Irish Tour
Encyclopedia
Irish Tour '74 is a blues rock double-album by Rory Gallagher
. The album was compiled from live recordings made at concerts on an Irish Tour in January 1974 at Belfast
Ulster Hall
, Dublin Carlton Cinema
and Cork
City Hall. "Back on My Stompin' Ground (After Hours)" was taken from a jam session during the tour on the Lane Mobile Unit. Irish Tour has sold in excess of two million copies worldwide.
An article in a Belfast daily newspaper stated: "Rory Gallagher never forgot Northern Ireland, he returned throughout the '70s when few other artists of his calibre dared not come near the place."
. Violence was erupting throughout the city even at rock concerts. As a result, many rock acts refused to play in the city. Nevertheless, Gallagher included a stop in Belfast on the tour and was rewarded with one of his best shows.
Additionally, rock film director Tony Palmer filmed many of the concerts on the tour. He originally planned to use it for a television special, but he later found the footage so good that he released it as a theatrical motion picture. The accompanying album would be considered the "soundtrack" of the film.
On the re-released (in a digital remastered) CD-version in 1998 there was the song "Just a Little Bit" as number 10 before "Maritime". This track is available as a bonus track on the remastered CD-version of Gallagher's 1973 album Tattoo. It is written by Rosco Gordon
.
Rory Gallagher
William Rory Gallagher, ; 2 March 1948 – 14 June 1995, was an Irish blues-rock multi-instrumentalist, songwriter, and bandleader. Born in Ballyshannon, County Donegal, Ireland, and raised in Cork, Gallagher recorded solo albums throughout the 1970s and 1980s, after forming the band Taste...
. The album was compiled from live recordings made at concerts on an Irish Tour in January 1974 at Belfast
Belfast
Belfast is the capital of and largest city in Northern Ireland. By population, it is the 14th biggest city in the United Kingdom and second biggest on the island of Ireland . It is the seat of the devolved government and legislative Northern Ireland Assembly...
Ulster Hall
Ulster Hall
The Ulster Hall is a concert hall and grade B1 listed building in Belfast, Northern Ireland. Situated on Bedford Street in Belfast city centre, the hall hosts concerts, classical recitals, craft fairs and political party conferences...
, Dublin Carlton Cinema
Carlton Cinema
Carlton Cinema was a British digital film television channel, provided by Carlton Television. It launched in November 1998 on the ONdigital platform, and closed down in March 2003, being the last ever Carlton-branded television network. Its sister channels are Carlton Select, Carlton World, Carlton...
and Cork
Cork (city)
Cork is the second largest city in the Republic of Ireland and the island of Ireland's third most populous city. It is the principal city and administrative centre of County Cork and the largest city in the province of Munster. Cork has a population of 119,418, while the addition of the suburban...
City Hall. "Back on My Stompin' Ground (After Hours)" was taken from a jam session during the tour on the Lane Mobile Unit. Irish Tour has sold in excess of two million copies worldwide.
An article in a Belfast daily newspaper stated: "Rory Gallagher never forgot Northern Ireland, he returned throughout the '70s when few other artists of his calibre dared not come near the place."
Background
Gallagher's 1974 tour of Ireland coincided with one of the most tumultuous times in BelfastBelfast
Belfast is the capital of and largest city in Northern Ireland. By population, it is the 14th biggest city in the United Kingdom and second biggest on the island of Ireland . It is the seat of the devolved government and legislative Northern Ireland Assembly...
. Violence was erupting throughout the city even at rock concerts. As a result, many rock acts refused to play in the city. Nevertheless, Gallagher included a stop in Belfast on the tour and was rewarded with one of his best shows.
Additionally, rock film director Tony Palmer filmed many of the concerts on the tour. He originally planned to use it for a television special, but he later found the footage so good that he released it as a theatrical motion picture. The accompanying album would be considered the "soundtrack" of the film.
Track listing
All tracks composed by Rory Gallagher unless stated.- "Cradle Rock" – 7:38
- "I Wonder Who" (MorganfieldMuddy WatersMcKinley Morganfield , known as Muddy Waters, was an American blues musician, generally considered the "father of modern Chicago blues"...
) – 7:52 - "Tattoo'd Lady" – 5:04
- "Too Much Alcohol" (J. B. Hutto) – 8:30
- "As the Crow Flies" (Tony Joe WhiteTony Joe WhiteTony Joe White is an American singer-songwriter and guitarist, best known for his 1969 hit "Polk Salad Annie"; "Rainy Night in Georgia", which he wrote but was first made popular by Brook Benton in 1970; and "Steamy Windows", a hit for Tina Turner in 1989...
) – 6:02 - "A Million Miles Away" – 9:29
- "Walk on Hot Coals" – 11:13
- "Who's That Coming?" – 10:05
- "Back on My Stompin' Ground (After Hours)" – 5:18
- "Maritime" – 0:33
On the re-released (in a digital remastered) CD-version in 1998 there was the song "Just a Little Bit" as number 10 before "Maritime". This track is available as a bonus track on the remastered CD-version of Gallagher's 1973 album Tattoo. It is written by Rosco Gordon
Rosco Gordon
Rosco Gordon was an American blues singer and songwriter. He is best known for his 1952 #1 R&B hit single, "Booted", and two #2 singles "No More Doggin'" and "Just a Little Bit" .-Biography:...
.
Personnel
- Rory GallagherRory GallagherWilliam Rory Gallagher, ; 2 March 1948 – 14 June 1995, was an Irish blues-rock multi-instrumentalist, songwriter, and bandleader. Born in Ballyshannon, County Donegal, Ireland, and raised in Cork, Gallagher recorded solo albums throughout the 1970s and 1980s, after forming the band Taste...
– vocalsSingingSinging is the act of producing musical sounds with the voice, and augments regular speech by the use of both tonality and rhythm. One who sings is called a singer or vocalist. Singers perform music known as songs that can be sung either with or without accompaniment by musical instruments...
, guitarGuitarThe guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
, harmonicaHarmonicaThe harmonica, also called harp, French harp, blues harp, and mouth organ, is a free reed wind instrument used primarily in blues and American folk music, jazz, country, and rock and roll. It is played by blowing air into it or drawing air out by placing lips over individual holes or multiple holes... - Gerry McAvoyGerry McAvoyGerry McAvoy is an Irish blues rock bass guitarist, who is best known for his twenty five year long friendship and professional association performing with Rory Gallagher between 1970 and 1991...
– bass guitarBass guitarThe bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick.... - Lou MartinLou MartinLouis 'Lou' Martin Louis 'Lou' Martin Louis 'Lou' Martin (born 12 August 1949, Belfast, Northern Ireland is a piano and organ player, who is most famous for his work with the London-based band Killing Floor and fellow Irish musician Rory Gallagher....
– keyboardsKeyboard instrumentA keyboard instrument is a musical instrument which is played using a musical keyboard. The most common of these is the piano. Other widely used keyboard instruments include organs of various types as well as other mechanical, electromechanical and electronic instruments... - Rod de'AthRod de'AthRod de'Ath , is a former musician, best known for his role as drummer with Irish guitarist Rory Gallagher in the 1970s....
– drumsDrum kitA drum kit is a collection of drums, cymbals and often other percussion instruments, such as cowbells, wood blocks, triangles, chimes, or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single person ....
, percussionPercussion instrumentA percussion instrument is any object which produces a sound when hit with an implement or when it is shaken, rubbed, scraped, or otherwise acted upon in a way that sets the object into vibration...
Album
| Year | Chart | Position |
|---|---|---|
| 1974 | Billboard Billboard (magazine) Billboard is a weekly American magazine devoted to the music industry, and is one of the oldest trade magazines in the world. It maintains several internationally recognized music charts that track the most popular songs and albums in various categories on a weekly basis... Top 200 Albums |
110 |