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[K4680]

Rory Gallagher

After two Gallagher there may be a third.  No, Rory Gallagher is neither brother nor father, not even a distantly related cousin of Liam and Noel "Oasis" Gallagher.  For two decades (in the 70s and 80s), however, the Irish guitarist left a lasting mark on the history of Anglo-Saxon music with the variant blues rock.  In 1970 he showed up with his trio Taste and his old-fashioned Stratocaster at the Isle of Wight Festival to get pop music back on track, namely the blues.  His first records smell a bit of what was in vogue back then, patchouli and psychedelic folk.  Very soon, however, it should be sharper and simplify the sound - or vice versa.  A guitar hero who appeared in the middle of the crowd in a plaid shirt, who uses his guitar as both an ax and a sword.  A virtuoso who knows the virtues of simple things.  And he has the voice of a white blues musician who knows how much the right melody can enchant you.  This extensive best of album encompasses his entire discography, starting in 1969 with Blister on the Moon together with Taste, continuing with a whole range of tracks from the 70s - his best time - and going up to that  wonderfully spooky Ghost Blues from his last album, released in 1990.  When it comes to rarities, there's a really slimy version of the Stones' (I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction, which he sang in a duet with Jerry Lee Lewis when they were together in the studio in 1973.  Rory, watch out!  Stéphane Deschamps / Qobuz

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