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Rory Gallagher


Rory Gallagher 1948 to 1995
Rest in Peace


Rory Gallagher, the legendary blues guitarist was born on the 2nd March 1948 at the Rock Hospital, Ballyshannon, County Donegal, Ireland. He lived for a short while on the East Port, while his father was a foreman on the construction of the Hydro-Electric Scheme on the Erne river, Ballyshannon. After the work was completed the family relocated to his mum's home town of Cork. He sold 30 million records. He died in London on 14th June 1995 at the age of 47 after complications following a liver transplant. He was buried at St Oliver's Church, Cork, Ireland, on 19th June 1995.



Official LP�s / CD
The Taste:

Rory Gallagher (Lead Guitar/Harp/Vocals/Alto-Sax); . . John Wilson (Drums); . . Richard McCracken (Bass Guitar) 1969 Taste

1.. Blister on the Moon (Gallagher)
2.. Leaving Blues (Huddie Ledbetter aka Leadbelly)
3.. Sugar Mama (Trad. arr. Gallagher)
4.. Hail (Gallagher)
5.. Born on the Wrong Side of Time (Gallagher)
6.. Dual Carriageway Pain (Gallagher)
7.. Same Old Story (Gallagher)
8.. Catfish (Trad. arr. Gallagher)
9.. I'm moving on (Hank Snow)


1970 On the Boards

1.. Whats's Going On
2.. Railway and Gun
3.. It's Happened before, It'll Happen again
4.. If the Day was any longer
5.. Morning Sun
6.. Eat My Words
7.. On The Boards
8.. If I don't sing I'll cry
9.. See Here
10.. I'll Remember


1971 Live Taste

1. Sugar Mama (Trad. arr. Gallagher)
2. Gamblin' Blues (Jackson)
3. I feel so Good (part 1) (Broonzy)
4. I feel so Good (part 2) (Broonzy)
5. CATFISH (Trad. arr. Gallagher)
6. Same Old Story (Gallagher)


1971 Live at the Isle of Wright

1. What'S Going On (Gallagher)
2. Sugar Mama (Trad. arr. Gallagher)
3. Morning Sun (Gallagher)
4. Sinner Boy (Gallagher)
5. I feel so Good (Broonzy)
6. Catfish (Trad. arr. Gallagher)


Rory and his Band:

1971 Rory Gallagher

Written and performed by Rory Gallagher unless otherwise stated
1.. Laundromat (4:38)
2.. Just the Smile (3:41)
3.. I Fall Apart (5:12)
4.. Wave Myself Goodbye (3:30)
5.. Hands Up (5:25)
6.. Sinner Boy (5:04)
7.. For the Last Time (6:35)
8.. It's You (2:38)
9.. I'm Not Surprised (3:37)
10.. Can't Believe It's True (7:16)
11.. Gypsy Woman (4:02) Composer: Muddy Waters; . . Performer: Rory Gallagher
12.. It Takes Time (3:34) Composer: Otis Rush; . . Performer: Rory Gallagher



1971 Deuce

Written and performed by Rory Gallagher unless otherwise stated
1.. I'm Not Awake Yet (5:24)
2.. Used to Be (5:06)
3.. Don't Know Where I'm Going (2:42)
4.. Maybe I Will (4:15)
5.. Whole Lot of People (4:57)
6.. In Your Town (5:47)
7.. Should've Learnt My Lesson (3:36)
8.. There's a Light (5:59)
9.. Out of My Mind (3:05)
10.. Crest of a Wave (6:00)
11.. Persuasion (4:45)



1972 Live In Europe

Written and performed by Rory Gallagher unless otherwise stated
1..Messin' With the Kid (6:25) Composer: Mel London; . . Performer: Rory Gallagher
2.. Laundromat (5:08)
3.. I Could've Had Religion (8:39)
4.. Pistol Slapper Blues (2:47) Composer: Fulton Allen; . . Performer: Rory Gallagher
5.. Going to My Home Town (5:53)
6.. In Your Town (9:46)
7.. What in the World (7:57) Composer: Traditional; . . Performer: Rory Gallagher
8.. Hoodoo Man (5:56) Composer: Traditional; . . Performer: Rory Gallagher
9.. Bullfrog Blues (6:53)


1973 Blueprint

Written and performed by Rory Gallagher unless otherwise stated
1.. Walk on Hot Coals (7:02)
2.. Daughter of the Everglades (6:13)
3.. Banker's Blues (4:46)
4.. Hands Off (4:31)
5.. Race the Breeze (6:54)
6.. Seventh Son of a Seventh Son (8:25)
7.. Unmilitary Two-Step (2:49)
8.. If I Had a Reason (4:30)
9.. Stompin' Grounds (Back on My) [Alternate Version 10] (3:31)
10.. Treat Her Right (4:11) Composer: Roy Head; . . Performer: Rory Gallagher


1973 Tattoo

Written and performed by Rory Gallagher unless otherwise stated
1.. Tattoo'd Lady (4:41)
2.. Cradle Rock (6:17)
3.. 20/20 Vision (4:04)
4. They Don't Make Them Like You Anymore (4:07)
5.. Livin' Like a Trucker (4:24)
6.. Sleep on a Clothes-Line (5:15)
7.. Who's That Coming? (7:15)
8.. A Million Miles Away (6:57)
9.. Admit It (4:23)
10.. Tucson, Arizona (3:51) Composer: Doug Wray; . . Performer: Rory Gallagher
11.. Just a Little Bit (7:43) Composer: Rosco Gordon; . . Performer: Rory Gallagher



1973 The Best Years

1974 Irish Tour

1.. Cradle Rock
2.. I Wonder Who
3.. Tattoo'd Lady
4.. Too Much Alcohol
5.. As The Crow Flies
6.. A Million Miles Away
7.. Walk On Hot Coals
8.. Who's That Coming?
9.. Back On My Stompin' Ground (After Hours)


1974 The Story of Rory Gallagher
1975 Against The Grain

Written and performed by Rory Gallagher unless otherwise stated
1.. Let Me In (4:03)
2.. Cross Me off Your List (4:30)
3.. Ain't Too Good (3:57)
4.. Souped-Up Ford (6:32)
5.. Bought and Sold (3:34)
6.. I Take What I Want (4:23) Composers: Isaac Hayes, Mabon "Teenie" Hodges, David Porter; . . Performer: Rory Gallagher
7.. Lost at Sea (3:58)
8.. All Around Man (5:55)
9.. Out on the Western Plain (3:53) Composer: Huddie Ledbetter; . . Performer: Rory Gallagher
10.. At the Bottom (3:23)
11.. Cluney Blues (2:13)
12.. My Baby, Sure (2:55)


1976 Calling Card

Written and performed by Rory Gallagher unless otherwise stated
1.. Do You Read Me (5:20)
2.. Country Mile (3:18)
3.. Moonchild (4:48)
4.. Calling Card (5:24)
5.. I'll Admit You're Gone (4:25)
6.. Secret Agent (5:45)
8.. Jacknife Beat (7:04)
9.. Edged in Blue (5:31)
10.. Barley and Grape Rag (3:39)
11.. Rue the Day (4:14)
12.. Public Enemy No. 1 [B-Girl Version] (4:35)


1978 Photo-Finish

Written and performed by Rory Gallagher unless otherwise stated
1.. Shin Kicker
2.. Brute Force & Ignorance
3.. Cruise On Out
4.. Cloak & Dagger
5.. Overnight Bag
6.. Shadow Play
7.. The Mississippi Sheiks
8.. The Last of the Independents
9.. Fuel to the Fire r
10.. Early Warning
11.. Juke Box Annie


1979 Top Priority

Written and performed by Rory Gallagher unless otherwise stated
1.. Follow Me (4:40)
2.. Philby (3:51)
3.. Wayward Child (3:31)
4.. Keychain (4:09)
5.. At the Depot (2:56)
6.. Bad Penny (4:03)
7.. Just Hit Town (3:37)
8.. Off the Handle (5:36)
9.. Public Enemy No. 1 (3:46)
10.. Hell Cat (4:50)
11.. The Watcher (5:46)


1980 Stage Struck

Written and performed by Rory Gallagher unless otherwise stated
1.. Shin Kicker [Live] (3:58)
2.. Wayward Child [Live] (4:32)
3.. Brute Force and Ignorance [Live] (4:09)
4.. Moonchild [Live] (6:03)
5.. Bad Penny [Live] (6:39)
6.. Keychain [Live] (5:03)
7.. Follow Me [Live] (5:56)
8.. Bought and Sold [Live] (4:39)
9.. The Last of the Independents [Live] (5:39)
10.. Shadow Play [Live] (5:08)


1982 Jinx

Written and performed by Rory Gallagher unless otherwise stated
1.. Big Guns (3:32)
2.. Bourbon (4:06)
3.. Double Vision (5:07)
4.. The Devil Made Me Do It (2:53)
5.. Signals (4:45)
6.. Jinxed (5:03)
7.. Easy Come, Easy Go (5:48)
8.. Nothing But the Devil (3:11)
9.. Ride on Red, Ride On (4:36) Composers: Henry Glover, M. Levy; . . Performer: Rory Gallagher
10.. Lonely Mile (4:39)
11.. Loose Talk (4:18)


1987 Defender

1.. Written and performed by Rory Gallagher unless otherwise stated
2.. Kickback City (4:51)
3.. Loanshark Blues (4:29)
4.. Continental Op (To Dashiell Hammet) [To: Dashiell Hammet] (4:34)
5.. I Ain't No Saint (5:00)
6.. Failsafe Day (4:25)
7.. Road to Hell (5:31)
8.. Doing Time (4:08)
9.. Smear Campaign (4:49)
10.. Don't Start Me Talkin' (3:37) Composer: Sonny Boy Williamson [II]; . . Performers: Rory Gallagher
11.. Seven Days (5:15)
12.. Seems to Me (4:54)
13.. No Peace for the Wicked (4:06)


1990 Fresh Evidence

Written and performed by Rory Gallagher unless otherwise stated
1.. 'Kid' Gloves (5:40)
2.. The King of Zydeco (To: Clifton Chenier) (3:43)
3.. Middle Name (4:15)
4.. Alexis (4:07)
5.. Empire State Express (5:08)
6.. Ghost Blues (8:01)
7.. Heaven's Gate (5:09)
8.. The Loop (2:23)
9.. Walkin' Wounded (5:09)
10.. Slumming Angel (3:40)
11.. Never Asked You for Nothin' (4:29)
12.. Bowed Not Broken (3:26)


1992 Edged In Blue

Written and performed by Rory Gallagher unless otherwise stated
1.. Loanshark Blues Composer: Sonny Boy Williamson [II]; . . Performer: Rory Gallagher
2.. Bought and Sold
3.. Bad Penny
4.. Cruise on Out
5.. Crest of a Wave
6.. I'm Not Surprised
7.. Unmilitary Two-Step
8.. Alexis
9.. Edged in Blue
10.. They Don't Make Them Like You Anymore Composer: Muddy Waters; . . Performer: Rory Gallagher
11..The Devil Made Me Do It
12.. Too Much Alcohol [Live]
13.. I Could Have Had Religion [Live]
14.. Shin Kicker [Live]



1998 Etched in Blue


1999 BBC-Sessions

Written and performed by Rory Gallagher unless otherwise stated
1.. Calling Card [Live] (8:25)
2.. What in the World [Live] (9:17)
3.. Jacknife Beat [Live] (9:00)
4.. Country Mile [Live] (3:17)
5.. Got My Mojo Working [Live] (5:17) Composer: Preston Foster; . . Performer: Rory Gallagher
6.. Garbage Man [Live] (5:55) Composer: Willie Hammond; . . Performer: Rory Gallagher
7.. Roberta [Live] (2:37) Composer: Traditional; . . Performer: Rory Gallagher
8.. Used to Be [Live] (4:58)
9.. I Take What I Want [Live] (6:58) Composers: Isaac Hayes, Mabon "Teenie" Hodges, David Porter; . . Performer: Rory Gallagher
10.. Cruise on Out [Live] (5:58)


Line up of the Rory Gallagher Band over the years:
Rory Gallagher (guitar, vocals) with:
1970 - 1972: Gerry McAvoy (bass), Wilgar Campbell (drums)
1972 - 1976: Gerry McAvoy (bass), Lou Martin (piano), Rod De'Ath (drums)
1976- 1981: Gerry McAvoy (bass), Ted McKenna (drums)
1981- 1991: Gerry McAvoy (bass), Brendan O'Neil (drums)
1992- 1994: David Levy (bass), Jim Levaton (keyboards), John Cooke (keyboards), Richard Newman (drums). Regular guest: Mark Feltham (harmonica).


TheIRISHpost:
The Irish Post Online Craic Page
Saturday March 6 1999
Rory's story
Cathal Byrne pays tribute to rock guitar legend Rory Gallagher.

Rory Gallagher was born to musical parents at the Rock Hospital, Ballyshannon (also home to Tony Blair's mum). His father was temporarily located there as foreman on the construction of a hydro-electric scheme, which no doubt later would supply much of the power used by his son for amplifying his Stratocaster guitar. Following completion of his work at the dam the Gallaghers eventually relocated to their mother's hometown of Cork. By the age of six Rory was asking his folks to buy him a guitar- then a very uncommon instrument- as he had learned how to access the wireless (the internet of its time). It was on the radio where he found the blues.
Frustrated at not being able to increase the volume on his first amp as he lived above his grandparents' public house, 15- year old Rory joined a professional showband known as Fontana. The showbands played throughout the country, with stints of six or seven hours. This served to give young Rory the stamina and variety of material he employed in later times. Working from the inside out, Gallagher transformed this outfit, changed its name to Impact and pared it down to a long-haired six piece dressed in black.
They played R&B and supported visiting acts such as The Everly Brothers, The Animals and The Byrds. With the arrival of Lent in Ireland each year, work for musicians became scarce as the churches were disapproving of fun and entertainment during this period of self-denial.
As a professional musician you either took the boat to England or hid for six weeks. Gallagher didn't want to keep a low profile and he was loathe to pretend to be headlining the dance halls of North London. He convinced his disciples to accompany him to the then sin capital of the world, Hamburg; 'Where the dices roll and the music flows till dawn'. When Impact reached Germany, three of his followers had fallen by the wayside, taking safer gigs in London. Rory told the infuriated club promoter that the remaining trio would entertain at the club until the arrival of the others. The owner soon forgot about the other members when he saw the reception the group got.
The metamorphosis was now complete. Gallagher realised his heart's desire. This was the blues trio which was to become Taste. Change was rapid. By 1966 the band was based in Belfast as a springboard for accessing London.
Taste regularly played alongside bands visiting the North (Cream, Peter Green's Fleetwood Mac, John Mayall) and soon word filtered back to London that there was another axe-man around to be reckoned with. With regular appearances at the famous Marquee, Taste were soon signed by Polydor and recorded the first of four albums.
Their popularity grew and a tour of the U.S. with Blind Faith in 1969 ensured the massive success of their second LP, On the Boards. At their moment of glory , with a triumphant appearance -including five encores overshadowing the top names of the day at the 1970 Isle of Wight Festival- the group split.
Setting legal hassles to one side, Rory got on with the music and returned to the studios to produce the first of a new six album deal with Polydor. By '72 Rory was voted the top instrumentalist by Melody Maker readers and by '73 was back in the top ten album charts with the third album, Live in Europe. In the States and at home, Rory was considered to be the man to carry the torch for blues and rock & roll. He was invited by his heroes Muddy Waters and Jerry Lee Lewis to play on their London Sessions albums. Other guest appearances included Albert King, Lonnie Donegan and Alexis Korner .
When news broke that The Rolling Stones had lost another good guitar player, the industry opened a book on the likely replacement. As ever the media overlooked the dark horse, Gallagher. The Stones' own first choice was the quiet, shy Strat player from Ireland. Following a number of lost recording nights (Miss You, Black & Blue) in Holland in January '73, Rory opted instead to fly to Tokyo with his band and not let fans down by canceling his own Far East tour.
By the end of the '70s Rory had become one of the hottest tickets in the U.S, but Chrysalis failed to capitalise on this and his radio play was sparse. Rory continued to tour the world relentlessly but he never forgot to return regularly to the Ulster Hall in Belfast, where the community would be united at his sell-out gigs.
Rory slowed the pace of his touring and founded his own independent label Capo in the late '80s. He always relished his time in the studio and released Defender which saw him top the independent album charts. This was to be followed by his swan song, Fresh Evidence, in 1990.
Having crammed so much into his short life, it was bound to take its toll. He had left no time for a private life and found it lonely without the camaraderie of his touring companions . Illness became Rory's partner and he died in Kings College Hospital on June 14,1995.
Appreciations poured in from everywhere in the world. These can be seen on the home page set up by Queen's University in Rory's honour. In the Paris suburb of Ris Orangis, the Mayor named the street which housed the venue of Gallagher's last French appearance after him. This gesture was quickly followed in Cork City by the naming of a central location, Rory Gallagher Place. A plaque has been placed at the site of the demolished Star Club in Hamburg, putting Rory's name alongside The Beatles and others who had brought their music to that city. Fender Instruments in California are currently producing a Rory replica Stratocaster guitar to honour the master. Rory left few statistical milestones to measure his career by as he declined to release singles, but his anti-pop star, independent approach had an enormous influence on not only rock, blues but on punk and new wave. Rory is still revered by the new generations of guitarists Johnny Marr, Slash, Noel Gallagher and Paul Rose, and was respected by all, as the man who wouldn't sellout.
Belatedly, Gallagher was given credit for his efforts by U2, Bob Geldof, Thin Lizzy , Gary Moore and Christy Moore, who wrote a song called Rory's Gone. In 1993, when The Dubliners asked to be allowed cover his song Barley & Grape Rag, Rory was so pleased he asked to play on the session with them.
Rory's musical legacy in the form of his Capo label has been placed with international music company BMG, and his 14 mostly self-penned records have been remastered for the benefit of his many fans throughout the globe.











Bull Frog Blues