Rory Gallagher - Irish Tour 1974 (2001)

Studio: Bmg Special Products Release Date: 05/15/2001 Run time: 80 minutes Product Description

Really Captures What The Great Man Was All About

First off, this is NOT a concert DVD. It's kind of a documentary mixed together with fantastic, and complete live songs. And it's NOT a full video of the Irish Tour '74 album. With that being said, it's a great, great film. It shows amazing live magic of these classic songs:

Walk On Hot Coals
Tatoo'd Lady
Who's That Comming
A Million Miles Away
Going To My Home Town
Cradle Rock
As The Crow Flies
Hands Up
Bullfrog Blues

All the songs are full versions except "Walk on Hot Coals," which comes first, and starts halfway through the song with the beginning titles. The concert is done in a small town hall and I think that's just brilliant. Seeing Rory,Rod,Gerry and Lou up on that small stage, with Rory's Vox amplifyer just sitting on a chair at the back with his jacket on top of it, it's just so natural and raw. They all look so natural in their jeans and t-shirts, they all play with tones of energy, like Rod, who goes nuts on those drums and looks like he's gonna cry; lots of passion in his playing. All of them are amazing musicians;they have to be amazing to play with Rory Gallagher. I'm watching it as I type this review, and I'll tell you, I don't have many music DVDs that I could watch all day, every day for a month. I'm serious.

One thing this DVD gives you that other Rory DVDs don't, is exclusive real footage of Rory walking down the street, going into a pub to get a dink, or walking into a music store to try out some guitars. It's also got backstage footage of him and the band, and a few minutes of footage of the guys jamming before the show. There's also a few times where Rory explains some of the techniques he uses when playing certain songs, and he talks about the different guitars he uses. You really get a taste of what he was like as a person; an amazing talent, but also a guy that wasn't afraid to have a drink with you or talk to some fans. You don't find too many guys like him in todays bunch of arogant artists.

"Walk On Hot Coals" is one of my favourites,"Who's That Comi'n" and "Bullforg Blues"; with solos from every band member. I love how during each of the guy's solo, they show a little clip of them back stage having fun. They show Rory laughing with a glass of whisky in his hand, Rod putting powder on his feet so he won't sweat. It really shows you that they were just humble good old guys on the inside.

This DVD is great and if you're a Rory Gallagher fan, You need this. If anyone says Rory wasn't the best guitarist ever, they're wrong. God bless Rory.



July 22, 2008

Awesome

Great showing of a true legend. Editing takes a bit of getting used to but the disc captures a great performer doing his best. May 27, 2008

The most underrated guitarist in the world!

This is probably the best music DVD that I have ever watched. This shows Rory Gallagher from the very beginning to almost the very end of his life. It shows with the changes in equipment times of prosperity, and periods of time with low amounts of money.It doesn't matter what year of the DVD that you are watching, you will get a rip-roaring good concert, and I guarantee you that.Rory Gallagher, to me, was one of the very best guitarists of all time.

The day that Rory died was one of the very saddest days of my life, along with the death of Jimi Hendrix, in 1970.The world lost one of the very nicest performers that ever graced the stages around the world.He was always very shy, but he could play any of the mryiad types and styles of guitar based rock and roll.

The way that Rory was able to make that beat-up Stratocaster sing, was just amazing. Rory was never one to play, using flashy or new guitars. Throughout his too short career, he stuck with that Stratocaster which now resides with Rory's brother in Ireland. There are many guitarists playing now who were very much influenced by Rory's playing style.One that is now one of the most well known guitarists, The Edge, shaped a lot of his playing style, from listening and watching Rory.

Too me, this DVD was worth at least 3 times the price that they are charging for it. I just wish that during his life, that he would have known just what he meant to this world.His straight Blues playing, and his impeccable slide playing was just masterful.I watch this DVD at least once every week without fail. If you buy this DVD, I truly believe that you will get as much enjoyment out of it as I do. December 31, 2007

Not the same sound as Irish Tour audio CD.

This DVD does not have the hard sound that the CD does-must have been a different concert. I had the CD first and was expecting the same sound. This is the only Gallager DVD that disappointed me. I have many-most are bootlegs from ebay. But it's still a must have for hard core Rory fans. October 24, 2007

Can I just put my rose tinted glasses away ?

Anyone buying this DVD and seeing the date on it, and expecting state of that art concert sound and video, will get what they deserve. Neither.

Anyone with no particular knowledge of Rory Gallagher the man, but with a love for the music he played on this tour will probably be better off with the CD ( and a great CD it is too ! ) .. prabably his least "bluesy" recording

But anyone who was touched by Rory Gallagher, and appreciated, loved and respected everything he was, stood and worked for, will not be watching this video with a critical eye, but probably a misty one.

This "film" (if you consider it a documentary rather than a concert video, you will feel more comfortable with the quality issues ) shows our modest hero performing a fantastic concert('s actually), in times and conditions that you could not possibly contemplate having listened to the CD. How can such a great concert come from town halls with no facilities, bouncers telling kids to sit down, a 13amp extension board for all the power .... it is an amazing tribute to the band that they produced such an incendiary set from such basic ammenities. I bought this DVD at the same time as aerosmith, Ha ! .... talk about POLAR opposites in terms of resources. ( no criticism of Steve and the boys, BTW)

The sound in this film is actually really good .. Rod D'arths drumming is actually brilliant despite the fact that he looks like he is going to burst into tears at any moment. Lou Martin is no mean keyboard player either and all round, these were some HUGELY talented guys.

I dont care if the thing is not up to todays standards technically ... it is like comparing the original KING KING movie to ther latest version. The original may look a bit dated, but it had originality, flare, imagination, enthusiasm and energy and all the modern recording capabilities will NEVER make up for the lack in any of those departments.

I will never listen to "Irish tour 1974" again without seeing this film, and for that, it is worth every penny. December 4, 2006

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