- This web-page Has a transcript of "Rory Gallagher" biography
This is a compilation album of Rory Gallagher tracks which comes in a gatefold (aka fold open cover ) on the inside pages their is a biography of "Rory Gallagher" in both English and German.
Rory Gallagher wasn't just a guitarist; he was a force of nature, a hurricane of blues-rock passion that swept across the musical landscape with a ferocity that few could match. This 12" vinyl compilation, "Pop History Vol XXX", serves as a testament to his unyielding spirit and relentless pursuit of musical truth.
Nestled within its gatefold sleeve, the biography (printed in both English and German) offers a glimpse into the man behind the music. Rory Gallagher, hailing from Ballyshannon, Ireland, emerged during a time when blues-rock was reaching its zenith. But unlike many of his contemporaries, Gallagher wasn't content to simply mimic the American blues giants. He absorbed their influences, infusing them with his own Celtic spirit and a raw, untamed energy that was uniquely his own.
This compilation spans Gallagher's career, showcasing his musical evolution from the early days with Taste to his later solo work. His guitar playing is a masterclass in controlled chaos, blending fiery licks with soulful melodies. Whether he's tearing through a blistering blues number or delivering a heartfelt ballad, Gallagher's passion is palpable. He's not just playing notes; he's pouring his heart and soul into every chord.
Gallagher's music defies easy categorization. It's rooted in the blues, but it incorporates elements of rock, folk, and even jazz. He wasn't afraid to experiment, pushing the boundaries of his chosen genre and creating a sound that was both timeless and distinctly his own.
Controversy was never Gallagher's style. He was a musician's musician, dedicated to his craft and shunning the trappings of fame. His focus was always on the music, and his live performances were legendary for their intensity and raw power.
The production team behind this compilation has done an admirable job of capturing Gallagher's essence. The sound is crisp and clear, allowing his guitar to shine through. The recording studios varied throughout his career, but Gallagher's commitment to capturing the raw energy of his live performances remained constant.
"Pop History Vol XXX" is more than just a collection of songs; it's a snapshot of a musical maverick at his peak. Rory Gallagher may be gone, but his music lives on, a testament to his enduring spirit and unwavering dedication to his art. This album is a must-have for any fan of blues-rock, and a fitting tribute to one of the genre's true giants.
Music Genre: Irish Blues Rock Music |
Album Production Information: Produced by Tony Colton |
Record Label & Catalognr: Polydor 2478 041 ( 2478041 ) / 2679 006 |
Album Packaging: Gatefold/FOC (Fold Open Cover) Album Cover Design. Full page liner notes in German and English with very early photos of Rory Gallagher and his band |
Media Format: 12" Double LP |
Country of Origin Made in Germany |
„Rolling Stone” wrote: ..Rory Gallagher is the greatest thing to come from Ireland since Van Morrison." Rory Gallagher is Irish , his place of birth Cork. Born in 1949. he had his first guitar at the age of 9. and listened to Tennesee Ernie Ford and Guy Mitchell like the other children. and sang at parties. Then came the wild rock years however and he. like most others. raved about Buddy Holly and Eddie Cochran and Chuck Berry and that whole R & B thing".
At the age of 12 in possession of an electric guitar he founded his first group. They played rock'n" roll but the unity did not last long. After that he tried his best to bring an acceptable group together, but all the tea in China couldn't find him a bass player in Ireland. At the age of 13 he got a job with a show-band called "Impact" (later on ..Fantana") and played up and down the Top 20.
He did not enjoy a but it brought him money and he got around a little bit, as the band played in England and on the Continent. After two and a-half years the group disbanded and Rory then got together with the drummer and bassist. One of they first engagements was in Hamburg in the summer of 1965. The organiser wanted a four-man group and so the three racked their brains and maintained: ,.Our organist got ill suddenly."
They returned to Cork and disbanded. At the same time Norman Damery and Eric Kittringham were looking for a third man after the ,.Axels" had disbanded. That was back in August 1966. Rory and the Ex-Axels got together and received a few good offers from Belfast. England and Hamburg. There wasn't too much money then, but Rory thinks back gladly: „I don't regret one minute of my stay in Hamburg.
We really did have fun." He finally find himself in rather „hot" company, for alternating with him on the stage in St. Pauli were the .,VIPs" (later called Spooky Tooth), and „Remo 4" (later called Ashton, Gardner and Dyke). Rory called this group the „First Taste" and this lasted until July 1968. A few weeks later Rory met John Wilson and Richard McCracken, Irishmen like himself. The three called themselves „Taste".
Rory played lead guitar, mandolin, mouth-organ and saxophon. Richard McCracken bass and John Wilson drums. What followed then is more than known: within a few months Taste established itself as the up-and-coming rock-blues group. (See Pop-History Taste.) One cannot avoid the fact that the driving force was Rory. He wrote all the songs for the group and decisively influenced the music of the group.
And it is not without reason that the first 5 titles on this album are taken from the Taste days and are typical of Rory (By the way: Rory chose the titles for this album himself and even decided on the cover). In any case the Taste enjoyed two extremely successful years together until they disbanded in October 1970 to the dismay of their fans and critics.
The musical differences had become too great. John Wilson and Richard McCracken called themselves „Stud" from then on, whilst nothing more was heard from Rory for a while. There were any amount of applications as it became known that Rory Gallagher was looking for a bassist and drummer. Wilgar Campbell (drums) and Gerry McAvoy (bass) were ahead of the other and Rory chose them because he already knew them from their previous group and were used to playing with each other.
The trio was just called „Rory Gallagher". The rest of the tracks were recorded by this group. In June 1972 Wilgar Campbell left the group (to go the ,Mick Abraham's Group) and was replaced by Rod deAth (formerly with ,Killing Floor'). It did not take long for Rory to be showered with Awards and to earn tributes of all sorts.
The english music paper ,Disc' wrote: .,Rory Gallagher is England's most important Rock-Blues guitarist today." And he was even compared with Jimi Hendrix and Eric Clapton at different times. However true these comparisons may have been, they don't shed any light on Rory Gallgher's personality and musical ambitions. „Ry Cooder and John Hammond really turn me on.
They do far more important things than many a guitar-superstar. They go much deeper." That is Rory Gallagher. For him it is something that can be expressed in Blues and Rock. That's why he doesn't release any singles and rushes from concert to concert, carries his old speakers with him still and never wants to be a superstar. „For me it the playing, the people, the sweat, changing rooms and broken strings.
That is music." He surely is a superstar!
Gunter Ehnert
„Rory Gallagher”, schrieb der ,Rolling Stone', „ist das Größte, was Irland seit Van Morrison hervorgebracht hat." Ja, Rory Gallagher ist Ire. Sein Geburtsort heißt Cork. Rory, Jahrgang 1949, hatte mit 9 die erste Gitarre in der Hand: hörte wie andere Kin-der Tennesee Ernie Ford und Guy Michel! und sang auf Parties.
Aber dann kamen die wilden Rock-Jahre und er begeisterte sich wie die meisten für Buddy Holly und Eddie Cochran, für Chuck Berry ,.and that vvhole R & B thing". Mit 12, im Besitz einer elektrischen Gitarre, gründete er seine erste eigene Band. Man spielte Rock'n'Roll, aber das Bündnis hielt nicht lange. In der nächsten Zeit nahm er immer wieder neuen Anlauf, eine akzeptable Truppe zu-sammenzubringen. aber es sollte nicht sein.
denn nicht für Geld und gute Worte war in ganz Irland ein Bassist aufzutreiben... Mit 13 stieg er in eine Show-Band ein, die "Impact" hieß (später „Fantana") und spielte dort die ,Top 20' rauf und runter. Spaß hat es ihm nicht gemacht, aber es gab Geld und er kam ein bißchen herum, denn die Band wurde nach England und auf den Kontinent verpflichtet.
Nach 2'h Jahren löste sich die Show-Band auf und Rory tat sich mit dem Bassisten und dem Schlag-zeuger zusammen. Eine ihrer ersten Ver-pflichtungen kam im Sommer 1965 aus Hamburg. Allerdings wollte der Veranstalter eine 4-Mann-Gruppe mit Orgel und so mußten sich die drei Ausreden einfallen lassen, wie _unser Organist ist plötzlich krank geworden... Nach Cork zurückgekehrt, liefen sie auseinander.
Aber zur gleichen Zeit sahen sich auch Norman Damery und Eric Kittringham nach einem dritten Mann um, nachdem sich die ,.Axels" aufgelöst hatten. Das war im August '66. Rory und die Ex-Axels machten gemeinsame Sache und bekamen auch einige gute Angebote aus Belfast, England und Hamburg. Viel Geld gab's damals nicht, aber Rory erinnert sich gern daran. „Ich bereue keine Minute meiner Hamburger Zeit.
Wir hatten wirklich jede Menge Spaß." Schließlich befand er sich auch damals in potenter Gesellschaft: denn mit ihm gingen abwech-selnd „The VIP's" (später wurden daraus die „Spooky Tooth") und die „Remo 4" (später Ashton. Gardner & Dyke) auf die Bühne in St. Pauli. Diese Gruppe, Gallagher nennt sie „The First Taste", bestand bis zum Juli 1968.
Nur ein paar Wochen später traf Rory Gallagher auf John Wilson und Richard McCracken: Iren wie er selbst. Die drei nannten sich „Taste". Rory spielte Lead-Gitarre, akustische Gitarre, Mandoline. Mundharmonika und Saxophon, Richard McCracken Baß und John Wilson Schlag-zeug.
Was dann passierte ist mehr als be-kannt• Taste etablierte sich innerhalb weniger Monate als d i e kommende Rock-Blues-Gruppe. (Siehe auch Pop-History Taste). Man kommt nicht an der Feststellung vorbei, daß von Anfang an Dreh- und Angelpunkt Rory Gallagher war.
Er schrieb fast alle Songs der Taste und hat den Sound der Gruppe entscheidend geprägt. Nicht ohne Grund sind die ersten 5 Titel dieses Albums aus der Taste-Zeit und für Rory Gallagher typische Werke. (Rory hat übrigens die Titel für dieses Album selbst ausgesucht, ebenso die Fotos für das Cover bestimmt).
Jedenfalls erlebte die Taste zwei äußerst erfolgreiche Jahre bis sich die Gruppe, zu, Entsetzen der Fans und Kritiker, im Oktober 1970 trennte. Die musikalischen Differenzen waren zu groß geworden. John Wilson und Richard McCracken nannten sich fortan „Stud". während man von Rory Gallagher in den nächsten Monaten erst einmal nichts mehr hörte.
Jede Menge Musiker meldeten sich, als bekannt wurde, daß Rory Gallagher einen neuen Bassisten und Schlagzeuger suchte. Wilgar Campbell (Schlagzeug) und Gerry McAvoy (Baß) machten das Rennen. Rory entschied sich für die beiden, weil er sie schon aus ihren früheren Gruppen kannte und sie zudem schon aufeinander eingespielt waren.
Das Trio hieß nur noch „Rory Gallagher". Alle restlichen Aufnahmen dieses Albums wurden von dieser Besetzung eingespielt. Im Juni 1972 verließ Wilgar Campbell die Gruppe (um zur _Mick Abrahams Group" zu gehen) und wurde durch Rod deAth (früher „Killing Floor") ersetzt. Es dauerte auch nicht lange, da wurde Rory Gallagher mit Auszeichnungen bedacht und ausgesuchten Attributen beschrieben. „Rory Gallagher". teilte das englische Pop-Blatt ,Disc. seinen Lesern mit, „ist heute Englands wichtigster Blues-Rock-Gitarrist".
Und auch von anderer Seite wurde er bisweilen mit Jimi Hendrik und Eric Clapton verglichen. Wie richtig und wohlmeinend diese Vergleiche auch sein mögen, sie charakterisieren nicht die Persönlichkeit Rory Gallaghers und nicht dessen musika-lische Ambitionen. „Ry Cooder und John Hammond imponieren mir. Sie machen wichtigere Dinge als mancher Gitarren-Superstar. Sie gehen tiefer". Das ist Rory Gallagher.
Für ihn ist es das, was man im Blues und Rock aus-drücken kann. Darum macht er keine r Singles, darum hetzt er von Konzert zu Konzert, schleppt immer noch seine alten Boxen mit sich herum und möchte nie und nimmer ein Superstar sein. „Für mich hat das alles etwas mit spielen zu tun, mit Leuten und schwitzen, mit Umkleide- räumen und zersprungenen Saiten.
Das ist für mich Musik". Wahrscheinlich ist er doch ein Superstar.
Günter Ehnert
Album cover photos of : Rory Gallagher Pop History Vol XXX |
Photos of Rory Gallagher on the inner pages |
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Photos of Rory Gallagher on the inner pages |
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Photo of Record Label
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Note: The photos on this page are of the actual album. Slight differences in color may exist due to the use of the camera's flash. Images can be zoomed in/out ( eg pinch with your fingers on a tablet or smartphone ). |
Complete Track Listing of: Rory Gallagher Pop History Vol XXX |
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Against the Grain emerged at a critical juncture in Gallagher's career. The Irish guitarist had already solidified his reputation as a formidable force, both as a solo artist and as the leader of the power trio Taste. His earlier albums, such as Rory Gallagher and Deuce, showcased his virtuosity on the guitar
Against the Grain 12" Vinyl LP"Calling Card" is the sixth studio release by Irish singer/guitarist Rory Gallagher. A 1976 release, it was his second of four albums released on Chrysalis Records in the 1970s. Deep Purple/Rainbow bass guitarist Roger Glover co-produced with Gallagher:
Calling Card 12" Vinyl LPBy the mid-80s, the flamboyant excesses of hair metal and synth-pop dominated the airwaves, leaving little room for the gutsy, no-frills blues-rock that Gallagher championed. Yet, 'Defender' stands as a defiant middle finger to the prevailing trends, a monument to Gallagher's refusal to compromise
Defender 12" Vinyl LP'Irish Tour '74' is a testament to Gallagher's electrifying stage presence. Recorded over several nights in January 1974 at various venues across Ireland, the album captures the raw, unbridled energy of his live performances. From the opening chords of 'Messin' With The Kid' to the final notes of 'Bullfrog Blues,'
Irish Tour '74 (1979, EEC Europe) Irish Tour '74 (1974, Germany)By the time 'Jinx' hit the shelves, Gallagher had already amassed a devoted following, drawn to his incendiary live shows and his albums that crackled with an authenticity that was becoming increasingly rare in the era of MTV and synthesized pop. 'Jinx' was a continuation of this tradition, a no-frills
Jinx 12" Vinyl LPRory Gallagher's "Live in Europe," a 1972 double LP, captures the Irish blues-rock guitarist's fiery live performances. Featuring a mix of originals and covers, this album showcases Gallagher's virtuosity and raw energy. Both the English and German releases are highly sought-after by collectors
Live In Europe (1972, England) Live in Europe (1972, Germany)Rory Gallagher's 1978 album, "Photo-Finish," showcases his signature blend of blues-rock with a harder edge. This 12" vinyl LP features powerful tracks like "Shin Kicker" and the introspective "Last of the Independents." "Photo-Finish" is a must-have for any Rory Gallagher fan or lover of guitar-driven rock music.
Photo-Finish 12" Vinyl LPNestled within its gatefold sleeve, the biography (printed in both English and German) offers a glimpse into the man behind the music. Rory Gallagher, hailing from Ballyshannon, Ireland, emerged during a time when blues-rock was reaching its zenith. But unlike many of his contemporaries, Gallagher wasn't content
Pop History Vol XXX 12" Vinyl LPThe self-titled album, often referred to as "Rory Gallagher", showcases the immense talent and raw energy of the young guitarist, establishing him as a force to be reckoned with in the world of blues and rock music.
RORY GALLAGHER - Self-Titled 12" Vinyl LPLabel , Year , Country
In the world of rock and roll, where the line between studio albums and compilations can often blur, Rory Gallagher's self-titled release on Pickwick Records stands as a testament to his raw power and electrifying blues-rock mastery. Released in 1971, this wasn't Gallagher's debut solo album
RORY GALLAGHER - S/T Self-Titled Pickwick 12" Vinyl LP'Stage Struck' is a monument to Gallagher's relentless touring. These tracks, gathered from shows across the UK, bottle the raw energy and spontaneity of his live performances. Forget slick production and overdubs, this is Gallagher and his band, flaws and all, giving it their everything.
Stage Struck Recorded Live“The Story of Rory Gallagher” serves as a snapshot of this period, a compilation of studio recordings and live cuts that showcase the complete spectrum of Gallagher’s musical dexterity. From the scorching blues-rock of “Tattoo’d Lady” to the soulful balladry of “A Million Miles Away,” the album is a testament
Story of Rory Gallagher 12" Vinyl LPIn the grand narrative of rock and roll, there are those guitarists who dazzle with flash and those who burn with intensity. Rory Gallagher was the latter, a fiery Irishman whose blues-rock guitar playing was as raw and honest as a punch to the gut. His 1979 album, "Top Priority," captures this essence perfectly
Top Priority 12" Vinyl LPThe self-titled debut album by Taste, featuring the legendary Irish guitarist Rory Gallagher, was released in 1969, marking a significant moment in the blues-rock scene of the late 1960s. It was a time of great musical exploration and experimentation, with bands pushing the boundaries of blues and rock. Taste
TASTE w/RORY GALLAGHER - Self-Titled 12" Vinyl LP