By: Dr. Matt Warnock
Click to Buy Ghost Blues from Amazon.com
When thinking back to the ‘60s British rock scene, guitar legends such as Eric Clapton, Jeff Beck, Jimi Hendrix (who first found fame in London before returning to claim America) and Jimmy Page all come to mind. While all of these players deserve the accolades and recognition they have received over the years, there is one man, one player whose contribution to the instrument and the blues-rock genre is often tragically overlooked when looking back at this era of music history.
That man was Irish guitarist extraordinaire Rory Gallagher, and thanks to Eagle Vision’s latest DVD/CD release Ghost Blues: The Story of Rory Gallagher & the Beat Club Sessions
The DVD portion of the package tells the story of Gallagher, from his upbringing in Ireland all the way through his untimely and unfortunate passing in 1995. Providing glimpses into the guitarists musical background, including his early days learning to play the ukulele and his influences including Elvis, Gene Vincent, Chuck Berry and of course Buddy Holly (who is the reason why Gallagher played Fender guitars throughout his career), the film digs deep into Gallagher the person, as well as the musician.
Through interviews with Rory’s brother, as well as musical legends The Edge, Bob Geldof, Bill Wyman, Slash and journalist Cameron Crowe, we are told the story of a musician who was staunchly dedicated to the music he loved, the blues, and how his devotion to this musical genre helped steer and shape his career.
Besides the interviews, there are plenty of vintage photos and videos to provide a glimpse into Gallagher’s personal life as well as showcase him doing what he did best, playing guitar and singing live on stage. It is this archival material that really brings Gallagher’s story to life, shedding light on the music he loved to play, his family life and providing the context for his musical output and the choices that shaped his career and personal life as he grew as a player and person.
Fans will no doubt enjoy seeing these classic Gallagher performances, as well as press clippings from his early days in the U.K., and newcomers will get a chance to not only hear the guitarist tear up his fretboard, but also see him in action, something that makes this DVD worth buying.
Accompanying the DVD is a CD with 90 minutes of previously unreleased live material. Featuring the guitarist in his favorite lineup, the guitar trio, the album is a raunchy collection of 12 songs. The music ranges from blues-rock, “Laundromat,” to down-home blues “I Could’ve Had Religion,” to acoustic guitar pieces such as “I Don’t Know Where I’m Going” and the Jimmy Page inspired, or is it the other way around?, “Just the Smile.” All in all this is a solid collection of tracks that deserve to see the light of day.
Often times companies will release archived live albums that the artist probably wouldn’t have approved for various reasons, but these tracks are well-mixed and edited, and Gallagher shines throughout. By adding the CD to the two-disc package, Eagle Vision has erased any excuse people might have for not picking up this collection.
Ghost Blues: The Story of Rory Gallagher & the Beat Club Sessions
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