 3.) Unmilitary Two-Step (Rory Gallagher) - 2:48 rating: ** stars Pretty acoustic tune showcasing Gallagher on an old National Triolian Resonator. Didn't do a great deal for me though. 4.) If I Had a Reason (Rory Gallagher) - 4:20 rating: *** stars Perhaps best described as a country-waltz, musically 'If I Had a Reason' wasn't my favorite performance, though I liked the slide guitar touches and the song served to underscore what a nice voice Gallagher had.
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Genre: blues rock Rating: **** (4 stars) Title: Tattoo Company: Polydor Catalog: PD-5539 Year: 1973 Country/State: Ballyshannon, Ireland Grade (cover/record): VG+/VG+ Comments: original textured cover Available: 1 Catalog ID: 5626 Price: $20.00
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While you couldn't call it a major change in
musical direction, 1973's "Tattoo"
benefited from an expanded line up in the form of ex-Killing Floor drummer
Rod De'Ath and keyboardist Lou Martin. Now expanded to a quartet
(rounded out by bassist Gerry McAvoy), the added manpower provided Rory
Gallagher with a fuller rock-oriented sound that was surprisingly
impressive. With Gallagher again handling production duties the band
sounded enthusiastic and full of confidence simply blowing their way through
the all original collection. Gallagher's allegiance clearly remained
with the blues, but that didn't stop him from taking full advantage of the
new rock edge on material like 'Tattoo'd Lady', the blazing 'Cradle Rock'
(be sure to check out his screeching staccato solo on the latter), and 'Livin'
Like a Trucker'. Always somewhat of a reluctant vocalist this time out
Gallagher seemed to have lost much of that former shyness. Anyone
doubting that man's vocal chops needed only check out the acoustic blues
number '20:20 Vision', or the unexpectedly jazzy 'They Don't Make Them Like
You Anymore'. Personal favorites this time out were the chugging
'Sleep On a Clothes Line' and the blazing 'Who's That Coming' - the latter
showcasing Gallagher's amazing slide guitar prowess. All told it made
for one of his most consistent and satisfying releases. Given
Gallagher's expansive recording catalog this would certainly be one of the
places to start if you were merely curious, or simply a casual fan. 1.) Tattoo'd Lady (Rory Gallagher) - 4:40 rating: **** stars Gallagher's
sound remained instantly recognizable, but the expanded line-up gave 'Tattoo'd Lady'
an added punch. On top of that the song was commercial enough to have
radio potential. Shame it wasn't longer. It's funny but YouTube
has more live performances of the tune than studio clips. They're all
good, but this clip from a 1979 RockPalast performance is probably the best
of the crowd. Yeah, clocking it at over thirteen minutes, it's a
little long, but what the hell: Rory
Gallagher Tattoo'd lady Rockpalast 1979 YouTube - YouTube Borrowing
more than a little of the Bo Diddley beat, 'Cradle Rock' up the energy to an
eleven. Try standing still with this one on your stereo. I'm not
a big harmonica fan, but this was one of those rare exceptions where the
instrument added to the energy level. Another one where there are more
live clips than studio versions on YouTube. Here's a clip from
Gallagher's 1974 Irish Tour: Rory
Gallagher - "Cradle Rock" ( Irish Tour 1974) - YouTube '20:20 Vision'
offered up a bucolic slice of acoustic country-blues. Not really my
thing, but the performance was still lovely. 'They Don't Make Them Like You Anymore'
found Gallagher adding a jazzy vibe to his sound. Admittedly this
wasn't The Dave Brubeck Quartet, but while I wouldn't have expected much of
it, the results were quite appealing and intriguing in part because it was
so different than his usual bluesy attack. Riff
rock at its best ... good way to dip your toes into the joys of
feedback. If Polydor had been doing their job 'Livin' Like a Trucker'
would have been a massive FM Hit. (side 2) 1.) Sleep On a Clothes Line (Rory Gallagher) - 5:18 rating: *** stars Rollicking
blues-rocker which was worth hearing to enjoy Gallagher's oft overlooked
voice. 'Who's That Coming' started out sounding like a pedestrian slice of country-blues. Admittedly Gallagher's acoustic slide guitar sounded great, but ... And then the tune shifted gear, morphing into a more rock oriented performance. There was still plenty of acoustic and electric slide, but the hidden gem on this one was actually bassist Gerry McAvoy. YouTube has an impressive performance of the tune pulled his 1974 Irish Tour. Interestingly he plays the entire song on a Strat - no acoustic guitar: Rory Gallagher Who's That Coming Irish Tour 1974 - YouTube 3.) A Million Miles Away (Rory Gallagher) - 6:54 rating: **** stars To my ears 'A Million Miles Away' was one of Gallagher's prettier ballads and delivered one of his most impressive vocal performance. And again bassist McAvoy was the secret sauce in the mix. Not sure when or where this one was filmed: Rory Gallagher - A million miles away 1977 - YouTube 4.) Admit It (Rory Gallagher) - 4:20 rating: **** stars One of the more rock oriented performances and just too short ...
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Genre: blues rock Rating: **** (4 stars) Title: Irish Tour '74 Company: Polydor Catalog: PD2-9501 Year: 1974 Country/State: Ballyshannon, Ireland Grade (cover/record): VG+/VG+ Comments: double album set; minor ring and edge wear Available: 1 Catalog ID: not listed yet Price: $20.00
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"Irish Tour '74" was a double album live offering. Self-produced, the collection found Gallagher and expanded band tearing their way through a first-rate mixture of acoustic and electric blues-rock. While live takes on tracks such as "Cradle Rock", "Tattoo'd Lady", and "Too Much Alcohol" were suitably enthusiastic, they didn't add much to the original studio versions. Still, spurred on by partisan Irish audiences (the set recorded at various dates in Belfast, Cork, and Dublin), the band came off in prime form, serving as an excellent introduction to Gallagher's stinging guitar style ("Wonder Who's (Gonna Be Your Sweet Man)"). Once again, Martin's keyboards continued to fill out the group's otherwise thin sound. Elsewhere "Back On My (Stompin' Ground)" and "Just a Little Bit" were less impressive, amounting to little more than extended jam sessions. Supported by strong reviews, the set proved a surprisingly strong seller, hitting #110. Originally released with a gatefold sleeve, Polydor deserved an award for the lavish cover ... Sadly the set was quickly dropped and is now extremely difficult to find.
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Genre: blues rock Rating: **** (4 stars) Title: Calling Card Company: Chrysalis Catalog: CHR 1124 Year: 1974 Country/State: Ballyshannon, Ireland Grade (cover/record): VG+/VG+ Comments: -- Available: 2 Catalog ID: 1812 Price: $15.00
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Rory Gallagher's second album for Chrysalis and you got the feeling the label was beginning to bring pressure of the man to add a certain degree of commercialism to his sound.
Released in 1976, "Calling Card" was co-produced by Deep Purple's Roger Glover and Gallagher; marking the only time Gallagher came close to working with a mainstream producer. The pair had met when Gallagher opened for Deep Purple on some American tour dates. Against that backdrop, the result was one of Gallagher's most diversified, yet engaging albums. The voice and blazing guitar remained instantly recognizable, but exemplified by 'Moonchild' and 'Secret Agent', Glover seemingly managed to push Gallagher to at least play with a more rock oriented sound. 'I'll Admit You're Gone' was a lovely acoustic ballad - one of the prettiest things he'd ever written. Elsewhere, 'Jackknife Beat ' was one of the album highlights, showing Gallagher's ability to blend multiple genres into a sum-is-more-than-the parts masterpiece. Not to make it sound like this was a sellout collection, as blues remained Gallagher's prime forte - 'Do You Read Me', 'Country Mile', and the title track. I can see where some of Gallagher's hardcore blues fans may have been put off, but song-for-song this was his most accessible and enjoyable collection and serves as a great place for a casual fan, or a curious newbie to start checking out Gallagher's catalog.
After
a supporting tour Gallagher fired drummer Rod de'Ath and keyboardist Lou
Marti. 1.) Do You Read Me (Rory Gallagher) - 5:20 rating: **** stars Anyone who thought Gallagher was simply too hardcore bluesy will want to check out the leadoff 'Do You Read Me'. Yeah, it was bluesy, but in a highly commercial, almost hard-rock fashion. Sure, Lou martin's synthesizer touches sounded a bit dated, but this tune simply rocked like there was no tomorrow. Chrysalis should have tapped it as a single. YouTube has a number of live performances of the song. Probably the best of the lot is this 1979 version from the BBC program "Rock Goes To College": https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8ClvqM6dj7M 2.) Country Mile (Rory Gallagher) - 3:18 rating: **** stars Not nearly as commercial as the opener, but a bruising performance that showcased his killer slide work and the song's enthusiasm was winning. Once again, YouTube has a wealth of live Gallagher material, including several versions of 'Country Mile'. Here's a link to a 1976 live performance for the German RockPalast television show: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=52yQ7OFDSYQ 3.) Moonchild (Rory Gallagher) - 4:48 rating: **** stars As mentioned, the album was co--produced by Deep Purple's Roger Glover. While Glover's impact was limited, the blazing rocker was one of the exceptions. Close your eyes and it wasn't hard to imagine this one being in the Deep Purple's mid-'70s performance list. Yeah, blues purists were probably appalled by the tune's blatant commercialism, but I've got to tell you I loved it. here's s a toughened-up, live version of the tune: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gyHymAxUVrc The song was actually tapped as a single for the Dutch and German markets:
4.) Calling Card (Rory Gallagher) - 5:24 rating: **** stars The bouncy title track was blues for folks who didn't really like the blues. Nice example of Gallagher's ability to meld blues and jazzy moves. Always liked Gerry McAvoy's bass pattern on this one. Here's a live performance from a 1976 performance on the German Rockpalast show: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ctm7bdg-eqY 5.) I'll Admit You're Gone (Rory Gallagher) - 4:25 rating: **** stars Beautiful
acoustic ballad with some stunning dobro working. (side 2) 1.) Secret Agent (Rory Gallagher) - 5:45 rating: **** stars Another stab into rock territory. Killer tune that again reminds me a bit of mid-'70s ear Deep Purple. Wonder what Purple would have sounded like had they recruited Gallagher, rather than Tommy Bolan. Another Rockpalast performance that's worth checking out just to see and hear some of his blazing slide moves: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xomS2NqHmME ... 2.) Jackknife Beat (Rory Gallagher) - 7:04 rating: **** stars And then you get to 'Jackknife Beat'. Showcasing a melody that was equally funky (there was almost a disco feel to the opening), slinky, jazzy, and bluesy, the tune showcased Gallagher's mesmerizing slide work and bassist Gerry McAvoy's wonderful moves. Another album highlight and one of those songs you wish was even longer. Speaking of which, there's an extended Rockpalast performance on YouTube at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R8oW0ZFaQxc 3.) Edged In Blue (Rory Gallagher) - 5:31 rating: **** stars Another stunningly pretty tune that displayed that special tone that seemingly only Gallagher could get out of a Strat. Chrysalis executives apparently wanted to release the tune as a single, only to have Gallagher refuse. 4.) Barley and Grape Rag (Rory Gallagher) - 3:39 rating: ** stars Raw country blues ... I'm just not a fan of the genre so this one doesn't do much for me.
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Genre: blues rock Rating: *** (3 stars) Title: In the Beginning An Early Taste of Rory Gallagher Company: Emerald Gem Catalog: GES 110 Year: 1974 Country/State: Ballyshannon, Ireland Grade (cover/record): VG/VG+ Comments: minor ring wear; UK pressing Available: SOLD Catalog ID: SOLD 5614 Price: SOLD $20.00
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1974's "In the Beginning An Early Taste of Rory
Gallagher" was released by the small English Emerald Gem label just as Gallagher was beginning to attract critical praise and recognition. Compiled and produced by Mervyn Soloman, the set was credited as a Gallagher solo effort, but actually captured the guitarist's initial studio recording sessions as a member of Taste (see separate entry). Recorded in mid-1967, Gallagher-penned originals such as
'Wee Wee Baby', 'How Many More Years' and 'Take It Easy Baby' were somewhat raw and
under-produced, but served as a surprisingly effective vehicle for Gallagher's tasty guitar and bluesy voice (image Clapton after a weekend of solid smoking and drinking).
This was straightforward, unadorned blues-rock, but if you were into the
genre well worth looking for ... The man could sure play guitar
!!! Well worth looking for ... The US Springboard subsequently
repackaged and released the set in the States as "Take It Easy".
1.) Wee Wee Baby (Rory Gallagher) - 2:45 (side 2) 1.) Worried Man
(Rory Gallagher) - 2:30 |
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Genre: blues rock Rating: *** (3 stars) Title: Take It Easy Baby Company: Springboard Catalog: SPB-4056 Year: 1974 Country/State: Ireland Grade (cover/record): VG+/VG+ Comments: minor ring wear; US pressing Available: 2 Catalog ID: 5613 Price: $15.00
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The New Jersey Springboard label was renown for releasing quickie sets that capitalized on early career and miscellaneous materials from big name acts. "Take It Easy Baby" was nearly identical to the 1974 Irish compilation "In the Beginning An Early Taste of Rory Gallagher." The only differences I could spot came in the form of a new cover and the seven tracks were slightly re-sequenced. In typical fashion the Springboard set included virtually no liner notes or performance credits. From the original Irish release I can tell you the set was compiled and produced by Mervyn Soloman. Credited as a Gallagher solo effort, the seven tracks actually captured the Gallagher's initial studio recording sessions as a member of Taste (see separate entry). Recorded in mid-1967 when Taste was coming to fruition, Gallagher-penned originals such as 'Wee Wee Baby', 'How Many More Years' and the title track' were somewhat raw and under-produced, but served as a surprisingly effective vehicle for Gallagher's tasty guitar and bluesy voice (image Clapton after a weekend of solid smoking and drinking). This was straightforward, unadorned blues-rock, but if you were into the genre well worth looking for ... The man could sure play guitar !!!
For whatever reason Springboard subsequently reissued the collection with the correct Rory Gallagher and Taste credits:
"Take It Easy Baby" track listing: 1.) Wee Wee Baby (Rory Gallagher) - 2:45 1.) Worried Man (Rory Gallagher) - 2:30
2.) Norman Invasion (Rory Gallagher) - 3:01 (side 2) 3.) Take It Easy Baby (Rory Gallagher) - 7:08
3.) Pardon Me Mister (Rory Gallagher) - 2:44
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Genre: blues rock Rating: **** (4 stars) Title: Rory Gallagher Live Company: Polydor Catalog: 2384-079 Year: 1977 Country/State: Ballyshannon, Ireland Grade (cover/record): VG+/VG+ Comments: UK pressing Available: 1 Catalog ID: 6224 Price: $15.00
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From a marketing standpoint "Rory Gallagher Live" was kind of an odd release given it simply served to repackage previously released material. In this case the seven live tracks were cherry picked from 1972's "Live! In Europe" (three songs) and 1974's "Irish Tour 74" (four songs). True fans already owned both of those albums so this release had limited utility for them. If you were a casual fan the album provided a concise overview of Gallagher's live charms, but you were still better off with either of those other concert sets. Still, pretty much any Gallagher album was worth owning and this one focused on Gallagher's up-tempo rock catalog - always a good thing. The other thing that makes Gallagher's live output so good stems from the fact these performances captured the man's essence. Most acts struggle to replicate their studio sounds in a live setting. Not the case for Gallagher who actually had the opposite problem; trying to capture his live energy in a studio environment.
(side
1) Pulled from the "Irish Tour 74" album, 'Used To Be' kicked the album off in blazing fashion. Gallagher and company at their roughest, this one showcased everything that made Gallagher so good - a rough hewn voice just made for rock and that instantly recognizable Strat sound - who else can scat sing on a stratocaste .... Clearly a final candidate for rock's best guitarist ... rating: **** stars 2.) Tattooed Ladty (Rory Gallagher) - "Tattooed Lady" captured Gallagher at his most commercial. Hard to believe this one wasn't a massive radio hit for the man. rating: **** stars 3.) Pistol Slapper Blues (Blindboy Fuller) - Admittedly, I've never been a fan of Gallagher's hardcore country-blues catalog so his cover of Blindboy Fuller's 'Pistol Slapper Blues' wasn't a highlight for me. I actually can remember seeing him perform this one - just Gallagher and acoustic guitar ... rating: ** stars 4.) I Walk On Hot Coals (Rory Gallagher) - As Gallagher himself said "we're going to get the tempo back up" and that's exactly what 'I Walk On Hot Coals Does'. Another blistering rocker, this one's always impressed me in that it allowed keyboardist Lou Martin a rare opportunity to actually share a bit of the spotlight with Gallagher. This one includes one of Gallagher's all time best solos ... rating: **** stars
(side
2) Gallagher's best 'revenge' song ... Any crusty blues man worth his salt proud would have been proud to perform 'In Your Town'. rating: **** stars 2.) Who's That Coming? (Rory Gallagher) - Overlooking the fact it was one of the highlights in Gallagher's live repertoire, 'Who's That Coming?' was worth the admission price just to hear the opening slide guitar segment. rating: **** stars 3.) Messing with the Kid (Wells) - Though 'Messing with the Kid; slowed things down a bit, the spotlight clearly remained on Gallagher's amazing chops. One of the best performances in terms of displaying the full range of his arsenal. rating: **** stars
Again, not the perfect Gallagher concert documentary - get the double LP "Irish Tour 74" if you're only going to invest in one release, but this serves as kind of a nice abbreviated 'best of' effort.
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Genre: blues rock Rating: *** (3 stars) Title: Sinner ... and Saint Company: Polydor Catalog: PD-6510 Year: 1975 Country/State: Ballyshannon, Ireland Grade (cover/record): VG/VG Comments: minor ring and edge wear Available: 1 Catalog ID: 2600 Price: $10.00
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While there's no such thing as a needless Gallagher album, "Sinner ...
and Saint" came close - not that the music was bad, rather fans already owned it. With Gallagher having already signed a deal with Chrysalis Records, former label Polydor acquired rights to Gallagher's two ATCO efforts, pulling together ten tracks from his first two ATCO releases (five selections from both
1971's "Rory Gallagher" and 1972's "Deuce"). At it's most charitable the effort could be seen as a rather transparent attempt to squeeze a couple of additional dollars out of Gallagher's fan base ...
On the other hand, if you couldn't find, or afford the original albums
(they are beginning to get expensive), this wasn't a bad way of seeing what
you'd missed. Given it was released to compete with Gallagher's Chrysalis debut,
the collection sold well, peaking at #158. (side
1)
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Genre: blues rock Rating: *** (3 stars) Title: Between Belfast and Dublin Company: Pickwick Catalog: U/80055 Year: 1975 Country/State: Ballyshannon, Ireland Grade (cover/record): VG/VG+ Comments: UK pressing Available: 1 Catalog ID: 5153 Price: $15.00
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Released by the cheapo Pickwick reissue label, this is a weird one in that it doesn't appear on any of the Rory Gallagher discographies I've seen - not even the one maintained by Gallagher's brother. It's also strange in that the liner notes read like they were translated by someone with extremely limited English proficiency ... "Further Rory Gallagher can say of himself that he as a musician who always performs in battered jeans and with equally battered guitars, in spite of it became a great Rock-Star with an individual image."
The title was certainly misleading in giving you an impression this was a live set (perhaps related to the "Irish Tour 74" collection). Instead "Between Belfast and Dublin" served as a weird compilation pulling together an odd mixture of early and mid-career Gallagher studio tracks. (As far as I can tell, most of the ten tracks seem to have come from 1972's "Deuce" and 1975's "Sinner .. Saint".) Mind you there was nothing wrong with the ten tracks and hearing Gallagher's killer guitar and overlooked voice on material like 'Used To Be', 'For the Last Time' and 'Just the Smile' was certainly a treat. So ... while it isn't an essential Gallagher album, any self- proclaimed Gallagher fan will want to have it in their collection (and the liner notes are a gas).
"Between Belfast and Dublin" track listing:
1.) Used To Be (Rory Gallagher) - 5:02 (side 2) 1.) Crest of a Wave (Rory Gallagher)- 5:29 2.) I'm Not Awake Yet (Rory Gallagher) - 5:27 3.) There's a Light (Rory Gallagher) - 5:52 4.) I Fall Apart (Rory Gallagher) - 5:08 5.) Don't Know Where I'm Going (Rory Gallagher) - 2:43
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Genre: blues rock Rating: *** (3 stars) Title: The Story So Far Company: Polydor Catalog: PD-6519 Year: 1975 Country/State: Ballyshannon, Ireland Grade (cover/record): NM/NM Comments: still sealed Available: 2 Catalog ID: not listed yet Price: $10.00
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Having already released one retrospective ("Sinner... and Saint"), in the wake of Gallagher's defection to Chrysalis, Polydor management sought to recoup some of it's investment with the release of 1976's
"The Story So
Far". Pulling a representative cross section of his catalog, the eight tracks represented material drawn from five of his six American Polydor albums ("Bullfrog Blues" was pulled from the European-only "Live In Europe" set). Musically the results provided an adequate, if limited retrospective. While one could argue over the track line up, for casual fans and the curious, it was one of the sets to buy ... (Nice to see Polydor spending so much on the classy cover art.)
1.) Laundromat (Rory Gallagher) - (side 2) 1.) In Your Town (Rory Gallagher) - |
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Genre: blues rock Rating: **** (4 stars) Title: Against the Grain Company: Chrysalis Catalog: CHR 1098 Year: 1975 Country/State: Ballyshannon, Ireland Grade (cover/record): VG+/VG+ Comments: -- Available: 1 Catalog ID: 1407 Price: $20.00
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At least to my ears 1975's self-produced and aptly-titled "Against the Grain" was a major surprise. For a guy who had always prided himself on his non-commerciality (I'm guessing that was the inspiration for the title), the album came off as quite slick and well produced. That's not to imply this was Gallagher's sell-out album. Remember we're talking about Rory Gallagher so anyone picturing faceless AOR material was simply way off target. Still, unlike earlier releases, this time out Gallagher largely steered away from tradition blues, instead focusing on a more blues-rock oriented sound. His blues roots were still clearly there, but the album sounded like Gallagher and company had put considerable time and effort into capturing their accumulated strengths. With three years of steady touring under their collective belts, Gallagher, keyboardist Lou Martin , drummer Ted McKenna, and bassist Gerry McAvoy were one of the tightest bands on the road. Lots of highlights on this one including virtually the entire first side, the melodic 'Lost At Sea', and my favorite number - 'At the Bottom'.
"Against the Grain" track listing: (side 1) 1.) Let Me In (Rory Gallagher) - 4:03 rating: **** stars Anyone who knew Gallagher as a hardcore blues artist was probably going to be surprised by the boogie-styled 'Let Me Go'. Maybe not quite top-40 material, but surprisingly commercial and accessible. YouTube has a clip of Gallagher performing the tune for a 1975 episode of Don Kirshner's Rock Concert. It's worth watching just to see a somewhat stiff Kirshner reading the introduction off of cue cards. You had to wonder if Kirshner had a clue as to who Gallagher was: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y2a9w3NPBj4 2.) Cross Me Off Your List (Rory Gallagher) - 4:26 rating: **** stars If 'Let Me In' was a surprise, 'Cross Me Off Your List' was a major shocker. Opening up with almost a jazzy feel, the tune soon morphed into a rocking platform for Gallagher's overlooked voice (he seldom sounded as good) and his incredibly nimble fretwork. Kudos to drummer Rod De'Ath on this one. 3.) Ain't Too Good (Rory Gallagher) - 3:54 rating: **** stars Simply one of the prettiest tunes Gallagher ever wrote and in the right hands it could have provided him with radio airplay. YouTube has a clip of the band doing the song from a 1975 concert performance featured on Don Kirshner's Rock Concert. The video quality is a bit shaky, as is the performance itself: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Rlc6CtnUOg 4.) Souped Up Ford (Rory Gallagher) - 6:24 rating: **** stars Guitar, guitar, guitar ...if you had to pick one Gallagher tune for a mix tape, this would be a good choice. It's also a great tune to see what your speakers are really made of. Can they handle Gallagher's awe-inspiring slide guitar? Many will fail the test. Makes you wish you could play slide guitar. It became a staple in his live show and YouTube has a couple of concert performances. The best of them is this 1977 clip from a German television RockPalast show: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fUYC5Q-bqgY 5.) Bought and Sold (Rory Gallagher) - 3:24 rating: **** stars Ironic give it may have been inspired by his frustration with the music industry, the rollicking 'Bought and Sold' was one of the most tuneful things he ever recorded and another track that had distinct commercial possibilities. Another stunning 1977 RockPalast performance: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ELHxrxXmRoY
(side 2) 1.) I Take What I Want (David Porter - Isaac Hayes - Teenie Hodges) - 4:22 rating: *** stars Nice cover of the Sam and Dave Stax classic, though you won't forget the original ... The live 1977 RockPalast clip is even better than the studio version. Probably should be mandatory viewing for anyone interested in performing blues-rock: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PNe75UXomNo 2.) Lost at Sea (Rory Gallagher) - 4:06 rating: **** stars Another atypical tune that blended a wonderful melody with some of Gallagher's patented stratocaster moves. 3.) All Around Man (Bo Carter) - 6:14 rating: *** stars Reflecting Gallagher's longstanding affection for the The Mississippi Sheiks, 'All Around Man' was one of the album's few straightforward blues numbers. Some nice slide guitar moves, but hardly one of the standout performances. Another one where there are numerous live clips. This 1976 performance on the BBC's Old Grey Whistle Test strikes me as being the best of the lot: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=og2XJjg2uCs 4.) Out On the Western Plain (Huddy Ledbetter) - 3:53 rating: **** stars The opening scat moves have never done a great deal for me, but when the song got moving, Gallagher's overlooked vocals came to the forefront. Wonderful sound quality on this one which also showcased Gallagher's talents on acoustic guitar. YouTube has a nice 1980 RockPalast perfomance: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q5JO-BTP1SE 5.) At the Bottom (Rory Gallagher) - 3:19 rating: **** stars My favorite performance on the album - a near perfect combination with another great melody; Gallagher's fantastic voice, and some of his most tuneful lead guitar. The little country riff at the end always makes me smile.
I have absolutely no idea why, but when the Buddah and Capo labels reissued the collection in CD format in the late 1990s, they elected to have Tony Arnold remaster the album with what I'd argue was an inferior mix. The reissue package did include two bonus tracks - the instrumental 'Cluney Blues' and the rockabilly-influenced 'My Baby, Sure'). They also slapped on an inferior, alternate cover. Go for the original release.
Buddah catalog number 7446599686 2 Sony/Capo/Legacy catalog number 88725461492
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Genre: blues rock Rating: **** (4 stars) Title: Calling Card Company: Chrysalis Catalog: CHR 1124 Year: 1976 Country/State: Ireland Grade (cover/record): VG/VG+ Comments: cut corner; original inner sleeve Available: 1 Catalog ID: not listed yet Price: $20.00
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Having produced himself for the last umpteen years, 1976's "Calling Card" saw Gallagher taking advantage of his contract with Chrysalis (and the company's substantially larger budget), to record his second LP for the label in Munich, Germany with Deep Purple alumnus/bass player Roger Glover handling the boards. Glover' influence was fairly obvious, the collection standing as one of Gallagher's most rock-oriented releases. Penning some of his most impressive material, Gallagher and company sounded calm, confident and as if they was having a great deal of fun. The album again benefited from the added flexibility allowed by a four piece line up. Want to hear a Gallagher song with synthesizers? Check out the opener "Do You Read Me". Interestingly, while "Jackknife Beat", "Country Mile" and "Secret Agent" were two of his best out-and-out rockers, the ballad "I'll Admit You're Gone" and the stunning "Edged In Blue" were the two highlights. On a regular basis we debate Gallagher's best all-around LP. Ignoring some of the live efforts, this studio set comes up more often than not.
"Calling Card" track listing: (side 1) 1.) Do You Read Me (Rory Gallagher) - 2.) Country Mile (Rory Gallagher) - 3.) Moonchild (Rory Gallagher) - 4.) Calling Card (Rory Gallagher) - 5.) I'll Admit You're Gone (Rory Gallagher) -
(side 2) 1.) Secret Agent (Rory Gallagher) - 2.) Jackknife Beat (Rory Gallagher) - 3.) Edged In Blue (Rory Gallagher) - 4.) Barley and Grape Rag (Rory Gallagher) -
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Genre: blues-rock Rating: **** (4 stars) Title: Photo-Finish Company: Chrysalis Catalog: CHR 1170 Year: 1978 Country/State: Ireland Grade (cover/record): VG+/VG+ Comments: cut top right corner; original inner sleeve Available: 1 Catalog ID: 2602 Price: $15.00
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1978's
"Photo-Finish" was recorded after a shake up to Rory
Gallagher's backing band. After several years touring as a
quartet, Gallagher's seventh album saw the departure of keyboardist
Lou Martin. Anyone expecting a major change in musical direction
might have been a bit disappointed by this. On the other hand, anyone who was a true Gallagher fan saw this as another stellar addition to the catalog.
Co-produced with Alan O'Duffy, the sound was still blues oriented, but to my
ears tracks such as the roaring 'Brute Force and Ignorance' (one of his most
tuneful compositions), and 'Cruise On Out' made the album looser and more varied than some of his earlier releases.
While tracks such as the boogie-rocker Shin Kicker', 'Last of the
Independents' and the driving 'Cloak and Dagger' showcased Gallagher's trademark blazing
strat, material such as 'Shadow Play' and 'Overnight Bag' (a wonderful ballad) underscored the often forgotten fact that Gallagher was an accomplished vocalist. Gifted with a deep, soulful voice (check out his delivery on
'The
Mississippi Sheiks'), Gallagher's performances were miles ahead of Alvin Lee and frequently on a par with the likes of Steve Gibbons and Frankie Miller (two of
my favorites). The overall results made this one of my favorite Gallagher releases ... 1.) Shin Kicker (Rory Gallagher) - 3:57 rating: **** stars The
opener 'Shin Kicker' found Gallagher taking a stab at a more boogie-oriented
sound than normal. Have to admit it didn't immediately resonate
with me, but after a couple of spins I'm full in. There's so
much live Gallagher on the net, the problem is to find the best of the
lot. I'll go with this 1979 performance on the German Rockpalast
television show: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L90EDfyFIn8
For
folks who think Gallagher was nothing but hardcore blues, I'd suggest
checking out the glorious
'Brute Force and Ignorance'. I've
hear the tune was inspired by a Sex Pistols show he attended, but who knows
if that's nothing more than urban legend. Musically it was one of his
most tuneful numbers with a rollicking melody. Always loved the slide
solo on this one and the backing mandolin. Again, lots of live
clips to pick from, but here's one from a 1980 perfomance in Zurich: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JTondN4LLV4 I
remember being dumbfounded the first time I heard 'Cruise On Out' - a Rory
Gallagher song you could dance to ... Seriously, if you can sit still
through this one, you might want to check your pulse to see if you are still
alive. And as good as the studio version was, Gallagher just destroyed
it on this 1979 performance for the BBC's Rock Goes To College television
show (check out his dance moves) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h4u0p4XWZ-A 'Cloak and
Dagge' was another tune for folks who
thought Gallagher was simply too bluesy for their tastes. Okay,
maybe blues-rock, but the emphasis was on rock. The tone Gallagher got
on this song is amazing, as was the chorus. How was this not a
single? As
commercial as 'Cloak and Dagger' was, 'Overnight Bag' was even better.
The song had one of those melodies that you can't shake out of you head and
Gallagher's playing was entrancing.
(side 2) 1.) Shadow Play (Rory Gallagher) - 4:46 rating: **** stars The pounding 'Shadow Play' was the perfect song to hear how tight Gallagher, drummer Ted McKenna, and bassist Gerry McAvoy were. The tune's always reminded me a bit of Thin Lizzy rocker. Always wondered it that was the reason Chrysalis tapped it as a three track EP for the Irish and UK markets:
1978's 'Shadow Play' / Brute Force and Ignorance' b/w 'Souped Ford' (Chrysalis catalog number CHS 2261) Not where this 1978 clip was filmed, but this television performance was pretty impressive. Guess the audience was dead.: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_izHVJw-XEo
I'm
not a big blues fan, but
'The Mississippi Sheiks' was a blues song
for folks who didn't like the genre. The song's always left me
dumbfounded by what an enormous sound Gallagher and company made as a
trio. Wonder how many fans
know Gallagher wrote this as a tribute to Bolton Mississippi's Chatmon
Family (The Mississippi Sheiks). Another live performance
from the BBC Rock Goes To College show: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kuVemZgudUc The
first tune that didn't knock me out - love the guitar refrain, but otherwise
I found 'The Last of the Independents'
kind of routine and predictable. 1980 television performance
with Gallagher and company speeding up the song's original tempo: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wTFrt_w5g5Y ' Fuel To the Fire' was one of his most beautiful and stunning performances. This would be one of the songs I'd like played at my wake. Another live performance from the BBC Rock Goes To College show: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SbswM3lPC8A
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Genre: blues rock Rating: **** (4 stars) Title: Top Priority Company: Chrysalis Catalog: CHR 1235 Year: 1979 Country/State: Ireland Grade (cover/record): NM/NM Comments: minor corner wear; has original inner sleeve Available: 1 Catalog ID: not listed yet Price: $20.00
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With Rory Gallagher continuing his extensive touring schedule, by the late '70s he began to garner significant press attention, particularly in the States. More than willing to cash in on the publicity, Chrysalis rushed Gallagher back into the studio. Continuing his relationship with producer Alan O'Duffy, 1979's "Top Priority" (reportedly named after Chrysalis' promise to support the album), stood as Gallagher's most mainstream rock effort. That wasn't to say Gallagher sold out the blues. Virtually every one of the nine tracks was underscored by a blues base, however tracks such as 'Wayward Child', 'Keychain,' and 'Bad Penny' were among the most mainstream and commercial things he'd ever penned. With 'Off the Handle' being the only true blues number, fans of his more country-blues and acoustic work may have been disappointed, but I wasn't one of them. Perhaps because of the interesting lyrical subject and strong melody, to my ears the standout track was the awesome 'Bad Penny', followed by the single 'Philby' (how often do you hear a song about an infamous British spy?), and in third place was the scorching 'Just Hit Town.' For me it's a must own album.
As a minor footnote, as shown on the listing, my copy of the album has a slightly different cover. Same photo of Gallagher, but centered and surrounded by a white background and a red "Top Priority" stamp. Here's the other version I've seen.
"Top Priority" track listing: (side 1) 1.) Follow Me (Rory Gallagher) - 4:40 rating: **** stars The opener was a wonderful example demonstrating Gallagher's ability to delve into a more rock oriented sound. Great melody and sterling lead guitar performance. Even better, the song underscored what a strong rock-and-roll voice Gallagher had. The only downside was the song faded out just as Gallagher was starting to cut loose. YouTube has a bunch of live performances of the tune. This one from a 1982 performance on the German RockPalast show is the best one I've seen: Rory Gallagher - Follow Me - YouTube 2.) Philby (Rory Gallagher) - 3:51 rating; ***** stars Without a doubt 'Philby' would make my top-5 list of Gallagher tunes. One of his finest melodies coupled with a fascinating lyric. Loved the Coral sitar on this one. (Gallagher reportedly borrowed the instrument from Pete Townshend.) I've always wondered how the song came to be. I suspect the late Kim Philby isn't a subject most rockers would be inspired by. Another track where YouTube has lots of live clips. This one from a 1985 performance at Montreaux is great: "Philby" Rory Gallagher performs at Montreux (1985) - YouTube Hardly known as a singles act, Chrysalis actually tapped the song as a 45:
- 1979's 'Philby' b/w 'Hellcat' (Chrysalis catalog number CHS 2364) 3.) Wayward Child (Rory Gallagher) - 3:31 rating: **** stars Listening to the bouncy 'Wayward Child' who would have imagined Gallagher could come up with a song that would sound at home on top-40 radio? Certainly not me ... What an awesome melody and solo. Introduced by Billy Connolly, here's an equally impressive live performance of the tune. Check out the enthusiastic audience: Rory Gallagher Wayward Child/ Bad Penny - YouTube 4.) Keychain (Rory Gallagher) - 4:09 rating: **** stars Love the dark, fuzz sound the permeated the blazing 'Keychain.' The album's tautest performance. 5.) At the Depot (Rory Gallagher) - 2:56 rating: *** stars Up-tempo and a track where it sounded like Gallagher and company were having a blast. Nice introduction to his blazing slide guitar work.
(side 2) 1.) Bad Penny (Rory Gallagher) - 4:03 rating: **** stars Nothing to say other than AWESOME !!! Perhaps my favorite Gallagher song. It's that friggin' good. Here's a link to another 1982 RockPalast performance: Rory Gallagher-Bad Penny (Rockpalast 1982) - YouTube 2.) Just Hit Town (Rory Gallagher) - 3:37 rating: **** stars Reportedly a nod to his dislike of flying, if I had one critique of the blazing 'Just Hit Town' it would be Gallagher seemed to be screaming his vocals. With Gallagher overdubbing his lead guitar, this was the kind of performance the late Phil Lynott and Thin Lizzy could only dream about. 3.) Off the Handle (Rory Gallagher) - 5:36 rating: *** stars The album's most typical blues-rock performance, the track's saved by a wonderful Gallagher solo. YouTube has a live performance from a 1979 appearance at Montreaux: Rory Gallagher - Off the Handle (Montreux 1979). - YouTube 4.) Public Enemy No 1 (Rory Gallagher) - 3:46 rating: **** stars Catchy isn't an adjective you normally think of with Rory Gallagher, but it's fitting for the rollicking rocker 'Public Enemy No 1.' Who thought - a fun Rory Gallagher performance.
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Genre: blues rock Rating: *** (3 stars) Title: Stage Struck Company: Chrysalis Catalog: CHR 1280 Year: 1980 Country/State: Ireland Grade (cover/record): VG+/VG+ Comments: promotional stamp on back cover; original inner sleeve Available: 1 Catalog ID: not listed yet Price: $15.00
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In a curious marketing move (perhaps not so curious given Gallagher was leaving for a new label), 1980's
"Stage Struck" saw Chrysalis reaching into the archives to pull material from a 1979/80 world tour (material was drawn from Australian, French, Irish and American dates). Given there were already two live sets (1972's "Rory Gallagher Live!" and 1974's "Irish Tour '74"), you couldn't exactly claim this release was a necessity. On the other hand the self-produced set was interesting for switching the focus from blues to Gallagher's rock and boogie catalogs. Backed by bassist McAvoy and drummer McKenna, material such as "Wayward Child", "Brute Force And Arrogance", "Moonchild" and "Floow Me" made it clear Gallagher had all the talents required to take on his more successful 'guitar god' contemporaries. (Any Whitesnake fans out there? This simply shreds those imitators to shreds). Once again, Gallagher proved a surprisingly accomplished vocalist. In the meantime, tired of the constant touring, McKenna quit. He was quickly replaced by Brendan O'Neill.
1.) Shin Kicker (Rory Gallagher) (side 2) 1.) Follow Me (Rory Gallagher)
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Genre: blues rock Rating: **** (4 stars) Title: Jinx Company: Mercury Catalog: SRM-1-4051 Year: 1982 Country/State: Ireland Grade (cover/record): VG+/VG+ Comments: minor ring, edge and corner wear Available: 1 Catalog ID: not listed yet Price: $15.00
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Ending his longstanding business relationship with Chrysalis (7 years and 5 albums), 1982's
"Jinx" found Gallagher and company signed to Mercury. The change seemed to reinvigorate Gallagher, who turned in his strongest set in years. Self-produced, material such as "The Devil Made Me Do It", the bluesy "Easy Come, Easy Go" and "Signals" found Gallagher turning in a scorching set of originals. In contrast to recent releases, not only was Gallagher's guitar playing breathtaking (check out the slide-propelled "Double Vision"), but his craggy voice had seldom sounded as good. Personal favorite; the atmospheric "Jinxed". Among the few missteps, in spite of a blazing guitar solo, the pedestrian "Big Guns" sounded like a Phil Lynott and Thin Lizzy outtake. Tell ya' what, this is a good place for the
uninitiated to start ...
1.) Signals (Rory Gallagher) - 4:31 (side 2) 1.) Big Guns (Rory Gallagher) - 3:25
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