Career-Spanning Collection Available Now for Preorder:
Deluxe 3CD & Digital; Standard 1CD & Digital; 2LP Vinyl; Ltd. Edition 2LP Blue Vinyl
Los Angeles – April 4, 2019 – In what would have been the 50th year of Rory Gallagher’s recording career comes Chess/UMe’s May 31 release of a new career-spanning collection, BLUES. Drawn from the vaults of the Gallagher estate’s tape archive, the collection presents rare and unreleased recordings of Rory playing his favorite blues material. Ranging from previously unreleased tracks to special guest sessions with legendary blues artists (Muddy Waters, Albert King) and lost radio sessions, BLUES uncovers Rory’s love of the blues throughout his solo career, from 1971 right through to 1994.
BLUES’ formats include a 16-track 1CD and digital edition; 2LP vinyl and limited edition 2LP blue vinyl editions; and a deluxe 36-track 3CD and digital edition, showcasing Rory’s virtuoso performances of electric, acoustic and live blues. The Deluxe Edition is comprised of 90 percent unreleased material and features performances with musical legends such as Muddy Waters, Albert King, Jack Bruce, Lonnie Donegan, and Chris Barber. The 3CD Deluxe Edition also includes an extensive booklet with previously unseen pictures of Rory, plus a new essay by award-winning blues/rock writer Jas Obrecht.
Starting today, the previously unreleased track “Nothin’ But The Devil” is available for streaming and for immediate download with BLUES album preorder: https://rorygallagher.lnk.to/Blues
Rory Gallagher was a self-taught virtuoso who forged a musical revolution in his native land, shunned the trappings of fame and stardom yet became a universally acclaimed international folk hero. In the years that have passed since his death, aged 47 on June 14, 1995, his true stature has become ever clearer. This soft-spoken Irishman, characterized by his flowing locks and trademark working man stage clothes, was far from ordinary.
Rory’s rock-solid devotion to his calling never wavered and the respect of his musical peers was universal. Eric Clapton credited Gallagher with “getting me back into the blues,” and The Rolling Stones tried to get him to replace Mick Taylor. Rory’s influence spread through the generations — from Slash to Johnny Marr, from U2’s The Edge to Queen’s Brian May and on to The Manics’ James Dean Bradfield — any aspiring player who encountered him was bound to be energized or transformed.
Rory Gallagher is commemorated throughout Ireland — a bronze statue in Ballyshannon, a sculpture in Cork where the local theatre is named after him, a mounted guitar in Dublin, a plaque in Belfast. His famously battered paint stripped Sunburst Strat has been marketed by Fender in a tribute model. There’s a Rue Rory Gallagher in Paris, an annual festival in Ireland, and tribute concerts held each year in his honor around the world.
Rory Gallagher: BLUES [Deluxe Edition: 3CD; Digital]
DISC 1: Electric Blues
1. Don’t Start Me Talkin’ (Unreleased track from the Jinx album sessions 1982)
2. Nothin’ But The Devil (Unreleased track from the Against The Grain album sessions 1975)
3. Tore Down (Unreleased track from the Blueprint album sessions 1973)
4. Off The Handle (Unreleased session Paul Jones Show BBC Radio 1986)
5. I Could’ve Had Religion (Unreleased WNCR Cleveland radio session from 1972)
6. As the Crow Flies (Unreleased track from Tattoo album sessions 1973)
7. A Million Miles Away (Unreleased BBC Radio 1 Session 1973)
8. Should’ve Learnt My Lesson (Outtake from Deuce album sessions 1971)
9. Leaving Town Blues (Tribute track from Peter Green ‘Rattlesnake Guitar’ 1994)
10. Drop Down Baby (Rory guest guitar on Lonnie Donegan‘s “Puttin’ On The Style” album 1978
11. I’m Ready (Guest guitarist on Muddy Waters ‘London Sessions’ album 1971)
12. Bullfrog Blues (Unreleased WNCR Cleveland radio session from 1972)
DISC 2: Acoustic Blues
1. Who’s That Coming (Acoustic outtake from Tattoo album sessions 1973)
2. Should’ve Learnt My Lesson (Acoustic outtake from Deuce album sessions 1971)
3. Prison Blues (Unreleased track from Blueprint album sessions 1973)
4. Secret Agent (Unreleased acoustic version from RTE Irish TV 1976)
5. Blow Wind Blow (Unreleased WNCR Cleveland radio session from 1972)
6. Bankers Blues (Outtake from the Blueprint album sessions 1973)
7. Whole Lot Of People (Acoustic outtake from Deuce album sessions 1971)
8. Loanshark Blues (Unreleased acoustic version from German TV 1987)
9. Pistol Slapper Blues (Unreleased acoustic version from Irish TV 1976)
10. Can’t Be Satisfied (Unreleased Radio FFN session from 1992)
11. Want Ad Blues (Unreleased RTE Radio Two Dave Fanning session 1988)
12. Walkin’ Blues (Unreleased acoustic version from RTE Irish TV 1987)
DISC 3: Live Blues
1. When My Baby She Left Me (Unreleased track from Glasgow Apollo concert 1982)
2. Nothin’ But The Devil (Unreleased track from Glasgow Apollo concert 1982)
3. What In The World (Unreleased track from Glasgow Apollo concert 1982)
4. I Wonder Who (Unreleased live track from late 1980s)
5. Messin’ With The Kid (Unreleased track from Sheffield City Hall concert 1977)
6. Tore Down (Unreleased track from Newcastle City Hall concert 1977)
7. Garbage Man Blues (Unreleased track from Sheffield City Hall concert 1977)
8. All Around Man (Unreleased track from BBC OGWT Special 1976)
9. Born Under A Bad Sign (Unreleased track from Rockpalast 1991 w/ Jack Bruce)
10. You Upset Me (Unreleased guest performance from Albert King album ‘Live’ 1975)
11. Comin’ Home Baby (Unreleased track from 1989 concert with Chris Barber Band)
12. Rory Talking Blues (Interview track of Rory talking about the blues)
Rory Gallagher: BLUES [1CD; Digital]
1. Don’t Start Me Talkin’ (Unreleased track from the Jinx album sessions 1982)
2. Nothin’ But The Devil (Unreleased track from the Against The Grain album sessions 1975)
3. Tore Down (Unreleased track from the Blueprint album sessions 1973)
4. Off The Handle (Unreleased session Paul Jones Show BBC Radio 1986)
5. A Million Miles Away (Unreleased BBC Radio 1 Session 1973)
6. Leaving Town Blues (Tribute track from Peter Green ‘Rattlesnake Guitar’ 1994)
7. As the Crow Flies (Unreleased track from Tattoo album sessions 1973)
8. Secret Agent (Unreleased acoustic version from RTE Irish TV 1976)
9. Should’ve Learnt My Lesson (Acoustic outtake from Deuce album sessions 1971)
10. Prison Blues (Unreleased track from Blueprint album sessions 1973)
11. Who’s That Coming (Acoustic outtake from Tattoo album sessions 1973)
12. I’m Ready (Guest guitarist on Muddy Waters ‘London Sessions’ album 1971)
13. What In The World (Unreleased track from Glasgow Apollo concert 1982)
14. Garbage Man Blues (Unreleased track from Sheffield City Hall concert 1977)
15. Born Under A Bad Sign (Unreleased track from Rockpalast 1991 w/ Jack Bruce)
16. I Could’ve Had Religion (WNCR Cleveland Radio Session 1973)
Rory Gallagher: BLUES [2LP Vinyl; Limited Edition Blue 2LP Vinyl]
SIDE 1
1. Don’t Start Me Talkin’ (Unreleased track from the Jinx album sessions 1982)
2. Nothin’ But The Devil (Unreleased track from the Against The Grain album sessions 1975)
3. Tore Down (Unreleased track from the Blueprint album sessions 1973)
4. Off The Handle (Unreleased session Paul Jones Show BBC Radio 1986)
SIDE 2
1. A Million Miles Away (Unreleased BBC Radio 1 Session 1973)
2. Leaving Town Blues (Tribute track from Peter Green ‘Rattlesnake Guitar’ 1994)
3. I’m Ready (Guest guitarist on Muddy Waters ‘London Sessions’ album 1971)
4. As the Crow Flies (Unreleased track from Tattoo album sessions 1973)
SIDE 3
1. Who’s That Coming (Acoustic outtake from Tattoo album sessions 1973)
2. Should’ve Learnt My Lesson (Acoustic outtake from Deuce album sessions 1971)
3. Prison Blues (Unreleased track from Blueprint album sessions 1973)
4. Secret Agent (Unreleased acoustic version from RTE Irish TV 1976)
SIDE 4
1. What In The World (Unreleased track from Glasgow Apollo concert 1982)
2. Garbage Man Blues (Unreleased track from Sheffield City Hall concert 1977)
3. Born Under A Bad Sign (Unreleased track from Rockpalast 1991 w/ Jack Bruce)
“As soon as I heard Cradle Rock, I was hooked. I thought, ‘This is what I want to be when I grow up.’” – Joe Bonamassa
“The man who got me back into the blues.” – Eric Clapton
“I really liked Rory, he was fine guitarist and singer and lovely man.” – Jimmy Page
“The man who changed my musical life was Rory Gallagher, I picked up a guitar because of him.” – Johnny Marr
“Rory didn’t sound like anybody else…He had a very individual, independent kind of tone and approach and everything. He’s always been a big hero to me.” – Slash
“He was just a magician, he’s one of the very few people of that time who could make his guitar do anything it seemed. It just seemed to be magic. I remember looking at that battered Stratocaster and thinking “how does that come out of there?” – Brian May
“Rory was probably the most natural player I’ve ever seen. In all the gigs we did together I don’t think I ever heard him play the same thing twice… He was the ultimate performer.” – Ritchie Blackmore
“‘A Million Miles Away’ was the first song I learned on guitar. The story goes that when Jimi Hendrix was asked how it felt to be the greatest guitarist in the world, he answered, “I don’t know. Go ask Rory Gallagher.” – Ed Sheeran
“When I was with Humble Pie and we were all just beginning to feel like we were getting it together, Rory was the one to measure yourself against. To be able to play like that with such intensity was awesome and really the only other guitarist that had that ability was Hendrix. I could never get a sound like that from my Strat no matter how hard I tried. He was a real credit to music and pushed it to another level altogether.” – Peter Frampton
“It is truly remarkable how many guitarists over the years have cited Rory Gallagher as an influence. I was introduced to his playing during the Taste years but it was during one of Rush’s early tours opening for Rory in the fall of 1974 that left the greatest impression. He oozed passion in his playing and I envied his ability to transcend the moment. I learned a lot from him as a guitarist, but it was his character that touched me most.” – Alex Lifeson (RUSH)
“Rory Gallagher he was a great player. I’ve seen him perform several times he just used to use a little Fender amp and that beat-up old Strat, but boy, he could make that guitar talk. He was another guitar player who never got the credit he deserved, it’s incredible.” – Ace Frehley (KISS)
“There’s very few true blues people. Rory stood out because he did it all the way through his life, that’s what he did. Who else is there? I can’t think of anyone that stands out as a real true honest follower of the blues and singer of the blues as Rory was.” – Bill Wyman
“There’s blues players, you know some guys who play some blues licks but was like improvising with that scale. He was improvising on the quarter tones, improvising on the feedback, improvising on the vibrato. If you close your eyes and take out the rhythm section and hear him playing it’s right up there with avant-garde jazz music. I see a strong similarity between the approach to improvising over the blues between Rory and Jimi Hendrix. They were both virtuosos who were able to manipulate even the minutest aspect of the blues and do things that had never been played before.” – Larry Coryell
“It’s not too much to say that what like Hendrix did for the electric blues, Rory did in an Irish context. You know Hendrix was the great originator, he sought of did field hollers for the pace age you know. But Rory absolutely injected some Irish thing into it.” – Bob Geldof