Against The Grain [Remastered] - Rory Gallagher

Advantages: Authentic live feel
Disadvantages: Won't appeal to everyone

...of the recorded stuff, of which there was loads. All I had was a sampler on Polydor with about 6 tracks on it, an EP and "Jinxed". I later bought "Against The Grain" on tape. Oh and I had "On the Boards" by Taste from 1968, bought for a quid in junk shop. Taste were Rory's breakthrough band and were momentarily as big as the Stones (Rory was actually invited to join the Stones, I think prior to Ronnie Wood but obviously declined). I also had a few tapes of tv performances. Finally this year, I got around to buying "Live in Europe". It was originally released in 1972 but this edition has been digitally remastered, has a couple of bonus tracks and was re-released in 1999. It has often been cited as one of the best live albums ever produced and I really can't argue with that description. Culled from concerts recorded during his 1972 European tour... Read review

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Advantages: Perhaps Rory's best-ever studio playing
Disadvantages: It's not an octuple CD

..., incredible ability. They won't, of course, and will continue to deafen and batter their teeny audience into submission which is a great shame - because my 13 year old daughter is going around singing Follow Me and she is the winner. For those of you who want to be reminded that excellence was once a priority and of some importance to many people, get the DVDs Rory Gallagher Live at the Montreux Jazz Festival, Live at the Rockpalast and Live at Cork Opera House. Sadly, Rory did not spend his time criticising the American Presidency or mocking public figures, but this very nice, humble and polite man instead concentrated on being perhaps the best rock, slide, country and blues player in the world. I know it's not much but, hey, it suited him, I guess. A lovely CD. Not a duff moment, really. Worth it for Follow Me alone. That solo .... Gawd!... Read review

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Advantages: He is Not Eric Clapton
Disadvantages: He's Dead, and Clapton isn't

...A lot can be said about the late great Rory Gallacher, the most obvious is that he is dead. He died in 1995 after complications from liver transpant surgery, and unlike a lot of his electric blues playing peers I was sorry to see him go. Eric Clapton has not done anything decent since cream split up, why couldn't he go and Gary Moores Blues stuff is just plain awful. Rory was one of the few guitarists that played a Fender Stratocaster that I liked, I hate that guitar and all it stands for which is middle aged mediocrity and snobbery. Ok I am a reverse snob but do I sound like I care. Ok this is a best of album with 14 trackd from 14 classic albums?, starting off with lone shark blues from 1987, which is a fairly relaxed bit of proper R & B and sort of remind me of a more laid back Dr. Feelgood. The playing is relaxed but not without... Read review

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