Live! in Europe is the third album by Irish blues guitarist Rory Gallagher, released in 1972. It is a series of live recordings made during his European tour that year. Unusual for a live album, it contains only two songs previously recorded and released by Gallagher ("Laundromat" and "In Your Town"). The other songs are either new Gallagher songs or Gallagher's interpretation of traditional blues songs.
Live! in Europe was released at the end of the British "blues boom" that began in the 1960s. Sparked by bands such as the Rolling Stones, Yardbirds and Cream, fans and musicians were fascinated by authentic Chicago blues artists such as Muddy Waters. Gallagher had an extensive knowledge of this kind of music, although he tended to play down arguments about what was "pure" blues. In an interview at the time he said:
If there was one fault with the boom in the 1960s, it was that it was very straight-faced and very pontificatory, or whatever the word is. It used to annoy me that there was an attitude of 'Thou shalt not play the blues unless you know who played second acoustic guitar behind Sonny Boy Williamson the first on the B-side of whatever.' That kind of thing gets music nowhere, it’s like collecting stamps. I mean, I buy books on the blues and I check out the B-sides and I know who plays on what records and that’s fine. But then you’ve got to open that up to the rest of the people. Because that kind of snobbery defeats the purpose; it kills the music.[2]
Rather than live versions of his most popular songs, there are only two songs on the album that were previously recorded by Gallagher in the studio, "Laundromat" from his first album and "In Your Town" from his Deuce album. All the other songs are Gallagher's versions of classic blues songs. The album starts with what was to become a signature song for Gallagher, Junior Wells' "Messin' With the Kid". The song "I Could've Had Religion" was Gallagher's salute to what he called the "redemption style blues" of the Robert Wilkins and Gary Davis. After hearing the song on this album Bob Dylan expressed interest in recording it and assumed it was a traditional blues number rather than an original song by Gallagher.[2]
Blind Boy Fuller's "Pistol Slapper Blues" is next. Gallagher then shows his versatility, swapping his Stratocaster for a mandolin and performing the song "Going to My Hometown" with the audience stomping their feet and cheering in response as Gallagher sings "do you want to go?".[citation needed] The finale is the straight-ahead hard rocking "Bullfrog Blues" written by William Harris. Gallagher switches back to the electric guitar and the full band and gives bassist Gerry McAvoy and drummer Wilgar Campbell, a chance to solo.[citation needed] With the CD release, two additional blues songs were added: "What in the World" and "Hoodoo Man".
Most critics agree that Live! in Europe is one of Gallagher's finest albums. Upon release, it entered the top ten album chart in the UK.[5] It was Gallagher's highest charting album to date reaching 101 in the Billboard 200 for 1972.[6][failed verification] The album was his first major commercial success and his first solo top ten album. It won him his first Gold Disc.[citation needed]
^Cavanagh, David (September 2015). "Rory Gallagher Solo". Uncut. p. 86.
^McAvoy, Mark (2009). Cork Rock: From Rory Gallagher to the Sultans of Ping. Mercier Press. p. 43. ISBN9781856356558.
^Owens, Thomas. "Rory Gallagher: Live! in Europe – Review". AllMusic. Retrieved 14 June 2013.
January 01, 1970
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Live in Europe is the third album by Irish blues guitarist Rory Gallagher released in 1972 It is a series of live recordings made during his European tour that year Unusual for a live album it contains only two songs previously recorded and released by Gallagher Laundromat and In Your Town The other songs are either new Gallagher songs or Gallagher s interpretation of traditional blues songs Live in EuropeLive album by Rory GallagherReleased1 May 1972 1972 05 01 1 RecordedFebruary March 1972GenreBlues rockLength45 42LabelPolydorProducerRory GallagherRory Gallagher chronologyDeuce 1971 Live in Europe 1972 Blueprint 1973 Contents 1 Recording 2 Critical reception and charts 3 Track listing 4 Performance recording dates and venues 5 Personnel 6 ReferencesRecording editLive in Europe was released at the end of the British blues boom that began in the 1960s Sparked by bands such as the Rolling Stones Yardbirds and Cream fans and musicians were fascinated by authentic Chicago blues artists such as Muddy Waters Gallagher had an extensive knowledge of this kind of music although he tended to play down arguments about what was pure blues In an interview at the time he said If there was one fault with the boom in the 1960s it was that it was very straight faced and very pontificatory or whatever the word is It used to annoy me that there was an attitude of Thou shalt not play the blues unless you know who played second acoustic guitar behind Sonny Boy Williamson the first on the B side of whatever That kind of thing gets music nowhere it s like collecting stamps I mean I buy books on the blues and I check out the B sides and I know who plays on what records and that s fine But then you ve got to open that up to the rest of the people Because that kind of snobbery defeats the purpose it kills the music 2 Rather than live versions of his most popular songs there are only two songs on the album that were previously recorded by Gallagher in the studio Laundromat from his first album and In Your Town from his Deuce album All the other songs are Gallagher s versions of classic blues songs The album starts with what was to become a signature song for Gallagher Junior Wells Messin With the Kid The song I Could ve Had Religion was Gallagher s salute to what he called the redemption style blues of the Robert Wilkins and Gary Davis After hearing the song on this album Bob Dylan expressed interest in recording it and assumed it was a traditional blues number rather than an original song by Gallagher 2 Blind Boy Fuller s Pistol Slapper Blues is next Gallagher then shows his versatility swapping his Stratocaster for a mandolin and performing the song Going to My Hometown with the audience stomping their feet and cheering in response as Gallagher sings do you want to go citation needed The finale is the straight ahead hard rocking Bullfrog Blues written by William Harris Gallagher switches back to the electric guitar and the full band and gives bassist Gerry McAvoy and drummer Wilgar Campbell a chance to solo citation needed With the CD release two additional blues songs were added What in the World and Hoodoo Man Critical reception and charts editProfessional ratingsReview scoresSourceRatingAllMusic nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp 3 Uncut9 10 4 Most critics agree that Live in Europe is one of Gallagher s finest albums Upon release it entered the top ten album chart in the UK 5 It was Gallagher s highest charting album to date reaching 101 in the Billboard 200 for 1972 6 failed verification The album was his first major commercial success and his first solo top ten album It won him his first Gold Disc citation needed Track listing editSide one Messin with the Kid written by Mel London originally recorded by Junior Wells 6 25 Laundromat Rory Gallagher 5 12 I Could ve Had Religion Gallagher 8 35 Pistol Slapper Blues Blind Boy Fuller 2 54 Side two Going to My Hometown Gallagher 5 46 In Your Town Gallagher from Deuce 10 03 Bullfrog Blues Traditional arranged by Gallagher 6 47 CD bonus tracks What in the World Traditional arranged by Gallagher 7 40 Hoodoo Man Traditional arranged by Gallagher 6 02 Performance recording dates and venues edit5 February 1972 College Luton England 12 February 1972 Teatro Lirico Milan Italy 14 February 1972 Space Electronic Club Florence Italy 5 March 1972 Scala Cinema Ludwigsburg GermanyPersonnel editMusicians Rory Gallagher guitars harmonica mandolin vocals Gerry McAvoy bass guitar Wilgar Campbell drums Technical Mick Rock liner notes photography Alan Perkins recording engineer Tony Arnold remastering Donal Gallagher executive producerReferences edit Gallagher official site a b Connaughton Marcus 2012 Rory Gallagher His Life and Times The Collins Press p 66 ISBN 9781848891531 Live in Europe at AllMusic Cavanagh David September 2015 Rory Gallagher Solo Uncut p 86 McAvoy Mark 2009 Cork Rock From Rory Gallagher to the Sultans of Ping Mercier Press p 43 ISBN 9781856356558 Owens Thomas Rory Gallagher Live in Europe Review AllMusic Retrieved 14 June 2013 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Live in Europe Rory Gallagher album amp oldid 1168465564, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
