London Sessions Review

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(More customer reviews)Some of the reviews here are waaay too generous, so don't get your hopes up about the quality of this album. One reviewer refers to it as the best blues album of all time: Heck, I can name 10 or 12 other MUDDY WATERS albums that has this beat hands down! Muddy's vocals sound tired, the material is sub-par, and the band isn't particularly good, although Rory Gallagher gets off a few good solos. The organ playing is horrid--and absolutely unnecessary. The album cover art gives a pretty good indication that this wasn't a very serious Muddy Waters blues album. You can steer clear of this one, unless you have all of Muddy's classic stuff and are interested in hearing him on an "off-night."

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Blues for Greeny Review

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(More customer reviews)Yes, you might call this a tribute album to Peter Green. And no, this isn't a half-baked effort to cash in on the fame of an aging guitar god. Well, not much anyway. Gary Moore idolized Green as a kid growing up in Belfast. Moore said he first saw Peter Green in 1967 when he had just replaced Eric Clapton of John Mayall's Bluesbreakers. He said everyone was standing there at the concert with their arms folded like ok, Clapton's gone, let's see what you got. When he started playing, and the room started resonating with a depth of guitar tone that had never been heard before, Eric Clapton quickly became a distant memory, and Peter Green had a smile on his face like he was thinking "it's my turn now".... Moore never forgot Peter Green, and a year later he formed a band called Skid Row. When Peter Green's new band Fleetwood Mac came to Belfast, this time Skid Row opened for them. After the concert Green asked to meet Moore because he liked his guitar playing. Moore nervously met his idol and they stayed up till the early morning hours talking and playing guitar. After that night they became good friends, and Peter Green got Skid Row signed to their first recording contract.... Gary Moore never forgot that favor, and he pays Green the ultimate respect here. He captures the Peter Green guitar sound so perfectly on this album, that the first time I heard this I was shocked. He duplicates that special guitar tone and that little B.B. King like treble on the end of a note so perfectly, that it feels like the ghost of the young Peter Green was standing behind Moore showing him every blues riff. Everybody knows nobody can take the place of Peter Green. He could draw you in with his string bending, and then burn a hole in your soul with his solos. There's no hole burning here, but you will get singed a little. When you hear the songs like THE SUPERNATURAL, I LOVED ANOTHER WOMAN, LONG GREY MARE, and SHOWBIZ BLUES, you'll feel like your hearing Peter Green circa 1968 all over again. These songs are done with a lot of passion, and are very close to the real deal. Moore says "Blues For Greeny" is not a tribute album, but a big thank you to Peter Green for everything that he's given.....Amen

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UK remastered reissue of the Irish guitarist's 1995 album includes three bonus tracks, 'The World Keeps On Turnin'' (Acoustic Version), 'The Same Way' (Acoustic Version) & 'Stop Messin' Around' (Acoustic Version). Virgin. 2003.--This text refers to an alternate Audio CD edition.

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Irish Tour Review

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(More customer reviews)In the late 60's and early 70's, rock was ruled by the guitar gods. Clapton with his smooth licks and easy control. Hendrix with his brash individual style. And Page with his ever adventurous spirit. I had the privilege to see them all. Clapton in a tasty but rare appearance with Derek and the Dominoes. Hendrix in two inconsistent sets that flashed brilliance and boredom. And Page in an arena-sized homage to self indulgence.
Then there was Rory. Eschewing the wall of amplifiers and the "wish-to-kill sound", Gallagher stripped his set to the bare minimum. Small amps, small drum set, and a beat-up old Stratocaster. While the guitar gods brought their large amp banks and egos to match, Gallagher brought his "nice-guy" persona and determined work ethic. Always the gentleman, always the humble showman, Gallagher always put the audience first. And he always delivered a great show!
Clapton had his taste. Hendrix had his sexuality. Page had his trips to tonal nirvana. But nobody, NOBODY, could boogie like Rory! In the 70's, I saw Rory four or five times. Every time I left the concert with a big smile on my face.
IRISH TOUR `74 is proof positive of Rory's talents as a guitarist and a showman. The album displays Rory's "let's have a party" spirit with a band as tight as you'll ever hear. From Cradle Rock to Walk on Hot Coals, Rory will have you up and dancing around the room from the first note. Because it has some of the best blues-boogie music from the era, IRISH TOUR `74 is one of the best live albums of the 70's.
Rory, you gave us your best here below. Now, boogie with the angels.

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Vinyl Classics reissue of the 1974 album comes as a vinyl look-a-like CD that's packaged in a die-cut see-through Slipcase. Capo. 2005.

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Irish Tour Review

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(More customer reviews)Let's just say that "Irish Tour," which has sold the most copies of any of the late Rory Gallagher's albums, captures one of the finest blues-rock guitarists of our time in peak form. This gem of a live recording was assembled from various gigs across Mr. Gallagher's troubled native Ireland in 1974, and he clearly relishes playing for the home crowd.
Mr. Gallagher and company churn through some longer versions of Walk on Hot Coals, Too Much Alcohol, and Who's That Coming, which allows Mr. Gallagher to improvise and experiment a bit. (There's not a bad number here, but why is Just a Little Bit not included on the CD version?)
I'm not prone to lavish adjectives on recordings, but there is more than enough intensity, passion, and virtuosity here to help the uninitiated learn what all the fuss is when it comes to Rory Gallagher's place in rock history.
Why four stars instead of five? It has nothing to do with Mr. Gallagher but rather a display of frustration about the omission of any bonus material!


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Digitally remastered reissue of the late bluesy Irish rockguitarist's 1974 concert album, first released on Polydor.Contains all 10 of the original tracks. Also featuresredesigned artwork & new liner notes. 1998 Strange Music/Capo/ RCA/ BMG release.

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Rory Gallagher: Live at Montreux (2006) Review

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(More customer reviews)American Fans Rejoice. For years we've had to settle for the dreadfully directed "Irish Tour" movie, or inferior quality bootlegs sold on Ebay. Well, your prayers have been answered. "Live at Montreux" is a stunning collection of live concerts that captures Rory at his very best, from every stage of his career. There are four shows (75, 77, 79, 85), each about half an hour in legth, plus the entire concert from '94, and a bonus compillation on acoustic tracks. In all, there's about four and a half hours of material. The sound quality is amazing (dolby digital and DTS). The lighting, cinematography, and editing are all top notch. The performances are superior to any of Rory's live CDs.
Rory tears through "Tatoo'd Lady" and "Cradle Rock", delivering impassioned solos which are far superior to previously released live versions. "Garbage Man" is a slow blues tour deforce. On "Laundromat", Rory pulls out all the stops. The '75 performance was shot on film rather than tape, and the cinematography is amazing, adding drama and tension which serves to compliment the music.
By 77, Rory begins to move away from strictly blues-rock, and his music takes on a harder edge, as can be heard on the tracks, "I Take What I Want", "Shin Kicker", and "Shadow Play". "A Million Miles Away" is breathtaking and impassioned as always. On "Too Much Alcohol", "Out on a Western Plain", and particularly on "Pistol Slapper Blues", a textbook example of piedmont style taken to insane new heights, perfectly shows that, as a master of the blues, Rory was a virtuoso at every form.
What more can be said? This is the best music DVD in my collection. For pure molten pleasure, it holds up against the Led Zeppelin DVD, Jimi at Woodstock, and even Stevie Live at the el Macambo. So kick back, crack open a cold one, and get ready to rock. 5 stars is not enough.

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Legendary Irish guitarist Rory Gallagher played the renowned Montreux Festival on five occasions, spanning his breakthrough years in the mid-seventies right up to the year before his tragic early death at the age of 47 in 1995. This double DVD brings together material from all five shows to create the definitive Rory Gallagher live collection. Disc one features tracks from 1975, 1977, 1979 and 1985, while disc two has the whole concert from 1994 and bonus acoustic tracks from the earlier years.Tracklisting:Disc One 1975: 1. Tattoo’d Lady 2. Garbage Man 3. Cradle Rock 4. Tore Down 5. Laundromat 1977: 6. I Take What I Want 7. Calling Card 8. Secret Agent 9. Bought And Sold 10. Million Miles Away 11. Do You Read Me 12. Pistol Slapper Blues 1979: 13. Shin Kicker 14. The Last Of The Independents 15. Mississippi Sheiks 16. Too Much Alcohol 17. Shadowplay 1985: 18. Bad Penny 19. Moonchild 20. Banker’s Blues 21. Philby 22. Walking BluesDisc Two 1994: 1. Continental Op 2. Moonchild 3. I Wonder Who 4. Loop 5. Tattoo’d Lady 6. I Could Have Had Religion 7. Ghost Blues 8. Out On The Western Plain 9. Amazing Grace 10. Walking Blues 11. Blue Moon Of Kentucky 12. Off The Handle 13. Messin’ With The Kid 14. I’m ReadyDisc Two Bonus Features: Acoustic Tracks: 1975: 1. Pistol Slapper Blues 2. Too Much Alcohol 1977: 3. Out On The Western Plain 4. Barley Grape & Rag / Pistol Slapper Blues 5. Going To My Hometown 1985: 6. Walking Blues

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Rory Gallagher - Irish Tour 1974 (1998) Review

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(More customer reviews)Rory Gallagher is quite possibly the most criminally underrated guitarist from the seventies. He has been described as the Irish version of Eric Clapton or Johnny Winter. Like these two guitarists he is comfortable playing blues or rock but he can also play in a more folk oriented style or even a jazzier style if the situation warrants it. This documentary of his 1974 Irish Tour should go a long way to rectify the situation. While Gallagher's reputation may have suffered due to his fear of flying and his humble nature, his playing more than speaks for itself. This fact is evident during the interviews and non-concert footage from the DVD. Gallagher's primary motivation appears to be the music and his fans, not the money and acclaim. Rory appears almost embarrassed at times about his fame and while taking the time to sign autographs for his fans he appears almost shy. His stage apparel of jeans and a checkered shirt and battered Stratocaster are legendary and further prove that he is not on some sort of star trip.
The music itself is both incendiary and emotion filled. Aided by long time bassist Gerry McAvoy along with former Killing Floor members Rod de'Ath on drums and Lou Martin on keyboards Gallagher succeeds in translating the live concert experience to disk. The concert itself contains three numbers "Hands Up", "Going To My Home Town" and the raucous encore "Bullfrog Blues" lamentably not issued on the compact disk version of the "Irish Tour 1974". Gallagher is adept at both acoustic and electric guitars as evidenced by his acoustic cover of Tony Joe White's "As The Crow Flies". Rory was also an excellent slide guitarist and "Who's That Coming" provides a testiment to his slide guitar playing. His emotional reading of the slow blues "A Million Miles Away" is another highlight. The smile on Rory's face during the concert shows the viewer that he is both having a great time, which translates to the audience and is emotionally involved in the music. The concert footage is alternated with footage of Ireland and areas where Rory performed and grew up. This allows the viewer to identify with Gallagher's struggle to get his music heard outside of his native Ireland. Commentary is provided by both bassist Gerry McAvoy and Rory's brother and manager Donal. Some of the most interesting non-concert footage is of Gallagher jamming with the band before the concert and explaining the various styles and techniques he uses on both the acoustic and electric guitars. He also seems amused while shopping at a music store to find sheet music for some of his songs with his first band Taste.
I highly recommend this to fans of great blues and rock guitar playing. Rory Gallagher fans will find this essential due to the dearth of available live Gallagher footage and the three unissued versions of songs from the Irish Tour 1974. The film also provides valuable insights into Rory's background and personality. It also enhances the legacy of one of Ireland's greatest musicians.

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Studio: Bmg Special ProductsRelease Date: 05/15/2001Run time: 80 minutes

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