To celebrate the 50th Anniversary of Rory Gallagher’s eponymous 1971 debut solo album, we are delighted to hear that the 3 September 2021 will see the release of a five-disc Deluxe Boxset. The album will include a brand-new mix of the original album, thirty previously unreleased outtakes and alternate takes, a six-song 1971 BBC Radio John Peel Sunday Concert, plus four 1971 BBC Radio Sounds of the Seventies session tracks, all mastered at Abbey Road Studios.
Also included is a previously unreleased 50-minute DVD of Rory’s first-ever solo concert which was filmed in Paris, France for the ‘Pop Deux’ television show.
The album will be available to pre-order from all good record shops.
The extensive package will also contain a 32-page hardback book with many rare and previously unseen photographs from British rock photographer Barrie Wentzell, essays and memorabilia from the album recording including hand-written song lyrics by Rory, and an exclusive limited-edition poster.
The 2CD and 3LP editions of the album will be cut-down versions of the Deluxe Boxset. There will also be a special D2C limited edition colour 1LP featuring the John Peel Sunday Concert.
The box set will also include exclusive liner notes written by his brother and manager Donal Gallagher, his longtime bass guitarist Gerry McAvoy (1970-1991), and photographer Barry Wentzel, plus a full 1971 interview with Rory by journalist Roy Eldridge.
The debut album features some of the most beloved Rory songs such as ‘I Fall Apart’ (Rory’s 2nd most streamed song), ‘Laundromat’, and ‘Just The Smile’. The recording saw Rory Gallagher on guitar and lead vocals as well as alto sax, harmonica, and mandolin, Gerry McAvoy on bass, and Wilgar Campbell on drums. Atomic Rooster’s Vincent Crane plays piano on two out of the ten songs on the album “Wave Myself Goodbye” and “I’m Not Surprised.”
Rory had not played live since his previous band Taste disbanded on October 24th, 1970. When Rory’s eponymous solo album was released in May 1971, he embarked on a 16-date UK tour, ten days touring Ireland and a short jaunt of Switzerland.
Recorded at the legendary Advision Studios in Fitzrovia, London, Rory’s eponymous debut album showcases the Irish guitarist as a multi-faceted interpreter of the blues with a cross-section of the blues from acoustic to heavy blues soul. Advision was one of the hottest recording studios in the 60s and 70s and home of classic albums recorded by The Yardbirds, The Who, The Move, T. Rex, David Bowie, Kate Bush, Elton John, Slade, Gentle Giant, Gerry Rafferty, and many more.
If ever there was a “musician’s musician” then that accolade belongs to Rory Gallagher. Renowned for his blistering live performances and highly respected for his dedication to his craft, he died in 1995, aged just 47.
Rory’s timeless reputation has continued to flourish in the years since. Indeed, some of rock’s most seminal figures, from Jimi Hendrix to Eric Clapton, Joe Satriani to Joe Bonamassa, Queen’s Brian May to The Smiths’ Johnny Marr, Slash of Guns N Roses to the Edge of U2, have cited him as an influence. Rory remains a touchstone for all would-be guitar heroes in the 21st Century.