RORY GALLAGHER - Live in Europe 12" Vinyl LP Album

- 1972 German Release

This album "Live in Europe" was released by Irish blues guitarist Rory Gallagher in 1972. It is a series of live recordings made by Gallagher during his European tour. Unusual for a live album it contains only two previously released songs ("Laundromat" and "In Your Town"). All the other songs are either new Gallagher songs or Gallagher's interpretation of traditional blues songs.

RORY GALLAGHER - Live in Europe German Release 12" Vinyl LP Album front cover

Rory Gallagher's 'Live in Europe': A Sonic Snapshot of a Blues-Rock Titan in His Prime
Album Description:

In the sweaty, beer-soaked amphitheaters of 1970s Europe, Rory Gallagher reigned supreme. A guitar-wielding Irish firebrand, he was a force of nature on stage, channeling the raw power of the blues through his battered Stratocaster and pouring his heart and soul into every note. His 1972 double album, 'Live in Europe', is a sonic snapshot of this era, a testament to Gallagher's unparalleled live prowess and his unwavering commitment to his craft.

By the early 70s, Gallagher had already established himself as a guitar hero of the highest order. Emerging from the ashes of Taste, his late-60s power trio, he'd embarked on a solo career that saw him blaze a trail across the European continent, captivating audiences with his incendiary live shows and his albums that crackled with an authenticity that was becoming increasingly rare in the era of stadium rock and prog excess.

'Live in Europe' is a document of this period, a raw and unfiltered glimpse into the heart of Gallagher's live performances. Recorded at various venues across Europe in 1972, the album captures the energy and excitement of his shows, from the opening salvo of 'Laundromat' to the closing strains of 'Bullfrog Blues.' Gallagher and his band tear through a setlist that spans his entire career, showcasing his mastery of blues, rock, and folk.

There's no studio trickery or overdubs here; just Gallagher, his trusty Stratocaster, and a rhythm section locked in a groove that's as tight as a drum skin. His guitar solos are a force of nature, a whirlwind of lightning-fast runs, soulful bends, and gut-wrenching vibrato. His vocals are raw and impassioned, conveying a depth of emotion that transcends mere words.

'Live in Europe' wasn't without its controversies. Some critics balked at the album's rough edges, its lack of studio polish. But for Gallagher's fans, that was precisely the point. This was a document of a real rock 'n' roll show, sweat and all. It was a reminder that music wasn't just about technical proficiency; it was about passion, energy, and a connection between artist and audience.

The album was produced by Gallagher himself, with the help of engineer Gerhard Henjes. It was recorded at various venues across Europe, including the Paris Theatre in London and the Grugahalle in Essen, Germany, capturing the unique atmosphere of each performance.

Music Genre:

Blues-Rock, Irish Blues 

Album Production Information:

The album: "RORY GALLAGHER - Live in Europe (Germany)" was produced by: Rory Gallagher

Sound/Recording Engineer(s): Gerhard Henjes, Alan Perkins, Robin Sylvester

Album cover design and photos: Mick Rock

  • Mick Rock – British Photographer, Music & Album Artwork

    The camera guy who made glam look dangerous and permanent.

    Mick Rock is the British photographer I still call “The Man Who Shot the Seventies,” because he didn’t just document glam—he bottled it. From 1972–1973 he was David Bowie’s official eye through Ziggy Stardust, shooting sleeves, posters and those iconic promo films. In the early 1970s he also caught Iggy Pop at full ignition. By 1973–1974 he was framing Queen as they learned how to look like legends. A Lou Reed invite pulled him to New York in 1974, and through the mid-to-late 1970s he captured Reed’s shift, plus punks like the Ramones and, in 1978, Blondie’s Debbie Harry. What I love is his mix of intimacy and theatre: harsh flash, sharp cheekbones, no polite distance. His photos sell the noise before you even drop the needle.

  •  

    Record Label & Catalognr:

    Polydor 2383 112

    Media Format:

    12" Vinyl Stereo Gramophone Record
    Total Album (Cover+Record) weight: 230 gram  

    Year & Country:

    1972 Germany
    Personnel/Band Members and Musicians on: RORY GALLAGHER - Live in Europe (Germany)
      Band-members, Musicians and Performers
    • Rory Gallagher - guitar, vocals
    • Rory Gallagher – Vocals, Guitars, Mandolin

      The guy who could make a Stratocaster sound like it owed him money, then make you feel bad for enjoying it.

      Rory Gallagher, the Irish blues-rock virtuoso with the kind of fiery guitar tone and lived-in vocals that feel less like “performance” and more like a confession. I always hear him as a musician who never hid behind studio polish: first breaking out in the late 1960s as the frontman of Taste (right up to 1970), then spending 1971 until his death in 1995 as a solo artist leading his own hard-touring band through countless stages, broadcasts, and live recordings. Rory Gallagher Wiki

    • Wilgar Campbell - drums

      Wilgar William Campbell was a drummer from Northern Ireland who is best known for his work as a member of Rory Gallagher's band. He was a member of Rory Gallagher's band in the late 1970s and early 1980s, playing on the album "Photo-Finish", "Top Priority" and "Stage Struck" among others. He was known for his powerful and dynamic drumming style, which helped to drive Gallagher's live performances. He formed a tight rhythm section with bassist Gerry McAvoy and keyboardist Lou Martin. He was also part of the tours during this period.

    • Gerry McAvoy - Bass guitar
    • Gerry McAvoy – Bass guitar

      I’ve always loved how McAvoy’s bass doesn’t just “support” the song — it calmly wrestles the whole band into a groove and refuses to let go.

      Gerry McAvoy, born John Gerard McAvoy in Belfast, Northern Ireland, is one of those rare bassists who can be both the engine and the glue at the same time — and I mean that as the highest compliment. He cut his teeth in Belfast/London circuit bands like Pride (late 1960s) and Deep Joy (late 1960s–1970), then got pulled into orbit when Rory Gallagher went solo after Taste ended. From 1971 to 1991, McAvoy became the backbone of Rory Gallagher’s band onstage and in the studio, locking in everything from raging power-trio blues to the tougher, later-era rock, without ever losing that human, breathing feel. After the Gallagher years, he kept rolling with Nine Below Zero (early 1990s–2011), and later brought the spirit of those Rory songs back to the stage with Gerry McAvoy’s Band of Friends (2010s–present) — not as a museum act, but as a living, sweating celebration.

    Complete Track-listing of the album "RORY GALLAGHER - Live in Europe (Germany)"

    The detailed tracklist of this record "RORY GALLAGHER - Live in Europe (Germany)" is:

      Track-listing Side One:
    1. Messin' with the kid
    2. Laundromat
    3. I could've had religion
    4. Pistol Slapper Blues
      Track-listing Side Two:
    1. Going to my home town
    2. In your town
    3. Bullfrog Blues

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