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First Show Audience 8.5 - A jagged recording that reflects the kind of music this man played every night. It’s not super clear nor is it muddy, and it’s not dynamic nor is it monophonic. It’s a tape that seems like it has promise, if it was re-mastered I think it could be vastly improved but I like it because it’s so raw and honest…like a bar fight ha ha! The second show is also an audience recording although it is much better coming in at an 8.8 on the ratings scale. Clear, and some better dynamics going on. A good one, and a good show. Rory Gallagher City Hall Cork, Ireland January 5, 1974 Disc 1 01 -Intro - Messin' With The Kid 02 -Cradle Rock - Band Intros 03 -I Wonder Who 04 -Tattoo'd Lady 05 -Walk On Hot Coals 06 -Laundromat 07 -Too Much Alcohol 08 -Hands Off 09 -A Million Miles Away Disc 2 01 -As The Crow Flies 02 -Pistol Slapper Blues 03 -Banker's Blues 04 -Unmilitary Two-Step 05 -Goin' To My Hometown 06 -Who's That Comin' 07 -In Your Town Disc 3 City Hall Cork, Ireland December 28, 1974 01 -intro - Messin' With The Kid 02 -Tattoo'd Lady 03 -I Wonder Who 04 -Cradle Rock 05 -Jam - Cradle Rock - I Don't Know Why (Start Of World War Three) 06 -A Million Miles Away 07 -Walk On Hot Coals 08 -Too Much Alcohol Disc 4 01 -Pistol Slapper Blues 02 -Goin' To My Hometown 03 -Laundromat 04 -Hands Off 05 -Livin' Like A Trucker 06 -Who's That Comin' 07 -Bullfrog Blues 08 -In Your Town -
Audience 9.1 - A fascinating document! Well, for one thing, it has that visceral, thump to your chest power and immediacy while you are immersed in the pit with your bros…but the crowd only makes this better. Such amazing atmosphere! The other thing is that this is NOT your mid 70’s blues guitar pub rock – it is much more along the punk/grunge aesthetic in how Rory is playing and his tone. Sure, he plays a lot of blues, but it does not come across the same as it did in ’74…it comes across as music that can breathe new life into what could be considered a dated musical form.
Rory Gallagher Inselwiese Dinkelsbühl, Germany 05. Juli 1986 Disc 1 01. -Ansage - Moonchild 8:03 02. -Shinkicker 6:39 03. -I wonder who 12:22 04. -Nadine 9:34 05. -Bad Penny 9:08 06. -Seven Days - I'm Ready 12:03 07. -Tattoo'd Lady 8:46 08. -A Million Miles Away 8:42 Disc 2 09. -Follow Me 7:01 10. -Out On The Western Plain 6:39 11. -Walkin Blues 7:06 12. -Rollin & Tumblin 5:43 13. -Big Guns 7:48 14. -I'm A Man 2:58 15. -Messin With The Kid 8:39 16. -Bullfrog Blues 6:37 17. -Seven Days - I'm Ready 10:22 18. -Follow Me 5:32
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Audience 8.7 - Better than average, the tape has dynamics to it and even if vocals sound somewhat distant, the bass and guitar have a nice attack with the low end having that chest pounding quality which adds a lot to the electrifying atmospherics. Rory is particularly savage, playing what is probably a really wild crowd since it is where he is from. The performance is worth the entrance fee, the sound quality is good enough to warrant extended engagement. Full disclosure: There is some tape hiss present although it only becomes obvious when the band is not playing. RORY GALLAGHER Rory's Stompin' Grounds National Stadium Dublin, Ireland December 28, 1978 Disc 1 1. Shinkicker 2. Do You Read Me 3. Bought And Sold 4. I Wonder Who 5. Cruise On Out 6. Brute Force and Ignorance 7. Calling Card Disc 2 8. Out On The Western Plain 9. Too Much Alcohol 10. Barley & Grape Rag 11. Goin' To My Hometown 12. Shadow Play 13. Tattoo'd Lady 14. Bullfrog Blues 15. Sea Cruise Rory Gallagher - guitar, vocals Gerry McAvoy - bass Ted McKenna - drums -
Dublin 1974 Soundboard 9.4 - This is a sweet one, it’s early in the new year (a year he would tour extensively during), and he’s in the beautiful city of Dublin, possibly thinking maybe this is how he’ll kick off the ambitious tour, and he just kills it! I would rate the recording higher but for some sizzle on the highs (cymbal crashes, etc.) that don’t hurt the tape so much as they don’t belong on a professionally made for release recording, if indeed that is what this was for. So, that being said you can still dive into this with the full knowledge that it will live up to the rating and then some!
Limerick 1972 Soundboard 8.8 - Sounds like this originates from TV or local radio and suffers from some compression limitations and occasionally drop outs due to sheer age. It’s still professionally recorded, so it’s got bones to work with and you’ll be able to get into it but because it is made for TV (or radio?) there is interruption for interviews – so you have to take this short piece for what it is. It’s filler for the excellent Dublin ’74 and it is fine in that capacity.
Rory Gallagher Carlton Cinema Dublin, Ireland January 2, 1974 Disc 1 1. -Cradle Rock 2. -Tattoo'd Lady 3. -Hands Off 4. -Walk On Hot Coals 5. -Laundromat 6. -Too Much Alcohol 7. -A Million Miles Away 8. -As The Crow Flies 9. -Pistol Slapper Blues 10. -Banker's Blues Disc 2 11. -Unmilitary Two Step 12. -Going To My Hometown 13. -In Your Town 14. -Bullfrog Blues Savoy Theatre Limerick, Ireland May 11, 1972 15. -I'm Tore Down 16. -Interviews 17. -Laundromat 18. -Interviews 19. -Pistol Slapper Blues 20. -Interviews 21. -Patch Of Grey Cloud (AKA Don't Know Where I'm Goin') 22. -Interviews 23. -Bullfrog Blues
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Audience 8.8/Audience 8.7 - Both recordings here (from the same taper) occurred on two different gigs at the same venue in the same year. Both are consistent, and good. The songs do duplicate but Rory has new material to offer at the second gig later in the year. Great set here! Rory Gallagher Jahrhunderthalle Frankfurt, WG 1973-01-26 Disc 1 01 -Messin' With The Kid 02 -Hands Off 03 -I Should've Learnt My Lesson 04 -Laundromat 05 -Walk On Hot Coals 06 -Banker's Blues 07 -Pistol Slapper Blues 08 -Goin' To My Hometown Disc 2 09 -In Your Town 10 -I Could've Had Religion 11 -Bullfrog Blues 12 -Mellow Down Easy 13 -Used To Be Disc 3 Jahrhunderthalle Frankfurt, WG 1973-10-24 01 -Messin' With The Kid 02 -Hands Off 03 -Hoodoo Man 04 -Cradle Rock 05 -A Million Miles Away 06 -Walk On Hot Coals 07 -As The Crow Flies Disc 4 08 -Pistol Slapper Blues 09 -Unmilitary Two-Step 10 -Banker´s Blues 11 -Goin' To My Hometown 12 -Who´s That Comin´ 13 -In Your Town 14 -Bullfrog Blues 15 -Laundromat Band: Rory Gallagher - Vocals Guitar, Mandolin, Harp Rod De'Ath - Drums Lou Martin - Piano Gerry McAvoy - Bass -
Audience 8.8 - Frighteningly close to the stage with a good, clear sound! The dynamics and clarity of “Out On The Western Plain” is spooky, it’s literally as if Rory was sitting there in your living room. RORY GALLAGHER Jahrhunderthalle Frankfurt Germany March 20th 1975 Disc 1 1 -Messin' With The Kid 2 -Tattoo'd Lady 3 -Want Ad Blues 4 -Cradle Rock 5 -Young Fashioned Ways 6 -A Million Miles Away Disc 2 7 -Walk on Hot Coals 8 -Out On The Western Plain 9 -Pistol Slapper Blues 10 -Too Much Alcohol 11 -Going To My Hometown 12 -Who’s That Coming 13 -All Around Man THE BAND Rory Gallagher guitar vocals Gerry McAvoy bass Lou Martin keyboards Rod de'Ath drums -
Soundboard 9.2 - A very clean, dry board with dramatic emphasis on guitar as it should. A study in how to rock the blues without falling into same old same old, I mean, the man was a living riff machine! -
Soundboard/Audience matrix 8.8 - This recording is pretty clean but is just a touch…how would I say, maybe doesn’t highlight the upper high end so it almost sounds like the edges were trimmed on the rock bush. It still delivers a punch to the gut, particularly if you like your drums to rattle your insides a bit because they do here, in a good way. Overall, this is a real fine set of tunes and is rather long and includes a pre-show interview at the end of the 3rd disc.
Rory Gallagher Cardis Houston, Texas, U.S.A. May 26, 1985 Disc One 01 - Double Vision 02 - Moonchild 03 - I Wonder Who 04 - Shinkicker 05 - Mississippi Sheiks (with Rain) 06 - Tattoo'd Lady 07 - Off The Handle Disc Two 08 - Big Guns 09 - Failsafe Day 10 - Out On The Western Plain 11 - Seven Days 12 - Banker's Blues 13 - Philby Disc Three 14 - Bought And Sold 15 - Shadow Play 16 - Bullfrog Blues 17 - Sweet Little Sixteen 18 - Nadine (encore audience cheering) 19 - Messin' With The Kid 20 - All Around Man 21 - Interview by FG (Pre-Show)
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Soundboard 9.1-9.4 - The mix gets tweaked a couple of times during the show but overall it’s a good one. -
FM Broadcast 9.0 - A tape that seems to be intact but missing a little of the sharpness and attack of a low gen or master which just means you crank it a little louder. It’s all there, the quality is there, but needs your input to get it up to loudness. Performance is cracking!
Rory Gallagher Hammersmith Odeon Theatre London, England 1-13-79 Rory Gallagher Group; May 1978 - March 1981: Rory Gallagher - guitar, vocals Gerry McAvoy - bass Ted McKenna - drums Set List: 01 - Radio DJ introduction 02 - Shinkicker 03 - Do You Read Me 04 - Off The Handle 05 - Out On The Western Plain 06 - Goin' To My Hometown 07 - Brute Force & Ignorance 08 - Secret Agent 09 - Shadow Play 10 - Tattoo'd Lady
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RORY GALLAGHER Long Beach Arena Long Beach CA. April 15th 1973 1 -Tune up 2 -Messin' With The Kid 3 -Hand's Off 4 -Shoud've Learnt My Lesson 5 -Laundromat 6 -Bullfrog Blues 7 -Bass Solo 8 -Drum Solo 9 -Bullfrog Blues (reprise) THE BAND Rory Gallagher guitar vocals Gerry McAvoy bass Lou Martin keyboards Rod de'Ath drumsAudience 8.4 - A recent discovery, and man what a good one. A very strong recording for the time, minimal errors although maybe a touch hot on the upper end of the bandwidth but not enough to harm. The sound is pretty direct and forceful, if even a touch of rawness that harkens back to his really early days with Taste. -
FM Broadcast 8.8 - Decent if a little compressed, but it’s from a period that I don’t see a whole lot of recordings from. Rory Gallagher 1976-11-18 Shrine Auditorium, Los Angeles, CA with filler from 1974-04-04 Civic Centre, San Diego, CA Rory Gallagher - Guitars/Vocals Gerry McAvoy - Bass Lou Martin - Piano/Keyboards Rod De'Ath - Pots & Pans Disc 1 (L.A. 1976): 1. Introduction 2. Moonchild 3. Secret Agent 4. Calling Card 5. I Take What I Want/Watch Your Step 6. Bought & Sold 7. Out On The Western Plain 8. Do You Read Me 9. Souped Up Ford/Want-Ad Blues Disc 2 (San Diego 1974): 1. Hands Off 2. Bullfrog Blues 3. Early In The Morning 4. A Million Miles Away 5. In Your Town (cut) -
Soundboard 9.7 - Amazing set featuring the nitro-fueled blues rock of Rory Gallagher on full glorious display. A decidedly heavy approach this time, but it seems odd that the audience embraced this yet boo’d Stevie Ray Vaughan mercilessly only a few short years later. Either way, this is the good stuff right here. Rory Gallagher Montreux Jazz Festival Montreux, Switzerland 07-22-1977 Setlist: (74:30) 01.I Take What I Want- 6:06 02.Calling Card- 6:54 03.Secret Agent- 6:00 04.Tattoo'd Lady- 4:40 05.Out On The Western Plain- 5:44 06.Barley & Grape Rag/Pistol Slapper Blues- 5:24 07.Too Much Alcohol- 5:13 08.Garbage Man- 8:12 09.Bought And Sold- 5:59 10.A Million Miles Away- 7:48 11.Shin Kicker- 6:43 12.Last Of The Independents- 5:47 Performers: Rory Gallagher- Electric, Electric Slide, Acoustic and National Steel Guitar, Vocals Gerry McAvoy- Bass Lou Martin- Keyboards Ron de'Ath- Drums -
Soundboard 9.7 - Superb sound quality! Crisp, well balanced, and even kind of dynamic which is a bonus as you know that sometimes board times are…well, board! This is a shining recording man, grab it! Rory Gallagher Blues Rock Festival Tegelen, The Netherlands September 1, 1984 Disc One 01 - intro - Double Vision 02 - Follow Me 03 - I Wonder Who 04 - My Baby, She Left Me 05 - Mississippi Sheiks 06 - Drinkin' Down The Bourbon 07 - Off The Handle Disc Two 01 - Walkin' Blues 02 - I'm Leavin' 03 - Out On The Western Plain 04 - As The Crow Flies 05 - Big Guns 06 - Bring It On Home 07 - Tore Down 08 - Knock On Wood Disc Three 01 - Shadow Play 02 - Jamming Improv 03 - Gerry McAvoy Bass Jam 04 - Bad Penny 05 - audience 06 - Shinkicker 07 - Blues Improv (I've Been Lovin' You Too Long - Jam - Walkin' The Dog - Little Queenie 08 - Mr. Pitiful Rory Gallagher Group; May 1981 - 1991: Rory Gallagher - guitar, vocals Gerry McAvoy - bass Brendan O'Neill - drums Mark Feltham (guesting) - harmonica -
Audience 8.7 - Pretty clear and close to the main PA it sounds like. In the face guitar, very cool drum sound, thick and hard hitting with a satisfying thud giving the music a lot of body and force. Cool show! RORY GALLAGHER Horton Festival Horton Open Air Festival, Horton, Norway July 2, 1978 CD 1:- Shinkicker
- Bought And Sold
- I wonder who
- Secret agent
- Calling card
- Tattoo'd lady
- Do you read me
- Out On The Western Plain
- Too much alcohol
- Goin to my hometown
- Cruise on out
- That's Alright Mama
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Audience 8.3 - On this tape, you will hear all instruments (guitar out front) pretty clearly, not much crispness but decent bottom end and midrange intact. Slightly muddy in the middle with occasional brighter spots (definite improvement by the beginning of disc 2) throughout as the taper moves into better position. A touch of hiss is present. Not bad, not stellar, I would get it though if you like Rory’s set list during this time (Shadow Play, etc.). Rory Gallagher .... October 3, 1978 Stadthalle, Offenbach, Germany May 1978 - March 1981: Rory Gallagher - guitar, vocals Gerry McAvoy - bass Ted McKenna - drums Set List: Disc One (10 tracks = 62:18 minutes) 01 - Do You Read Me 02 - Secret Agent - band intros 03 - I Wonder Who 04 - Tattoo'd Lady 05 - Mississippi Sheiks 06 - Bought And Sold 07 - Cloak And Dagger 08 - Out On The Western Plain 09 - Too Much Alcohol 10 - Goin' To My Hometown Disc Two (7 tracks = 53:08 minutes) 01 - Shadow Play 02 - Sea Cruise (encore audience cheer, tuning) 03 - Bullfrog Blues (encore audience cheer) 04 - Moonchild 05 - Born In Chicago - I'm Ready (encore audience cheer) 06 - Messin' With The Kid 07 - Boogie - I'm A King Bee (with Roland guesting)