Calling Card: Rory Gallagher’s Career Celebrated on New Compilation Due This Week
When Jimi Hendrix was asked what it was like to be the best guitarist in the world, he replied, “I don’t know, why don’t you go and ask Rory Gallagher.” Despite the indelible mark left by the Irish blues-rocker, Gallagher tends to be unfairly cast aside. UMe have done their part with acclaimed collections like last year’s Blues and the 2020 live set Check Shirt Wizard – Live In ’77. This Friday, October 9, the label will release a new career-spanning collection: The Best Of Rory Gallagher.
The album will be available in 1CD (15 songs), 2CD (30 songs), 2-LP (30 songs), and digital configurations, as well as a uDiscoverMusic-exclusive clear vinyl edition with a bonus single featuring an alternate mix of Jerry Lee Lewis and Rory Gallagher’s rendition of The Rolling Stones’ “Satisfaction.” That previously unreleased track is also available on the 2-CD edition. The collection spans the guitarist’s Polydor, Chrysalis, and Capo recordings originally issued between 1970 and 1990 including a handful of tracks with the band Taste and a posthumously issued track first released in 2010; Gallagher passed away in 1995 at the far too young age of 47.
No matter how you choose to listen, The Best of Rory Gallagher is an essential collection, perfect for new fans and longtime acolytes alike. It’s due this Friday from Universal. You can place your pre-orders with the links below and keep scrolling to peruse the full track listing with discography.
The Best of Rory Gallagher (UMe, 2020)
2CD: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada / Your Local Record Shop
1CD: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada / Your Local Record Shop
2LP: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada / Your Local Record Shop
Limited 2-LP clear vinyl w/ bonus 7″ single: UDiscoverMusic
CD 1
- What’s Going On – Taste
- Shadow Play
- Follow Me
- Tattoo’d Lady
- All Around Man
- I Fall Apart
- Daughter Of The Everglades
- Calling Card
- I’m Not Awake Yet
- Just The Smile
- Out Of My Mind
- Edged In Blue
- Philby
- It’s Happened Before, It’ll Happen Again – Taste
- Crest Of a Wave
CD 2
- Bad Penny
- Walk On Hot Coals
- Blister On The Moon – Taste
- Loanshark Blues
- Bought & Sold
- A Million Miles Away
- Wheels Within Wheels (from 2010’s ‘Notes From San Francisco’ LP)
- Seven Days
- Ghost Blues
- Cruise On Out
- (I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction (Alternate) – Jerry Lee Lewis feat. Rory Gallagher
- They Don’t Make Them Like You Anymore
- Moonchild
- Jinxed
- Catfish – Taste
Disc 1, Tracks 1 and 14 from On The Boards (Polydor, 1970)
Disc 1, Tracks 2 and Disc 2, Track 10 from Photo Finish (Chrysalis, 1978)
Disc 1, Tracks 3 and 13 and Disc 2, Track 1 from Top Priority (Chrysalis, 1979)
Disc 1, Track 4 and Disc 2, Tracks 6 and 12 from Tattoo (Polydor, 1973)
Disc 1, Track 5 and Disc 2, Track 5 from Against The Grain (Chrysalis, 1975)
Disc 1, Tracks 6 and 10 from Rory Gallagher (Polydor, 1971)
Disc 1, Track 7 and Disc 2, Track 2 from Blueprint (Polydor, 1973)
Disc 1, Tracks 8 and 12 and Disc 2, Track 13 from Calling Card (Polydor, 1976)
Disc 1, Tracks 9, 11 and 15 from Deuce (Polydor, 1971)
Disc 2, Tracks 3 and 15 from Taste (Polydor, 1969)
Disc 2, Tracks 4 and 8 from Defender (Capo, 1987)
Disc 2, Track 7 from Notes From San Francisco (Capo/Legacy, 2010)
Disc 2, Track 9 from Fresh Evidence (Capo, 1990)
Disc 2, Track 11 previously unreleased outtake from The Session…Recorded In London With Great Guest Artists (Mercury, 1973)
Disc 2, Track 14 from Jinx (Chrysalis, 1982)
CD/2LP Track Listing:
- Bad Penny
- Shadow Play
- I Fall Apart
- Calling Card
- What’s Going On
- All Around Man
- A Million Miles Away
- Just The Smile
- Seven Days
- Jinxed
- Edged In Blue
- Philby
- Walk On Hot Coals
- Tattoo’d Lady
- Crest Of a Wave
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16 thoughts on “Calling Card: Rory Gallagher’s Career Celebrated on New Compilation Due This Week”
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Amazon says the US release is December 4…
I ll like to know the source where you got Jimi Hendrix talking about Rory. Actually , my two favorites guitar p-layers in rock. Thank you.
It’s pretty well known that quote was made up. Not a knock at Rory at all.
Yes, i guess so, i read a lot about JImi and Rory, but never got any real source for that info. Cheers!
Rory was Irish! Let no one forget!!
Just this past year 2019 i heard him RG on a playlist a buddy gave me and I was wow who is this guy and who is playing guitar, come to find out that it was RG on both. I was floored and i immediately made the comment that he was much better than jimi hendrix and JH was my favorite but not anymore…
They re both my favorites, Jimi a notch higher, for being more spácey.
Can’t believe Bull Frog Blues is not inuded!!!
Me too Ken M
Most under-estimated guitarist ever.
Thank you Rory
Agree! He gave all to his fans!! Great guy and guitar player.
Most under-estimated guitarist ever.
Thank you Rory
That’s almost 50 years I saw Rory for the first time in Rouen, France and I’m still addicted. Thank you Rory and don’t forget my buddy you still live in our heart and soul. My daughter went to Dublin last winter and the gift she brought me back was a t-shirt of Rory playing an accoustic guitar. 💙🎶 With love my friend 🙏
Should have made it a triple cd. No Laundromat, Souped Up Ford or Bullfrog Blues.
I was mesmerized the only time I saw Mr. Gallagher. Jimi was from another world. But I loved Rory’s flair and aggressive approach. He was such a student of other styles and the history behind them. Much like Michael Bloomfield. Professors of blues and elite guitarists. Died during an unsuccessful liver transplant in 1993. Wish to God I could’ve seen him once more. He was THE MAN. Would’ve replaced Mick Taylor but Rory didn’t want to be a superstar. He stayed true to himself. Have all DVD’S except newest releases, but live he made your hair stand on your neck. When you saw Rory, you knew you were witnessing a gift from God. Praise the Lord.
Definitely not the best of Rory. No Sinner Boy or anything from Irish Tour.