Rory Gallagher - The Best Of

It is rare that I chronicle compilations, Best Of, but there, to chronicle a Best Of Rory Gallagher is inevitable as Irish has forever marked the world of guitar and blues. Rory Gallagher was born in 1948 in Ballyshannon, Ireland. He founded the famous band Taste in 1966 and after the split of the band in 1970 began a solo career.

It was in this decade of 70 that he released incredible albums like Tattoo, Calling Card, Photo-Finish, Top Priority. In 1982 the superb Jinx was released. He is recognized by his peers as a nice guy and obviously one of the best guitarists of all time. From The Edge to Jimmy Page to Brian May, Slash and even Jimi Hendrix all praise him. Legend even has it that a journalist who asked Hendrix what it was like to be the best guitarist in the world, Jimi would have replied: "I do not know, ask Rory Gallagher". I don't know if it's true, but the legend is beautiful.

Video of Follow Me (live in Belfast)

Over the years the Irishman has assimilated various influences, which has made him one of the most complete guitarists in rock and blues. And one of the most enjoyable to listen to. And a most enjoyable metallic sound. Did you know that he had been approached to replace Mick Taylor in the Rolling Stones?

He was known to do memorable concerts (I saw him at the Casino de Paris on May 12, 1986) and unfortunately he died at only 47 years old from a complication following a liver transplant.

This Best Of gives us the opportunity to visit or revisit Rory's fantastic discography, from Taste to his solo albums. Thirty tracks for two CDs, in quintet, quartet or trio. We rediscover with pleasure titles like Shadow Play (what a guitar sound!), Follow Me (with Gerry McAvoy and Ted McKenna), the sublime Tattoo'd Lady, the soft and progressive I Fall Apart, the bluesy and jazzy Calling Card. On titles like I'm Not Awake Yet or Just The Smile the opportunity is given to Rory Gallagher to assert all his potential and his talent in acoustics.

Video of Tatto'd Lady (live)

We take intense pleasure in listening to the fiery Philby, the jazzy It's Happened Before, It'll Happen Again, on which Rory plays the saxophone, and we turn up the volume on the enjoyable Bad Penny on which Gerry McAvoy and Ted Mc Kenna are immense. The energetic Blister On The Moon is a piece of Taste and already Rory's playing was starting to thicken. Rhythmic like Status Quo knows how to do it on the swinging Bought & Sold and calmer atmosphere on the slow blues A Million Miles Away, while Seven Days is a 30s blues.

Video of Bad Penny (live in Montreux)

The titles follow one another and the pleasure of listening and remembering is always total. The opportunity is given to us on Ghost Blues to see that Rory Gallagher was also a master of the dulcimer. Until this huge version of (I Can't Get No) Satisfaction (recorded in London in 1973) by the Stones with Jerry Lee Lewis on vocals, Kenny Jones on drums and Albert Lee and Peter Frampton on guitars. I would be tempted to say that this version is superior to the original as the contribution of Andy Brown's keyboards is phenomenal.

Video of (I Can't Get No) Satisfaction (with Jerry Lee Lewis)

The second CD ends in freewheeling with the very rock Moonchild, the jazzy Jinxed with the very rough guitar sound, and the traditional Catfish. At the end of these thirty titles, we realize that it has not aged, the blues is indestructible, and that we have lost an exceptional guitarist and musician. So rush to this Best Of Rory Gallagher to rediscover this musician with a unique and ultimately immortal touch.

Video of Shadow Play (live)