Rory Gallagher

Rory Gallagher -The Beat Club Sessions - 2010 - Eagle Records

The songs will be familiar to Gallagher fans, as most are available on his first few albums. All but Junior Wells' "Messin' with the Kid" and Sonny Thompson's "Toredown" (probably best known through Freddie King's version) are originals, played by his sturdy backing trio featuring Wilgar Campbell on drums and longtime bassist Gerry McAvoy. While there aren't many musical surprises, these versions are noticeably leaner and tougher than their associated studio performances. This also makes a logical companion piece to Gallagher's breakthrough release, Live in Europe, since it's recorded with the same band but only repeats four of its selections. The blues-rocker was young, hungry, and scorching hot during these years and Germany was one of the first countries where he found success. Numbers such as "Crest of a Wave," "Sinnerboy," "Used to Be," the aforementioned "Toredown" along with the acoustic "Just the Smile" and "I Don't Know Where I'm Going" don't show up often in concert versions, if at all, even with the plethora of live Gallagher material available, so clean, live recordings of them are a real find for fans. The guitarist hit his groove on these sessions, as can be heard on a surging "I Could've Had Religion," where his slide work simply burns. The song "Hands Up," caught here from the 1971 show, wouldn't appear on a studio title until 1973's Blueprint, although the arrangement didn't change markedly over the years. Gallagher rips into a seven-minute take on his slow blues "Should've Learned My Lesson" with the type of intensity Jimmy Page routinely displayed, and Campbell's drums have ferocity similar to John Bonham's. The sound is terrific for live music of the time -- full, rich, and well recorded, with every instrument easily identifiable in the mix but displaying all the rawness and crackling sparks that made Gallagher such an iconic figure in the history of blues-rock. © Hal Horowitz, Rovi All Music Guide © 2010 Rovi Corporation. All Rights Reserved http://www.allmusic.com/album/the-beat-club-sessions-r1947881/review

These tracks are taken from three separate appearances (May and December 1971, and June 1972) by a band comprised of Rory Gallagher, Gerry McAvoy, and Wilgar Campbell on the popular German Radio Bremen Beat Club programme. There is no need to elaborate on the late great Irishman's talent or credentials, and an album like this is very welcome amid some of the music masquerading as "blues rock" nowadays. A very important release, and VHR by A.O.O.F.C. If you haven't heard Rory's "Irish Tour 1974", and "Calling Card" albums, try and give them a listen sometime. Search this blog for other Rory related releases. Check out http://www.lastoftheindependents.com/RoryHome.htm for all you'll ever need to know about this legendary bluesman

TRACKS

1 - Laundromat
2 - Hands Up
3 - Sinnerboy
4 - Just The Smile
5 - I Don t Know Where I m Going
6 - I Could ve Had Religion
7 - Used To Be
8 - In Your Town
9 - Should've Learned My Lesson
10 - Crest Of A Wave
11 - Toredown
12 - Messin With The Kid

All songs composed by Rory Gallagher except Track 11 by Sonny Thompson, and Track 12 by Mel London

BAND

Rory Gallagher - Guitars, Mandolin, Harmonica, Vocals
Gerry McAvoy - Bass
Wilgar Campbell - Drums