Hail (Taste) (LP 4062 - 4066)

Taste  Taste (Vinyl, Polydor Records, 1969) ****  

Taste  On the Boards (Vinyl, Polydor Records, 1970) ****  

Taste  Moving On (Vinyl, Karussell Records, 1971) **** 

Taste  Live (CD, Polydor Records, 1971) **** 

Taste  Live at the Isle of Wight (CD, Polydor Records, 1971) **** 

Genre: Blues rock

Places I remember: Real Groovy Records, Manchester music shop (Moving On)

Fab, and all the other pimply hyperboles: On the Boards , Gamblin' Blues (Live)

Gear costume: Same Old Story (Taste), If I don't Sing I'll Cry (On the Boards)

They loom large in his legend (The Album Collection playlists): Part 1; Part 2; Part 3; Part 4; Part 5; Part 6

Active compensatory factors: If you thought Rory Gallagher's career really started with his terrific solo album in 1971, think again. Beginning in 1966, Taste was his first power trio (with a different bass/drums combo).

For those first and second studio albums Richard McCracken and John Wilson provide the bass and drum support for Rory to explore a mix of originals and covers (Ledbetter, Hank Snow on the debut). Nothing much changed throughout the years, did it - the blueprint (sorry) is right here in the blues power chords that Cream had pioneered.

Taste's second album, On the Boards was also recorded in 1969 and issued at the start of 1970 - the work ethic was set in stone right from the off - perpetual work!

This time all the songs are Rory originals. What a talented guy he was - song writer, vocalist, played alto sax and harmonica, and, of yes, was the world's greatest guitarist (just ask Jimi). On the Boards continues the variety of looks from the debut - jazzy runs, Cream like blues, country picking, folk songs...Rory could do it all.

There are a few Taste compilations out there, but I prefer the el cheapo Karussell one (Polydor artists like Suzanne, John Mayall, Cream were subject to this treatment in the sixties/ seventies).

Moving On came out quickly after On the Boards to cash in on Rory's solo debut success (I guess).

It has the requisite bad taste (sorry again) cover, and cobbles together tracks from both Taste studio albums.

There are two live documents of Taste in action on the boards - Live (recorded live at Montreux Casino in Switzerland in 1970) and Live at the Isle of Wight - both were released in 1971. 

Given the gigs were around the same time there is an overlap with some songs (a lengthy I Feel So Good, Sugar Mama and Catfish). There are plenty of highlights - the amazing bottleneck on Gamblin' Blues is just one on Live. 

Where do they all belong? And then it's on to Rory's solo career.

Now I'm back in your town (Rory Gallagher) (LP 55 - 57 )

Rory Gallagher Rory Gallagher (Vinyl - Polydor, 1971) ***
Rory Gallagher  Deuce (Vinyl - Chrysalis, 1971) ****
Rory Gallagher Live in Europe (Vinyl - Chrysalis, 1972) ****

Genre: Irish pop/rock

Places I remember: First one came second hand from Real Groovy, other two from Marbecks Records (sticker to prove it).

Fab, and all the other pimply hyperboles: In Your Town (both the studio version on Deuce and the live one on In Europe) - amazing guitar!




Gear costume: Crest of a Wave (Deuce); Can't Believe It's True (Rory Gallagher) - great sax from Rory!

Active compensatory factors: Rory's first three albums after Taste are about feet finding and getting a sound. By 1972's In Europe - there it was!

Perceived wisdom about Rory is that the live in concert stuff is the best way to approach his recorded works. No argument from me - his 1980 NZ concert remains my favourite concert experience of all time, BUT there are still many gems on the studio albums. 

Deuce is a big improvement on the tentative debut album (but even that has the excellent Laundromat and the unusually jazzy Can't Believe It's True).

For me, Irish Tour '74 knocks In Europe for six but that's just an indication of how great the Irish tour set is.

Where do they all belong? Much more Rory to come but Taste is the best destination for similar stuff to these three albums.