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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. -
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 9.2 - 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! -
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 -
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 -
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 8.5 - A slighly better than average tape with a lot of live atmosphere, and I don't know how large this hall was but it doesn't feel very large in the recording. Everything is very clear and good separation of instruments too, it can use just a touch more dynamic but otherwise it's strong. He's playing for his people, so you know you are gonna get his best stuff, and this is top shelf (with the crowd understandably right there for every call and response. Great crowd.Rory Gallagher SFX Hall Dublin, Ireland December 29, 1983Disc 101 - tuning, Follow Me 02 - Failsafe Day, band intros 03 - Double Vision 04 - Off The Handle 05 - Moonchild 06 - Lonely Mile 07 - Big Guns 08 - Hoodoo Woman 09 - Drinkin' Down The Bourbon 10 - Bad PennyDisc 201 - Jinx 02 - Tattoo'd Lady 03 - Out On The Western Plain 04 - Ride On Red, Ride On 05 - Wayward Child 06 - Shadow Play 07 - Philby (inc. Paint It Black) 08 - Bullfrog Blues (inc. Something Else, Summertime Blues)Rory Gallagher Group; May 1981 - 1991: Rory Gallagher - guitar, vocals Gerry McAvoy - bass Brendan O'Neill - drums Mark Feltham - harmonica -
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 -
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 -
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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Excellent quality throughout with only disc 1 being less than ideal due to the rarity of the tape and early vintage, and that is because you are comparing it to the rest of this set which is all soundboard. The canister cover might appear in the photos as though Rory's face is all washed out but that is just how the flash affected it. Rory Gallagher "Decades 1972-1982" Disc 1 Lausanne, Switzerland Swiss Radio Session Pavillion des Sports June 3, 1972 01. Going to my Hometown 02. Presentation 03. In Your Town 04. Used To Be 05. Interview 06. Hoodoo Man 07. Presentation 08. Messing With The Kid 09. Presentation 10. I Could've Had Religion Popgala, Vliegermolen Voorborg, Holland TV March 1973 11. Messin With The Kid 12. Hands Off Rory Gallagher - guitar, vocals Gerry McAvoy - bass Rod de'Ath - drums Disc 2 Richard's Niteclub Atlanta, Georgia September 1973 01 - Messin' With The Kid 02 - Hands Off 03 - A Million Miles Away 04 - Laundromat 05 - Cradle Rock 06 - Hoodoo Woman 07 - In Your Town Radio Station Studio Atlanta, Georgia September 1973 08 - Pistol Slapper Blues 09 - As The Crow Flies Disc 3 Ancienne Belgique, Belgium 1974-10-21 01.Garbage Man 02.A Million Miles Away 03.Cradle Rock 04.Tattoo'd Lady 05.Pistol Slapper Blues 06.Too Much Alcohol 07.Out On The Western Plain (cut) Rory Gallagher - vocals,guitar Gerry McAvoy - Bass Lou Martin - Keyboards (Organ and Piano) Rod De Ath - Drums Disc 4 The Bottom Line New York, NY. Live at The Bottom Line, February 8, 1976 1. -I Take What I Want 2. -Messin' With The Kid 3. -Too Much Alcohol 4. -Out On The Western Plain 5. -Ain't Too Good 6. -Walk On Hot Coals 7. -Tattoo'd Lady 8. -Bullfrog Blues Line up Rory Gallagher - guitars/vocals Gerry McAvoy - Bass Rod De'Ath - Drums Lou Martin - keyboards Disc 5 Hammersmith Odeon London, England January 19, 1977 01 - Alan Black introduction 02 - Do You Read Me 03 - Secret Agent 04 - Calling Card 05 - Bought and Sold 06 - Out On The Western Plain 07 - Barley & Grape Rag 08 - Pistol Slapper Blues 09 - Too Much Alcohol 10 - Goin' To My Hometown 11 - Souped-Up Ford 12 - Bullfrog Blues Rory Gallagher - guitar, vocals Gerry McAvoy - bass Rod de'Ath - drums Lou Martin - keyboards Disc 6 Rhein-Neckar-Halle Heidelberg-Eppelheim, Germany October 5, 1978 01 Do You Read Me? 02 Secret Agent 03 I Wonder Who 04 Bought And Sold 05 Cloak And Dagger 06 Cruise On Out 07 Out On The Western Plain 08 As The Crow Flies 09 Too Much Alcohol 10 Goin' To My Hometown Disc 7 01 Shadow Play 02 A Million Miles Away 03 Overnight Bag 04 Tattoo'd Lady 05 Bullfrog Blues 06 Moonchild 07 All Around Man Rory Gallagher - guitar, vocals Gerry McAvoy - bass Ted McKenna - drums Disc 8 London, UK. September 20, 1979 01 DJ Intro by Alan Black 02 Shin Kicker 03 Last of the Independents 04 Key Chain 05 Bought and Sold 06 Wayward Child 07 Mississippi Sheiks 08 Out on the Western Plain 09 As the Crow Flies 10 Do You Read Me? 11 Philby 12 Hellcat Rory Gallagher - Guitars, Vocals Gerry McAvoy - Bass Ted McKenna - Drums Disc 9 Pavillon Baltard Nogent sur Marne, France January 25, 1980 RTL Broadcast 01 - Follow Me 02 - Shinkicker 03 - Off The Handle 04 - Moonchild 05 - Wayward child 06 - Brute Force And Ignorance 07 - Keychain 08 - Tattoo'd Lady 09 - As The Crow Flies 10 - Goin' To My Hometown 11 - Shadow Play 12 - Bullfrog Blues 13 - Sea Cruise 14 - Philby 15 - Country Mile Rory Gallagher - guitar, vocals Gerry McAvoy - bass Ted McKenna - drums Disc 10 GLASGOW APOLLO Glasgow, Scotland 1982-05-28 01 -RADIO ANNOUNCEMENT 02 -BOURBON 03 -BAD PENNY 04 -FOLLOW ME 05 -WHAT IN THE WORLD 06 -BIG GUNS 07 -BRUTE FORCE AND IGNORANCE 08 -DOUBLE VISION 09 -MOONCHILD 10 -OUT ON THE WESTERN PLAIN 11 -PHILBY DISC 11 01 -TATTOO'D LADY 02 -RIDE ON RED 03 -JINX 04 -THE DEVIL MADE ME DO IT 05 -WAYWARD CHILD 06 -NOTHIN'BUT THE DEVIL 07 -SHADOW PLAY 08 -SHINKICKER 09 -LAST OF THE INDEPENDANTS 10 -BULLFROG BLUES 11 -SECRET AGENT 12 -WHEN MY BABY SHE LEFT ME RORY GALLAGHER - GUITAR & VOCALS GERRY McAVOY - BASS BRENDAN O'NEILL - DRUMS -
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 9.4 - I love recordings like this! Super loud but not distorted, and right in your face like your sitting on Rory’s side of the PA. It is like the sound is ripping the cloth off the speaker and filling the entire room with fury. Killer! Rory Gallagher The Agora Columbus, Ohio 11/13/82 Disc 1 1. -Shinkicker 2. -Double Vision 3. -Moonchild 4. -I Could've Had Religion 5. -Follow Me 6. -Bad Penny 7. -Jinx 8. -Big Guns 9. -Tattoo'd Lady Disc 2 1. -Philby 2. -Wayward Child 3. -Brute Force & Ignorance 4. -Shadow Play 5. -Drinkin' Down The Bourbon 6. -Bo Diddley 7. -Messin' With The Kid -
Soundboard 9.0 - Great guitar tone, but when did Rory ever not have that? But, it just leaps outta the speakers here. A really tight gig, the band is HOT HOT HOT! -
Pro Radio Broadcast 8.8 - A fine recording that manages to allow some nice atmosphere into the mix. -
Audience 8.3 - I find these early club dates fascinating. It sounds closer to Taste than anything he was doing on subsequent tours. The guitar work is more off the cuff, edgier maybe. This recording features a pretty clear and up-front guitar, with vocals next and kick drum following. It’s good, a little hiss present, but to have tapes like this to hear the early period Rory post-Taste is most welcome. RORY GALLAGHER The Allen Theatre, Cleveland, OH September 8, 1972 Remastered by PR CD 1: 1. Laudromat 2. Used To Be 3. I Should've Learnt My Lesson 4. Messin' With The Kid 5. You'll Be Mine 6. Pistol Slapper Blues 7. I Don't Know Where I'm Going 8. In Your Town 9. I Could've Had Religion CD 2: 1. Don't Mess With My Baby 2. Goin' To My Hometown 3. Bullfrog blues 4. It Takes Time 5. Messin' With The Kid - Agora Ballroom, Cleveland, OH, September 3, 1973