To celebrate the 50th anniversary of legendary guitarist Rory Gallagher‘s eponymous 1971 debut solo album, UMC/UMe has announced a 3rd of September release of a five-disc deluxe box set of the album.
Rory Gallagher 50th Anniversary Edition will include a brand-new mix of the original album, 30 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 that was filmed in Paris for the Pop Deux television show.
The extensive box set 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 from the deluxe box set. There will also be a special limited-edition Neon Orange (transparent) 1LP featuring the John Peel Sunday Concert exclusively available via UMG’s online stores uDiscover and Sound of Vinyl.
The box set will also include exclusive liner notes written by his brother and manager Donal Gallagher, his long-time bass guitarist Gerry McAvoy (1970-1991) and photographer Barrie Wentzell, plus a full 1971 interview with Rory by journalist Roy Eldridge.
You can watch the official trailer for the box set here at RAMzine.
Despite it being his debut album, it features some of Rory Gallagher’s fans’ favourite songs and perennial live favourites, not least ‘I Fall Apart’(His second most streamed song), ‘Laundromat’ and ‘Just The Smile’. While reviewing numerous tapes during the 2021 mixing sessions, two songs were added to the collection: the previously unreleased‘At The Bottom’, a track Gallagher ended up rerecording for his 1975 Against The Grain album, plus ‘Advision Jam’, a rocking instrumental. The recording saw Rory Gallagheron 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 played piano on two out of the 10 songs on the album, ‘Wave Myself Goodbye’ and ‘I’m Not Surprised’.
Thew guitarist had not played live since his previous band Taste disbanded on October 24, 1970. When his eponymous solo album was released in May 1971, he embarked on a 16-date UK tour that included 10 days touring Ireland and a short jaunt in Switzerland.
Recorded at the legendary Advision Studios in Fitzrovia, London, his debut album showcases the Irish guitarist as a multi-faceted interpreter 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.
A true musician’s musician, Rory Gallagher was renowned for his blistering live performances and highly respected for his dedication to his craft. He died in 1995, aged just 47.
His reputation has continued to flourish in the years since. 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.
Take a deep breath, the many formats and track listings for each are listed below.
4CD + 1 DVD Deluxe Set / Super Deluxe Digital
CD1: ‘Laundromat – 50th Anniversary Edition’, ‘Just The Smile – 50th Anniversary Edition’, ‘I Fall Apart – 50th Anniversary Edition’, ‘Wave Myself Goodbye – 50th Anniversary Edition’, ‘Hands Up – 50th Anniversary Edition
Sinner Boy – 50th Anniversary Edition’, ‘For The Last Time – 50th Anniversary Edition’, ‘It’s You – 50th Anniversary Edition’, ‘I’m Not Surprised – 50th Anniversary Edition’, ‘Can’t Believe It’s True – 50th Anniversary Edition’.
CD2: ‘Gypsy Woman – Tangerine Studio Session’, ‘It Takes Time – Tangerine Studio Session’, ‘I Fall Apart – Tangerine Studio Session’, ‘Wave Myself Goodbye – Tangerine Studio Session’, ‘At The Bottom – Alternate Take 1’, ‘At The Bottom – Alternate Take 2’, ‘At The Bottom – Alternate Take 3’, ‘At The Bottom – Alternate Take 4’, ‘Advision Jam’, ‘Laundromat – Alternate Take 1’, ‘Just The Smile – Alternate Take 1’, ‘Just The Smile – Alternate Take 2’, ‘I Fall Apart – Alternate Take 1’, ‘Wave Myself Goodbye – Alternate Take 1’, ‘Wave Myself Goodbye – Alternate Take 2’.
Rory Gallagher photo by Barrie Wentzell.
CD3: ‘Hands Up – Alternate Take 1’, ‘Hands Up – Alternate Take 2’, ‘Hands Up – Alternate Take 3’, ‘Hands Up – Alternate Take 4’, ‘Hands Up – Alternate Take 5’, ‘Hands Up – Alternate Take 6’, ‘Sinner Boy – Alternate Take 1’, ‘Sinner Boy – Alternate Take 2’, ‘Sinner Boy – Alternate Take 3’, ‘For The Last Time – Alternate Take 1’, ‘For The Last Time – Alternate Take 2’, ‘For The Last Time – Alternate Take 3’, ‘It’s You – Alternate Take 1’, ‘It’s You – Alternate Take 2’, ‘I’m Not Surprised – Alternate Take 1’, ‘I’m Not Surprised – Alternate Take 2’, ‘Can’t Believe It’s True – Alternate Take 1’.
CD4: ‘For The Last Time – Live On BBC Sounds Of The Seventies/1971’*, ‘Laundromat – Live On BBC Sounds Of The Seventies/1971’*, ‘It Takes Time – Live On BBC Sounds Of The Seventies/1971’*, ‘I Fall Apart – Live On BBC Sounds Of The Seventies/1971’*, ‘Hands Up – Live On BBC John Peel Sunday Concert/1971’, ‘For The Last Time – Live On BBC John Peel Sunday Concert/1971’, ‘In Your Town – Live On BBC John Peel Sunday Concert/1971’, ‘Just The Smile – Live On BBC John Peel Sunday Concert/1971’, ‘Laundromat – Live On BBC John Peel Sunday Concert/1971’, ‘It Takes Time – Live On BBC John Peel Sunday Concert/1971’ (* Indicates off air recording).
DVD: ‘Interview’, ‘Hands Up’, ‘Wave Myself Goodbye’, ‘It Takes Time’, ‘Sinner Boy’, ‘For the Last Time’, ‘The Same Thing’, ‘I Fall Apart’.2CD
CD1: ‘Laundromat – 50th Anniversary Edition’, ‘Just The Smile – 50th Anniversary Edition’, ‘I Fall Apart – 50th Anniversary Edition’, ‘Wave Myself Goodbye – 50th Anniversary Edition’, ‘Hands Up – 50th Anniversary Edition’, ‘Sinner Boy – 50th Anniversary Edition’, ‘For The Last Time – 50th Anniversary Edition’, ‘It’s You – 50th Anniversary Edition’, ‘I’m Not Surprised – 50th Anniversary Edition’, ‘Can’t Believe It’s True – 50th Anniversary Edition’.
CD2: ‘Gypsy Woman – Tangerine Studio Session’,’ It Takes Time – Tangerine Studio Session’, ‘I Fall Apart – Tangerine Studio Session’, ‘At The Bottom – Alternate Take 3’, At The Bottom – Alternate Take 4’, ‘Advision Jam’, ‘Laundromat – Alternate Take 1’, ‘Just The Smile – Alternate Take 1’, ‘Wave Myself Goodbye – Alternate Take 2’, ‘Hands Up – Alternate Take 2’, ‘Sinner Boy – Alternate Take 3’, ‘For The Last Time – Alternate Take 1’, ‘It’s You – Alternate Take 2’, ‘I’m Not Surprised – Alternate Take 1’, ‘For The Last Time – Live On BBC Sounds Of The Seventies/1971’*, ‘Laundromat – Live On BBC Sounds Of The Seventies/1971’*, ‘It Takes Time – Live On BBC Sounds Of The Seventies/1971’*, ‘I Fall Apart – Live On BBC Sounds Of The Seventies/1971’* (* Indicates off air recording).
3LP
SIDE A: ‘Laundromat – 50th Anniversary Edition’, ‘Just The Smile – 50th Anniversary Edition’, ‘I Fall Apart – 50th Anniversary Edition’, ‘Wave Myself Goodbye – 50th Anniversary Edition’, ‘Hands Up – 50th Anniversary Edition’.
SIDE B: ‘Sinner Boy – 50th Anniversary Edition’, ‘For The Last Time – 50th Anniversary Edition’, ‘It’s You – 50th Anniversary Edition’, ‘I’m Not Surprised – 50th Anniversary Edition’, ‘Can’t Believe It’s True – 50th Anniversary Edition’.
SIDE C: ‘Gypsy Woman – Tangerine Studio Session’, ‘It Takes Time – Tangerine Studio Session’, ‘I Fall Apart – Tangerine Studio Session’, ‘At The Bottom – Alternate Take 3’, ‘At The Bottom – Alternate Take 4’, ‘Advision Jam’.
SIDE D: ‘Laundromat – Alternate Take 1’, ‘Just The Smile – Alternate Take 1’, ‘Wave Myself Goodbye – Alternate Take 2’, ‘Hands Up – Alternate Take 2’.
SIDE E: ‘Sinner Boy – Alternate Take 3’, ‘For The Last Time – Alternate Take 1’, ‘It’s You – Alternate Take 2’, ‘I’m Not Surprised – Alternate Take 1’.
SIDE F: ‘For The Last Time – Live On BBC Sounds Of The Seventies/1971’*, ‘Laundromat – Live On BBC Sounds Of The Seventies/1971’*, ‘It Takes Time – Live On BBC Sounds Of The Seventies/1971’*, ‘I Fall Apart – Live On BBC Sounds Of The Seventies/1971’* (* Indicates off air recording).
1LP Neon Orange (transparent) Vinyl – John Peel Sunday Concert 28/08/1971
SIDE A: ‘Hands Up – Live On BBC John Peel Sunday Concert/1971’, ‘For The Last Time – Live On BBC John Peel Sunday Concert/1971’, ‘In Your Town – Live On BBC John Peel Sunday Concert/1971’.
SIDE B: ‘Just The Smile – Live On BBC John Peel Sunday Concert/1971’, ‘Laundromat – Live On BBC “John Peel Sunday Concert/1971’, ‘It Takes Time – Live On BBC John Peel Sunday Concert/1971’.
Deluxe Digital HD / Deluxe Digital Standard: ‘Laundromat – 50th Anniversary Edition’, ‘Just The Smile – 50th Anniversary Edition’, ‘I Fall Apart – 50th Anniversary Edition’, ‘Wave Myself Goodbye – 50th Anniversary Edition’, ‘Hands Up – 50th Anniversary Edition’, ‘Sinner Boy – 50th Anniversary Edition’, For The Last Time – 50th Anniversary Edition’, ‘It’s You – 50th Anniversary Edition’, ‘I’m Not Surprised – 50th Anniversary Edition’, ‘Can’t Believe It’s True – 50th Anniversary Edition’, ‘Gypsy Woman – Tangerine Studio Session’, ‘It Takes Time – Tangerine Studio Session’, ‘I Fall Apart – Tangerine Studio Session’, ‘At The Bottom – Alternate Take 3’, ‘At The Bottom – Alternate Take 4’, ‘Advision Jam’, ‘Laundromat – Alternate Take 1’, ‘Just The Smile – Alternate Take 1’, ‘Wave Myself Goodbye – Alternate Take 2’, ‘Hands Up – Alternate Take 2’, ‘Sinner Boy – Alternate Take 3’, ‘For The Last Time – Alternate Take 1’, ‘It’s You – Alternate Take 2’.
Rory Gallagher 50th Anniversary Edition can be pre-ordered in all formats by clicking here.
For more about Rory Gallaher visit his official website.
