Taste (band)
Encyclopedia
Taste was an Irish rock
and blues
band
formed in 1966 that gained fame in large part because of their unique style, and the talent and charisma
of the band's founder, songwriter and musician Rory Gallagher
. The band, a power trio
, also moved on to make history as one of the first three acts to perform on the televised studio program, Rockpalast
, in Germany.
, Ireland
in August 1966 as a trio consisting of Rory Gallagher on guitars and vocals, Eric Kitteringham on bass, and Norman Damery on drums. In their early years Taste toured in Hamburg and Ireland before becoming regulars at Maritime Hotel, an R&B club in Belfast
, Northern Ireland
.
In 1968 Taste began performing in the UK where the original lineup split up. The new lineup formed with Richard McCracken on bass and John Wilson
on drums. The new Taste moved permanently to London where they signed with the record label
Polydor
. While with Polydor, Taste began touring the United States
and Canada
with the British supergroup
Blind Faith
. In April 1969, Taste released the first of their two studio albums, the self-titled Taste, with On the Boards
following in early 1970, the latter showing the band's jazz
influences with Gallagher playing saxophone
on numerous tracks. In November that year, the band, along with Yes
, opened for Cream
at Cream's farewell concerts.
One performance came in 1970 as part of the Isle of Wight Festival
, alongside Jimi Hendrix
and The Who
. Later the same year Taste toured Europe but were disbanded by Gallagher, who decided to pursue a solo career, performing their last show on New Year's Eve in Belfast
. Wilson and McCracken immediately formed 'Stud
' in early 1971, with Jim Cregan
and John Weider
.
Some years after the band's break up, earlier recordings featuring the original line-up emerged.
A musical homage to Taste and Gallagher was by Black 47
in their song "Rory", released on 1998's Green Suede Shoes album.
Irish rock
Rock and roll has been a part of the music of Ireland since the 1960s, when the British Invasion brought British blues, psychedelic rock and other styles to the island...
and blues
Blues
Blues is the name given to both a musical form and a music genre that originated in African-American communities of primarily the "Deep South" of the United States at the end of the 19th century from spirituals, work songs, field hollers, shouts and chants, and rhymed simple narrative ballads...
band
Musical ensemble
A musical ensemble is a group of people who perform instrumental or vocal music. In classical music, trios or quartets either blend the sounds of musical instrument families or group together instruments from the same instrument family, such as string ensembles or wind ensembles...
formed in 1966 that gained fame in large part because of their unique style, and the talent and charisma
Charisma
The term charisma has two senses: 1) compelling attractiveness or charm that can inspire devotion in others, 2) a divinely conferred power or talent. For some theological usages the term is rendered charism, with a meaning the same as sense 2...
of the band's founder, songwriter and musician Rory Gallagher
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 band, a power trio
Power trio
A power trio is a rock and roll band format where the traditional power trio has a lineup of guitar, bass and drums, leaving out the rhythm guitar or keyboard that are used in other rock music to fill out the sound with chords...
, also moved on to make history as one of the first three acts to perform on the televised studio program, Rockpalast
Rockpalast
Rockpalast is a German music television show that broadcasts live on German television station Westdeutscher Rundfunk . Rockpalast started in 1974 and continues to this day. Hundreds of rock and jazz bands have performed on Rockpalast...
, in Germany.
History
Taste (originally "The Taste") was formed in CorkCork (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...
, Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
in August 1966 as a trio consisting of Rory Gallagher on guitars and vocals, Eric Kitteringham on bass, and Norman Damery on drums. In their early years Taste toured in Hamburg and Ireland before becoming regulars at Maritime Hotel, an R&B club in 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...
, Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland is one of the four countries of the United Kingdom. Situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland, it shares a border with the Republic of Ireland to the south and west...
.
In 1968 Taste began performing in the UK where the original lineup split up. The new lineup formed with Richard McCracken on bass and John Wilson
John Wilson (musician)
John Wilson is a musician from Northern Ireland. He has had a prolific career, playing drums with bands such as Them, Taste and Stud. Previously with 'The Misfits', Wilson became a member of one of the numerous line-ups of Them from September 1965 to March 1966...
on drums. The new Taste moved permanently to London where they signed with the record label
Record label
In the music industry, a record label is a brand and a trademark associated with the marketing of music recordings and music videos. Most commonly, a record label is the company that manages such brands and trademarks, coordinates the production, manufacture, distribution, marketing and promotion,...
Polydor
Polydor Records
Polydor is a record label owned by Universal Music Group, headquartered in the United Kingdom.-Beginnings:Polydor was originally an independent branch of the Deutsche Grammophon Gesellschaft. Its name was first used as an export label in 1924, the British and German branches of the Gramophone...
. While with Polydor, Taste began touring the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
and Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
with the British supergroup
Supergroup (music)
In the late 1960s, the term supergroup was coined to describe "a rock music group whose performers are already famous from having performed individually or in other groups"....
Blind Faith
Blind Faith
Blind Faith were an English blues-rock band that consisted of Eric Clapton, Ginger Baker, Steve Winwood and Ric Grech. The band, which was one of the first "super-groups", released their only album, Blind Faith, in August 1969...
. In April 1969, Taste released the first of their two studio albums, the self-titled Taste, with On the Boards
On the Boards (album)
On the Boards is the second album by Irish rock band Taste, released in 1970.-Track listing:#"What's Going On" – 2:48#"Railway and Gun" – 3:38#"It's Happened Before, It'll Happen Again" – 6:33#"If the Day Was Any Longer" – 2:10#"Morning Sun" – 2:39...
following in early 1970, the latter showing the band's jazz
Jazz
Jazz is a musical style that originated at the beginning of the 20th century in African American communities in the Southern United States. It was born out of a mix of African and European music traditions. From its early development until the present, jazz has incorporated music from 19th and 20th...
influences with Gallagher playing saxophone
Saxophone
The saxophone is a conical-bore transposing musical instrument that is a member of the woodwind family. Saxophones are usually made of brass and played with a single-reed mouthpiece similar to that of the clarinet. The saxophone was invented by the Belgian instrument maker Adolphe Sax in 1846...
on numerous tracks. In November that year, the band, along with Yes
Yes (band)
Yes are an English rock band who achieved worldwide success with their progressive, art, and symphonic style of rock music. Regarded as one of the pioneers of the progressive genre, Yes are known for their lengthy songs, mystical lyrics, elaborate album art, and live stage sets...
, opened for Cream
Cream (band)
Cream were a 1960s British rock supergroup consisting of bassist/vocalist Jack Bruce, guitarist/vocalist Eric Clapton, and drummer Ginger Baker...
at Cream's farewell concerts.
One performance came in 1970 as part of the Isle of Wight Festival
Isle of Wight Festival 1970
The 1970 Isle of Wight Festival was held between 26 and 31 August 1970 at East Afton Farm an area on the western side of the Isle of Wight. It was the last of three consecutive music festivals to take place on the island between 1968 and 1970 and widely acknowledged as the largest musical event of...
, alongside Jimi Hendrix
Jimi Hendrix
James Marshall "Jimi" Hendrix was an American guitarist and singer-songwriter...
and The Who
The Who
The Who are an English rock band formed in 1964 by Roger Daltrey , Pete Townshend , John Entwistle and Keith Moon . They became known for energetic live performances which often included instrument destruction...
. Later the same year Taste toured Europe but were disbanded by Gallagher, who decided to pursue a solo career, performing their last show on New Year's Eve in 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...
. Wilson and McCracken immediately formed 'Stud
Stud (band)
Stud is a British rock band from the early 1970s, that featured two members of Taste - bassist Charlie McCracken and drummer John Wilson - along with two members of Family - former bass guitarist John Weider and future bass player, Jim Cregan.Never a very...
' in early 1971, with Jim Cregan
Jim Cregan
Jim Cregan, born James Cregan, 9 March 1946, Yeovil, Somerset, England is an English rock guitarist and bassist who best known for his associations with Family, Steve Harley & Cockney Rebel and Rod Stewart. Cregan is a former husband of the singer Linda Lewis and worked with her as a record producer...
and John Weider
John Weider
John Weider is a rock musician who plays guitar, bass, and violin. He is best known as the bass player for the British band, Family from 1969 to 1971.-Biography:...
.
Some years after the band's break up, earlier recordings featuring the original line-up emerged.
A musical homage to Taste and Gallagher was by Black 47
Black 47
Black 47 are a New York City based celtic rock band with Irish Republican sympathies, whose music also shows influence from reggae, hip hop, folk and jazz...
in their song "Rory", released on 1998's Green Suede Shoes album.
August 1966 – August 1968
- 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...
- Guitars, vocals, saxophone, harmonica - Eric Kitteringham - Bass
- Norman Damery - Drums
August 1968 – December 1970
- Rory Gallagher - Guitars, vocals, saxophone, harmonica
- Richard McCracken Bass
- John WilsonJohn Wilson (musician)John Wilson is a musician from Northern Ireland. He has had a prolific career, playing drums with bands such as Them, Taste and Stud. Previously with 'The Misfits', Wilson became a member of one of the numerous line-ups of Them from September 1965 to March 1966...
- Drums
February 2000 – present
- John Wilson - Drums
- Sam Davidson - Guitar, Vocals
- Albert Mills - Bass
Albums
- Taste - Polydor, 1969
- On the BoardsOn the Boards (album)On the Boards is the second album by Irish rock band Taste, released in 1970.-Track listing:#"What's Going On" – 2:48#"Railway and Gun" – 3:38#"It's Happened Before, It'll Happen Again" – 6:33#"If the Day Was Any Longer" – 2:10#"Morning Sun" – 2:39...
- Polydor, 1970 - Live TasteLive TasteLive Taste is the third album and first live album by Irish rock band Taste, released in 1971. It was recorded live at Montreux Casino and released shortly after the band broke up.-Track listing:#"Sugar Mama" Live Taste is the third album and first live album by Irish rock band Taste, released in...
- Polydor, 1971 - Live at the Isle of WightLive at the Isle of Wight (Taste album)Live at the Isle of Wight is the fourth album and second live album by Irish rock band Taste, released in 1971. It was recorded live at the Isle of Wight Festival 1970 and released after the band broke up.-Track listing:#"What's Going On" – 5:41...
- Polydor, 1971 - Taste First - BASF, 1972 (Recorded in 1967 - also released as In the Beginning (1974) and Take It Easy Baby (1976))
- In Concert - Ariola, 1976 (released as Taste featuring Rory Gallagher) (recorded at The Marquee with classic Taste line-up in 1968)
- Wall to Wall - Bad Reputation, 2009
- Live in San Francisco - M Bop / Disonic 2010
- John Wilson's Taste of Rory - M Bop / Disonic 2010
Singles
- "Blister on the Moon" / "Born on the Wrong Side of Time" - Major Minor, 1968 (Edited for Polydor Records in 1969)
- "Born on the Wrong Side of Time" / "Same Old Story" - Polydor, 1969
- "What's Going On" / "Born on the Wrong Side of Time" + "Blister on the Moon" - Polydor, 1969
- "Wee Wee Baby" / "You've Got to Play" - BASF, 1972 (Exclusive to GermanyGermanyGermany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
) - "What's Going On" / "Railway and Gun" - Polydor
- "Blister on the Moon" + "Sugar Mama" / "Catfish" + " "On the Boards" - Polydor, 1982
- "Born on the Wrong Side of Time" / "Same Old Story" - Polydor (Exclusive to ItalyItalyItaly , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
) - "Born on the Wrong Side of Time" / "Same Old Story" - Polydor (Exclusive to JapanJapanJapan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
) - "If I Don't Sing I'll Cry / "I'll Remember" - Polydor (Exclusive to SpainSpainSpain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
)
DVDs
- Message To LoveMessage to LoveMessage to Love is a feature documentary film of the Isle of Wight Festival 1970. The film unsparingly, often comically depicts the myriad problems associated with the famously chaotic festival—the main program of which was held on August 26–30, 1970—including gate-crashing, numerous crowd...
- 1995 (Isle of Wight FestivalIsle of Wight FestivalThe Isle of Wight Festival is a music festival which takes place every year on the Isle of Wight in England. It was originally held from 1968 to 1970. These original events were promoted and organised by the Foulk brothers under the banner of their company Fiery Creations Limited...
recordings of "Sinner Boy" and "Gamblin' Blues" only)