Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating 9/10
To acknowledge that influence is all around us, that there may be nothing new under the sun to which we express, is to show how beautifully unique our sense of appreciation can be. It takes the impact of others to guide us in our pursuit to create the unexpected, not just in our actions, but in the power afforded to us by absolute dedication; those that attain this live on long after the hours have been forgotten, after the battles have been examined, what remains is arguably the purest of endeavours, the ability to change what life may dictate you should be.
Much has already been written about Rory Gallagher, the opinions of those that matter, the fans, are quite rightly placed in higher orbit than those who seek the definition by words and sentences. In retrospect, there is an argument that he has never truly been given the upmost respect that he has been due; his influence is endless, his contribution undaunted and the stimulation his performance dictates is incredible and yet it seems, especially as the 50th anniversary of his recording career would have been celebrated by Blues fans everywhere, there is still a gap of appreciation for the man across the wider scope of music. Influence will only carry you so far, it is to impact that we should laud Rory Gallagher and the Blues.
To do so we perhaps must start within the vault, the treasure amassed is always of greater value, stored away, hidden from the onlookers and the raiders, only finally unearthed and documented when the time is right, when the spirit perhaps calls, or at least when the value of such a discovery will enlighten the fans across the board to realising just what wisdom comes with the wealth stored.
It is in the three C.D. release which covers the rare, lost and blessed of Rory Gallagher’s Blues that makes this particular treasure trove more than valuable, it is to be prized, cherished and beneficial to the memory of one taken long before his time, one who still had an abundance of music in which to discover and significantly play.
Three sets of music, all combining to bring the undiscovered to the forefront of the fan’s wish-list. From the Electric Blues, Acoustic Blues and Live Blues segments which covers tracks such as Nothin’ But The Devil, unreleased from the 1975 Against The Grain Album sessions, I Could’ve Had Religion from an unreleased WNCR Cleveland radio session, A Million Miles Away, Bullfrog Blues, Who’s That Coming, Prison Blues, Whole Lot of People, Pistol Slapper Blues, When My Baby Left Me, What In The World, Messin’ With The Kid, Garbage Man Blues and Born Under A Bad Sign from Rockpalast in 1991 with Jack Bruce, treasure is gifted to the serious and the curious in equal measure and full of important artefacts and musical objet d’art.
A magnificent appraisal and unearthing of gems and prized possessions, Blues is an extraordinary reveal to which surely will only enhance Rory Gallagher’s reputation.
Rory Gallagher Blues is released on Friday 31st May via Chess/UMC.
Ian D. Hall