Rory Gallagher - Live In Europe (1972) - Lp

William Rory Gallagher, 2 March 1948 – 14 June 1995) was an Irish blues and rock multi-instrumentalist, songwriter, and bandleader. Born in Ballyshannon, County Donegal, and brought up in Cork,
Gallagher recorded solo albums throughout the 1970s and 1980s, after forming the band Taste during the late 1960s.
He was a talented guitarist known for his charismatic performances and dedication to his craft.

Live in Europe is an album released by Irish blues guitarist Rory Gallagher in 1972.
It is a series of live recordings made by Gallagher during his European tour. Unusual for a live album it contains only two previously released songs ("Laundromat" and "In Your Town").
All the other songs are either new Gallagher songs or Gallagher's interpretation of traditional blues songs.

Live in Europe was released at the end of the British "blues boom" that began in the 1960s. Sparked by bands such as the Rolling Stones, Yardbirds, and Cream fans and musicians were fascinated by authentic Chicago blues artists such as Muddy Waters. Gallagher had an extensive knowledge of this kind of music. Although he tended to play down arguments about what was "pure" blues. In an interview at the time he said:

"If there was one fault with the boom in the 1960s, it was that it was very straight-faced and very pontificatory, or whatever the word is. It used to annoy me that there was an attitude of 'Thou shalt not play the blues unless you know who played second acoustic guitar behind Sonny Boy Williamson the first on the B-side of whatever.' That kind of thing gets music nowhere, it’s like collecting stamps. I mean, I buy books on the blues and I check out the B-sides and I know who plays on what records and that’s fine. But then you’ve got to open that up to the rest of the people. Because that kind of snobbery defeats the purpose; it kills the music."

Rather than live versions of his most popular songs there are only two songs on the album that were previously recorded by Gallagher in the studio, "Laundromat" from his first album and "In Your Town" from his Deuce album.
All the other songs are Gallagher's versions of classic blues songs. The album starts with what was to become a signature song for Gallagher, Junior Wells' "Messin' With the Kid". The song "I Could've Had Religion" was Gallagher's salute to what he called the "redemption style blues" of the Robert Wilkins and Gary Davis.
After hearing the song on this album Bob Dylan expressed interest in recording it and assumed it was a traditional blues number rather than an original song by Gallagher. Blind Boy Fuller's "Pistol Slapper Blues" is next.
 Gallagher then shows his versatility, swapping his Stratocaster for a mandolin and performing the song "Going to My Home Town" with the audience stomping their feet and cheering in response as Gallagher sings "do you want to go?".
The finale is the straight ahead hard rocking "Bullfrog Blues" written by William Harris. Gallagher switches back to the Stratocaster and the full band and gives bassist Gerry McAvoy and drummer Wilgar Campbell, a chance to solo.


Side A
A1.  Messin’ With The Kid  (6:25)  
A2.  Laundromat  (5:08)  
A3.  I Could’ve Had Religion  (8:39)  
A4.  Pistol Slapper Blues  (2:47)

Side B
B1.  Going To My Home Town  (5:53)  
B2.  In Your Town  (9:46)  
B3.  Bullfrog Blues  (6:53)

Personnel
Rory Gallagher – guitars, harmonica, mandolin, vocals
Gerry McAvoy – bass guitar
Wilgar Campbell – drums

Production
Mick Rock – liner notes, photography
Alan Perkins - recording engineer
Tony Arnold – remastering
Donal Gallagher – executive producer

Notes
Release: 14 May, 1972
Recorded:
February 5, 1972: College, Luton, England
February 12, 1972: Teatra Lirico, Milan, Italy
February 14, 1972: Space Electronic Club, Florence, Italy
March 5, 1972: Scala Cinema, Ludwigsburg, Germany
Genre: Blues rock
Label: Polydor Records
Catalog# 2383112

Vinyl:  Good
Cover:  Good

€ 10,00

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