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

Belated Introduction

I started this blog as just a way for friends and other interested parties to have access to music from the bands I was a member of (and others)...that was mostly unavailable anywhere else...I didn't expect any feedback (and didn't get much) that doesn't bother me...It's just nice to show the non-celeb real side of music that goes on in all our lives...in a local pub,club,concert etc etc...Feel free to make a comment, feel free to not. I just like to spread the word about good sounds...Hence I kept it eclectic as you can see...
I've posted other sides of the music scene I've experienced or loved...with photos, personal trivia, nostalgic memories, other rare recordings, compilations I have made and visual  posts that are not soundz ! That's just me and my inclinations...( I have posted my love of Jazz.Blues,R&B,Soul & Funk at other good Blogs)...I've had over several thousand views...so if it's of interest to anyone...great...Food for thought - Cheers Gus

'It is better to light a candle than to curse the darkness' (Chinese Proverb)

Jack Bruce - The Man Behind the Bass (BBC Documentary)

John Symon Asher Bruce (14 May 1943 – 25 October 2014) was a Scottish musician, singer and songwriter known primarily for his contributions to the British supergroup Cream, which also included the guitarist-singer Eric Clapton and the drummer Ginger Baker. 
In March 2011 Rolling Stone readers selected him as the eighth greatest bass guitarist of all time. "Most musicians would have a very hard time distinguishing themselves if they wound up in a band with Eric Clapton and Ginger Baker," the magazine said at the time, "but Jack Bruce was so gifted on the bass that he did it with ease."

Bruce maintained a solo career that spanned several decades and also played in several musical groups. Although recognized first and foremost as a vocalist, bassist and songwriter, he also played double bass, harmonica, piano, cello and guitar. He was trained as a classical cellist and considered himself a jazz musician, although much of his catalogue of compositions and recordings tended toward rock and blues.(Wiki) 

I still miss Jack Bruce...a gem of a guy...as well as a bass pioneer...Such an influence to me and my musical friends. I've met Pete Brown, Jack's lyricist, a few times, another decent guy...I was at the Royal Albert Hall on 26 November 1968 to see the farewell Cream concert...I also saw Jack with Tony Williams' Lifetime...His early solo albums 'Songs For A Tailor' and 'Harmony Row' are outstanding musical expressions that defy classification . I still play these classics from 1969 and 1971 today and love them !
Really nice to see the praise from his famous admirers within this docu...And some good reworkings of his classic compositions, that I love...I wouldn't be me without Cream and Jack Bruce...a legend ! - Cheers Gus  

See the BBC docu here :   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uP3r_CN0yRo


Tony Palmer's 1969 documentary on Jack Bruce 'Rope Ladder To The Moon'...Here : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UZF1HrWKi68&t=2325s&index=7&list=LLwAB0LnUVu1d5C7nTRUhrBQ

And a fuzzy but great video of a later all-star band with Jack showing his Art !

https://www.youtube.com/watch?=J4JGJcL8k_4&index=2&list=PLH2I05nNszj5tV1AttC22Q_U_Eoj2YviW

Thanks to original poster...Above concert (bootleg) available here :    https://mega.nz/#!SJtDVIJC!VTDBfnyCZL5gbVx17pRk2BnnBT1FAuNTAYovoWIjyb0

INTERLUDE - CARTOONS / DRAWINGS / ART

Edvard Munch

Leonardo da Vinci

M C Escher

Rene Magritte

Pablo Picasso

Odilon Redon

Rembrandt

Turner

My Guitar Journey from Mid-Teens (1969) to my 60's (2015) Photos

               Hear here !   http://www.indiemusicpeople.com/artist.aspx?ID=123095

Yes...That was fun...and some nice guitars...Gibson SG, Les Paul (Standard), USA Strat, Japanese Fender Strat... And now sitting at the bar Chilling...but I still miss the long hair...LOL !  Fortunately my baby granddaughter Matilda loves to smack my bald head...No competition ! 

I can remember my first band 'Blue Gold' at 15, with my friend and first teacher Pete Lane on rhythm guitar...We played at the local youth club and a church hall (where I first met Gwyn) ..I knew about 3 chords and a basic blues lead style...and we had about 3 songs we played again and again ...My friend Ady (see earlier post) came and played a few jams.
 My set up was an old fruit box with speakers nailed to the wood and an amp we called the Birdcage ... But people came and enjoyed this primitive effort...It got me hooked ! My early influences were Clapton, Green, Beck, Kossoff, Rory Gallagher, Leslie West and Carlos Santana and l later I got to the Blues Masters !  I got to play many varied decent gigs, including odd venues like Tower Bridge, The Natural History Museum, The Law Society, A large boat sailing down the Thames and others... One gig in Croydon ...we had 1 person turn up...and he was a drummer friend ! So if you're a beginner ...Keep on keepin' on... and enjoy.

I played in The O T Band for over 30 years with some great guys and a lady ( Earl Green & Kaiya Maxfield on vocals,Gwyn Hood bass,Andy Dummett tenor sax, Alan Hawkins later Glen 'Funk Foot' LeFleur drums ) We started as a Live Band playing classic Blues R&B Soul and our own originals and played many gigs to mostly appreciative crowds...Met many people, some who became good friends...And laugh after laugh !...Great banter ! 
Here as a repost is my compilation of the years 1984 to 1996 with Studio, Live & other recordings  - The O T Band - 'O T Scrapbook 1'  - Tracks 1,2,6,9,11,13 & 19 are original songs written by band members. The released versions of the alternatives I included  are to be found on the CD 'Earl Green - Feel The Fire ' (1996)  

Here as download  : 
https://mega.nz/#!bQEgTCTD!uKmtb5bFOiVJvAUNZ0rqfvs4rckPTE5vdRzIlAZ3e1k

Streaming here with other earlier bands :  https://soundcloud.com/user-81292978

And.I must promote this full gig from 2008 again...which is a good example of us really going for it !

Here : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x14OohXvb3s

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