Remembering Rory Gallagher 1948-1995

William Rory Gallagher (2 March 1948 – 14 June 1995) was an Irish blues and rock multi-instrumentalist, songwriter, and producer. 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. 
His albums have sold over 30 million copies worldwide.
Gallagher received a liver transplant in 1995, but died of complications later that year in London at the age of 47. (Wiki) 


Following on from my Goodbye Cream post...I was inspired by the memory of Rory Gallagher another artist that left us too soon...Taste and the first two Led Zep albums kept this period of Blues/Rock alive, amongst a few others (F.Mac,Mayall,Free,Ten Years After et al).
After the Cream gig me and my mates would check out the listings at The Marquee, then in Wardour St. We would hop-off school to sit outside (this now famous venue) for hours before the door opened, in order to get front seats just feet away from the band. I/we were at many gigs here...even Rory would spot us and say Hi... He always put 100% into his astounding performances...so exciting and heart-felt every time...bucket loads of Blues and sweat...It was magic !
Taste would split and Rory would go on to have a much more successful solo career...
I never saw him live as a solo but have all the remastered CDs and have seen many videos etc.He always gave his all !
As  mentioned in my last post we spotted him at a Johnny Winter gig and I have his handshake as an abiding memory of the joy and excitement he created for us to witness. Cheers Gus

Here is the first Taste album from 1969 as MP3@320...The same songs that made up their live set :  

https://mega.nz/#!SZ8xVQBR!nrg5vbXrnnvZuYbc_7TEORLfY7dgTsnWMGGYKzqXN60

2019...I still fondly remember the Marquee days...late 60's early 70's - Jethro Tull, Blodwyn Pig. Groundhogs and many more...But Rory remains my Cherished fave ! Such talent and grit ! Listen to this album, that has grit and honesty in bucket loads !  


See here for a live clip of Taste at the 1970 IOW festival :   

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cdf-QKyLeOs

Here for a good live taste of Rory from 1976 :  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=unUzoVjA7Ig

And here for a great docu of Rory's life and career :  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JbOlUWlU2j0&list=LLwAB0LnUVu1d5C7nTRUhrBQ&index=3&t=2505s

Cream - Farewell Concert / November 26, 1968 - Royal Albert Hall, London + (Narration & Interviews documentary) ...Plus !

Cream were a British rock power trio formed in 1966 consisting of drummer Ginger Baker, guitarist/singer Eric Clapton and lead singer/bassist Jack Bruce. The group's third album, Wheels of Fire (1968), is the world's first platinum-selling double album. The band is widely regarded as the world's first successful supergroup. In their career, they sold more than 15 million records worldwide. Their music included songs based on traditional blues such as "Crossroads" and "Spoonful", and modern blues such as "Born Under a Bad Sign", as well as more current material such as "Strange Brew", "Tales of Brave Ulysses" and "Toad". (Wiki)

This was the band that got me into playing music and changed my life 

I was lucky enough to get tickets for Cream's farewell concert at the Royal Albert Hall 

(what a great venue!). I was 14 and loved this band like I loved the Beatles (and still do !)...But I wanted to play improvisations like these guys...For rock music this was new !

As support I heard Yes and Taste (featuring Rory Gallagher) and hence became a Rory fan...Later I had the pleasure to shake Rory's hand and tell him I was an admirer...outside the RAH again at a Johnny Winter gig... Here is and old docu featuring this great pioneering band Cream :   

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JG_hzyLBdew&t=483s

Here is one of the best sounding Bootlegs of Cream that I've come across...Two gigs in the USA in 1968..

  

Thanks to the original poster...Get this 2cd Here :  

https://mega.nz/#!iIEUhIzD!DLEsqWrBgE-1Own3Fi6aGu7QM3hkY2Z2inbtCmj0--Q