New Rory Gallagher album

[AndyR]

I think it's down to two things:

1) He never really captured what he did live on his studio recordings - I'm not even sure it would have been possible, the bloke that recorded this unearthed album almost managed it, but Rory rejected it for some reason, I dunno... it wasn't honest and pared-down enough or something... sounds honest enough for me, just a bit messy in places! :lol:

2) Live, whether he was playing with a cleaner or dirtier sound, he always "ripped it up"

Even the stuff on Against the Grain came over a lot more aggressive than that album makes out (in fact, the original vinyl mix has a bit more bite and punch to it - that's another one that's been messed with, they even managed to lose a bunch of vocal on Lost at Sea). There are storming "live in the studio" OGWT versions of I Take What I Want, All Round Man, Bought and Sold - I guess they'll be on Youtube somewhere. And there's a Souped Up Ford - wow - not sure that was from the same session.

I think you're right though Philly, the actual music itself isn't that aggressive - it's just the way he delivered it. It was like there was a danger the world might end before we get to the next song, so he'd put everything he had into this song. And he'd just keep doing it for two and half hours or so, hardly any let up.

[Philly Q]

Even the stuff on Against the Grain came over a lot more aggressive than that album makes out (in fact, the original vinyl mix has a bit more bite and punch to it - that's another one that's been messed with, they even managed to lose a bunch of vocal on Lost at Sea).

It's the vinyl version I know - I bought a second-hand copy when I was about 16, mostly because of the cover with close-up photos of that amazingly-beaten up Strat!  I was absolutely fascinated by all the peeling paint, rust and mould on that guitar.  Maybe that's why Relics appeal to me now! :lol:

[AndyR]

Even the stuff on Against the Grain came over a lot more aggressive than that album makes out (in fact, the original vinyl mix has a bit more bite and punch to it - that's another one that's been messed with, they even managed to lose a bunch of vocal on Lost at Sea).

It's the vinyl version I know - I bought a second-hand copy when I was about 16, mostly because of the cover with close-up photos of that amazingly-beaten up Strat!  I was absolutely fascinated by all the peeling paint, rust and mould on that guitar.  Maybe that's why Relics appeal to me now! :lol:

I'm not sure, I don't remember accurately, but I think that might be how my old drummer got into Rory - because of the cover of Against the Grain. He certainly had the same sort of things to say about it. I was fascinated by it more because it was close ups of "THE" guitar. But certainly I wouldn't be that sold on the idea of beat-up looking guitars if it wasn't for seeing/hearing the combination of Rory and his.

By the way, Against the Grain and Calling Card were the last studio albums which featured that strat almost exclusively. What Rory did take away from these San Francisco sessions was two studio techniques he used a lot from then on - overdub lots of guitars for texture (probably why it was such a nightmare mixing stuff!), and choose the right guitar for the song. He had a doctored Corvette he used a fair bit, a 57 strat that sometimes sounded better than his 61, various Esquires and Teles, and... (wait for it Philly!) ... a Les Paul Junior and a Melody Maker. The gorgeous slide stuff on Doin time on Defender (according to Gerry McAvoy) is a Tokai Talbo.


And, Gwem, I just remembered - there is a further connection that might grab you for the heavier "metal Rory" period - Dieter Dierks. He was the guy that helped Rory out of the hole that he found himself in after these San Francisco recordings (the album was meant to be called "Torch" by the way). They went to Dieter Dierks's studio in Cologne to re-record it as Photo Finish. They got on so well with him, his mum, The Scorpions, etc, that all of the "metal-period" studio albums I mentioned  (Photo Finish, Top Priority, and Jinx) were recorded there.

[Philly Q]

He had a doctored Corvette he used a fair bit, a 57 strat that sometimes sounded better than his 61, various Esquires and Teles, and... (wait for it Philly!) ... a Les Paul Junior and a Melody Maker.

See, a man of taste! (or Taste..... )  :D

I remember seeing a Rory gig on TV - no idea of the dates - during which he used a black Tele at least as much as the Strat.

Andy, did you ever read Guitar & Bass back in the very early days when it was The Guitar Magazine?  They once had a Strat shootout in which they got none other than Rory himself to try out a bunch of different Strats - '50s, '60s and '70s ones and possibly even a new one or two.  He came across as not vintage-snobbish at all - there was a '70s Strat he really liked, although he said he'd prefer bigger frets on it.   

[AndyR]

Yep, I remember that very well - I was even thinking about it while I was typing it. I have a feeling that there was at least one of the "re-issue" Fenders that they were doing at the time - so a Japanese one (although they weren't advertising that the "US" re-issues were also made in Japan at the time :lol:). I couldn't afford them, but I helped a friend pick a strat, and he went for the "US" 50s reissue.

[gwEm]

Good news on the Rory stuff though, that guy was a monster guitar player.  Here's one of my fave Rory moments...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hQIv-BQXecM

i was listening to this again today, and for some reason was reminded of Iron Maiden's Drifter:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fkPb-kCST1o

only Maiden are a bit less rocking as Andy suggests. i guess its a standard blues progression, but the bass is very similar.

[Tellboy]

I was a Taste fan but then seemed to lose touch with Rory. After listening to some of these tracks I can see it was my loss. Loved Souped Up Ford - what a tight rythym section. So much energy.

CALLING ROO - see what effect playing a Tele has on women ( 1:25):-

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XBagcBSavIM&feature=related

I think Rory was playing Hair on a G-string at the time. A fine looking Mufty  PDT_023

[FELINEGUITARS]

Good news on the Rory stuff though, that guy was a monster guitar player.  Here's one of my fave Rory moments...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hQIv-BQXecM

i was listening to this again today, and for some reason was reminded of Iron Maiden's Drifter:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fkPb-kCST1o

only Maiden are a bit less rocking as Andy suggests. i guess its a standard blues progression, but the bass is very similar.

I too always think of Drifter when I hear this track

[keith]

  Here's one of my fave Rory moments...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hQIv-BQXecM

That is epic.

M...O...N...S...T...E...R

[AndyR]

Good news on the Rory stuff though, that guy was a monster guitar player.  Here's one of my fave Rory moments...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hQIv-BQXecM

i was listening to this again today, and for some reason was reminded of Iron Maiden's Drifter:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fkPb-kCST1o

only Maiden are a bit less rocking as Andy suggests. i guess its a standard blues progression, but the bass is very similar.

I too always think of Drifter when I hear this track

Sounds like they was Rory fans :lol:

That version of Souped Up Ford is well fast though!