Customer Reviews

Irish Tour

5 star:		(16)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I didn't discover this guy until recently. My favorite electric blues albums are Allman Brothers at Fillmore East, Derek and the Dominos at Fillmore East. I like this one just as much.

Sit down, listen to it, this timeless masterpiece will draw a tear for a true artist. Share the thrill...I have purchased I dont know how many copies and continue to do so because I want new people I meet with the love of music to experience this emotional treasure (if they haven't already...)
Enjoy. Peace.

Previous reviewers have done a very good job with their high praise of this masterpiece, but there are three things i would like to share with anyone who might be tempted but not yet convinced to add this gem to their collection.

First, the blistering, full length Walk On Hot Coals featured on this disc is perhaps Rory and his bandmates at their finest. That cut alone is worth the price of the cd.

Second, this cd is a wonderful complement to, not a substitute for, Rory's Irish Tour 74 dvd. Although there is some overlap in the song titles, there is no overlap in the performances. (I really liked the dvd, and almost didn't buy the cd because I thought it would contain mostly the same perfomances. It would be a shame for anyone to make that mistake.)

Third, a word of advice. If you plan to listen to this cd while driving, engage the cruise control before you slip in the cd. Because driving under the influence of Rory Gallagher can earn you a nasty speeding ticket. And leave you grinning from ear to ear.

Many thanks to Rory and the boys for these superb performances.

Back in the 70's I saw Rory play at the legendary 'My Father's Place' in Roslyn Long Island where he played every song on the CD so it brings back indelible memories. Rory and the band played with such power and energy I recall thinking they were undermining the structural integrity of the building. The technical excellence of Rory's blues guitar and vocals were transcended by the personal connection he made with the audience.
He was more than a performer: he tore off a piece of his soul giving everyone a share. Unreal. But let the music speak for the Man. That night the audience were euphoric. Though I have seen many great performers over the years nothing tops that night.
This CD brings it all back. In two hundred years people will still be enjoying this classic. "Nice one, Rory. Nice one, Son. Nice one Rory, let's have another one."

The first time I saw Rory Gallagher live he was a warmup act, and he stole the show from Deep Purple, no easy thing to do. He was that good, blessed not only with technical skill but with a musical soul that shone through his music. This 1974 live recording is a tribute to his fiery blues-rock guitar playing and the heart behind it. I've been told by people who knew him that he was the nicest guy on earth, something that comes through in the video version of this recording available now on DVD, he was all music, no showbiz, a bluesman who seemed almost embarrassed when he became a rock star as well. If you don't know his work, this live album is a good place to start, just be prepared to buy more once you get a taste. The public has largely forgotten Rory just as they have Roy Buchannan, but guitarists will be impressed no end when you mention his name, they know how good he was and how much he loved the music. Maybe that's why the Rolling Stones considered him as a replacement for Mick Taylor, but somehow I can't see Rory wearing leopardskin jackets and leather pants. His life was too short, but at least we have this wonderful music to remember him by.

This is my first Rory Gallagher CD and believe me it won't be the last.In fact after hearing this I have ordered the bbc sessions.One note of caution it plays great on my home system and car system -but with the ample bass featured in this CD , when I played it at work with computer speakers there was a lot of distortion .Not a fault of the CD or Rory Gallagher the speakers couldn't handle the wall of sound

I don't think that I have ever heard a performance that has more energy that this Classic Gallagher collection ... loved it when it was released ... love it today. Play it LOUD. Check out the DVD too.

I feel that this is Rory's best performance!! Live music,long songs, hard rockin', it's just what I like. "Cradle Rock", "Walk on Hot Coals" and "Back on My Stompin' Ground"(a slide guitar tune) are to be played very loud:). They rock so hard. "I Wonder Who" has a nice blues touch. "As the Crow Flies" and "A Million Miles Away" reveal Rory's softer side. "Too Much Alcohol" adds a little bit of humor. I can't believe no one in the US knows who this guy is anymore.

If you think a white Irish lad can't play Chicago-style slide-guitar blues, you haven't heard this CD. Not only can he sing and play the blues, but he also can handle hard guitar rock with equal aplomb. Rory Gallagher is right up there with other legendary guitarists like Eric Clapton, Duane Allman, Johnny Winter and Stevie Ray Vaughan, but he's easily the least known of the group. He was said to be a quiet guy offstage, and he was never really interested in advancing his career through the release of Top 40 singles, so they say. He was regarded enough to appear on-stage with blues master Muddy Waters and others, but he was still better-known in Europe, especially his native Ireland, than the US. But this guy is among the great bluesmen of all time, and his on-stage persona, on this album, at least, is larger than life. He gets the crowd fired up with the opening track "Cradle Rock", belting out the lyrics, featuring solid guitar riffs and assisted by the keyboards of Lou Martin. He then winds down to his cover of Waters' "I Wonder Who (Will be Your Sweet When I'm Gone)", a solid piece of slide-guitar blues. My favorite track is "Too Much Alcohol", written by another Chicago bluesman, J B Hutto. He also can play sad, introspective songs like "A Million Miles Away". Other good track include "Tattoo'd Lady" and "Walk on Hot Coals". This is a good live album by any standard, and a good offering by an underappreciated talent.

Rory Gallagher was one of the greatest guitar players who ever lived,It is a shame that his life ended so early, and also that so few people know about him.
This live recording captures the intensity of his awe inspiring ability with a guitar.
"cradle Rock" is a great tune with blazing fast guitar that will satisfy the most critical listener,while "tattoo'd lady's
catchy chorus will have you humming it all day.
If you are a fan of great guitar blues, this belongs in your collection. NO guitar player should be missing this album in their collection!