What does it sound like?:
Let’s take a moment to praise the anonymous people who trawl through tape libraries in studios and record companies, looking for gold. For one of these ‘tape moles’ has unearthed some solid gold bars, here.
Rory Gallagher’s eleventh studio album, Fresh Evidence, came out on 1st May 1990. Recorded over six months – a lifetime, in Rory Gallagher terms – in four studios across London – Redan Recorders, Maison Rouge, Music Station and Audio One – it was an album which Rory was very proud of. His failing health, due to problems with his liver, contributed to delaying the release but a lot of care and attention was taken over getting the right sound for each song. The album used his band; Gerry McAvoy on bass, Brendan O’Neill on drums and John Cooke on keyboards, but had the added input of some wonderful players like Geraint Watkins, Mark Feltham and Lou Martin.
Rory gigged in support of the album, starting on 10th June in Douglas, Isle of Man, but the gigs were more spread out than in years gone by, to help him to recover from the rigours of his stage exertions – two nights in Amsterdam, 26/27/29th June, were followed by one gig in France in August and one in Germany in October. In December, there were six gigs in England, starting at Rock City, Nottingham on 19th then Manchester, Redcar and Wolverhampton on consecutive nights before two gigs at London’s Town & Country Club on 28/29th December. It was these two gigs which were recorded and, until some tape mole unearthed them, last year, left to gather dust in a tape-vault somewhere. Rory’s brother, Donal, who has curated the maestro’s legacy very well, had them mixed and then mastered, at Abbey Road Studios.
Let’s start with the band – Gerry Mac, Brendan O’Neill, Mark Feltham and Geraint Watkins – great players all, and supportive of Rory’s genius. Photos and video from the time show a slightly overweight, 42 year-old Rory whose puffy face hints at the ongoing liver issues. There is a perceived wisdom that Rory’s career tailed off from the mid-’80’s and, in terms of record-sales, that is true, even though his albums were consistently good . Yet, in his kingdom, his realm, on a stage, with Gerry and Brendan pounding away behind him like an out of control train from Cork to Mississippi, Rory was still King.
The 23 tracks here are drawn from Fresh Evidence and it’s predecessor, Defender, joined with some deep cuts and familiar greats like Bullfrog Blues, Shadow Play and Messin’ With The Kid and, from the off, Rory is on fire.
The opener, Continental Op, sets off at a rollicking pace, and never lets up. Rory’s two solos, the first on blistering slide, are mind-blowing. A man in decline? Got outta here.
Heaven’s Gate is the first from Fresh Evidence, then Don’t Start Me Talkin’, from Defender, which has Rory crashing into Mark Feltham’s harmonica solo like a wrecking ball. Back to Fresh Evidence for Kid Gloves, which rocks like a mutha, and then Muddy’s Mean Disposition – you get the picture? It’s a great mix of old and new.
It’s a new song, Ghost Blues, which sets the tone for the run-in – eight minutes of ‘a hundred mile an hour blues’ with Rory and Mark swapping solos like it’s Pass the Parcel but neither wants to get left with the prize. Then its Messin’, Keep A Knockin’, Bullfrog and 1975’s All Around Man, which closes the show.
The sound throughout is pin-sharp and Rory’s guitar-tone is ridiculous – jeez, he could make that battered old Strat sound so sweet. He plays like an angel, like a devil, like a cherub, like a demon and the band are sensationally good.
What does it all *mean*?
Look, if you’re a Rory fan, then this is absolutely essential. If your favourite Rory album flits between Live In Europe and Irish Tour ‘74, then this is up there with both of them. And, if you ever wondered what all the fuss was about, about the Kid from Cork, then this is a must-have. I doubt very much if there’ll be a better live album released this year.
Goes well with…
The best of Rory.
Release Date:
7th July 2023
Might suit people who like…
The blues.
fortuneight says
Cracking review NB – I’ll check it out.
Twang says
So it was December 1990? I saw him in St. Albans in December 1988 and he played brilliantly with the same band I guess. Certainly Brendan, Gerry and Mark Feltham. I ran into them in the pub beforehand! I was shocked at how Rory looked – really not well, but he played without limits. What a loss.
Munster says
Great review. There are three songs up on Spotify already and they sound excellent. I have my air guitar ready for the album’s release.
Blue Boy says
Wonderful review Niall. I’ve been on a bit of a Rory binge lately so really looking forward to listening to this.
It started with picking up and reading the biography by Julian Vignoles. It’s solid rather than spectacular but a good and balanced account of his life. There is a great book to be written about Gallagher – maybe Colin of this parish, who is namechecked a couple of times in the book is the one to do it. That took me back to the records. I hadn’t really paid attention to his later albums before but there is some good stuff there. I have also gone right back to Taste, who I – unaccountably – hadn’t really listened to much before either. I bought the box set “I’ll Remember” and it’s brilliant – their second album, ‘On the Boards’, especially. And then, by a glorious coincidence, I found myself in Donegal for a few days over the weekend when Ballyshannon holds its annual Rory Gallagher tribute festival, an event I hadn’t previously been aware of, and which brings visitors from across Europe. I went for one afternoon, and had a great time. Its a bit of a cheek of Ballyshannon to be honest – he was born there but moved away when he was a very young child. But boy do they make the most of the association. The festival is mostly free, with open air stages dotted around town and every pub (and there are loads of them, obviously) having live music. Lots of Rory tribute bands and general bar blues bands. I particularly enjoyed The Mississippi Sheiks, Seamie O”Dowd and Clara Rose, but above all I loved the feel about the place. People were drinking on an industrial scale, but there was barely any visible police or security presence and not a hint of aggro – just lots of people from aging bikers over from Germany to local teenagers having a high old time. For me there is always a tinge of sadness when listening to Rory, and thinking about how things panned out. But this festival was a joyous celebration of the man. I heartily recommend it.
Thanks again for the review, Niall.
niallb says
Brilliant! It sounds great.
fortuneight says
If you haven’t come across it yet, Gerry McAvoy’s book “Riding Shotgun” is worth reading.
Twang says
There’s a really good book called “Gallagher, Derringer, Marriott, Trower” (or some combination thereof) with a chunky section on each. Format is lots of eye witness commentary.
fortuneight says
I confess to owning a copy that I haven’t read. It’s on the to-do list.
Twang says
It’s a good read.
Baron Harkonnen says
You’ve sold it to me Niall and I enjoyed your post also BB.
Northcote says
I went to one of those Town & Country gigs and remember being distinctly unimpressed. From memory the over pervasive mouth organ was particularly grating. I am however a huge RG fan going back to the seventies, so I will give this a go with an open mind,
Junior Wells says
Interesting.
When did mouth harp become part of his band’s sound?
Twang says
Quite late on he added Mark Feltham – late 80s.
niallb says
If you’re to use anyone, Feltham is the best there is.