Here it is, the final release in the Eagle Rock Rory Gallagher reissue series that we will be reviewing-BBC Sessions was originally released posthumously in 1999 after the guitar legend left the world way too early, and features 2 CDs of some of his greatest songs played live & in the studio for the BBC. In the band here are Gallagher on guitar & vocals, drummers Brandan O'Neill, Rod De'Ath, and Ted McKenna, keyboard player Lou Martin, and bassist Gary MacAvoy.
Take a look at the track listing, and you know you are in for some blistering hard rock, sizzling blues, and rousing country/folk from the guitar master. Gallagher's guitar work is explosive throughout, whether he is delivering gut wrenching blues like on "What In the World", or raising the hairs on the back of your neck during hard rock numbers such as "Calling Card", "Cruise on Out", and "Used to Be". Though the material on both CDs is quite good, Rory's songs were meant to be played live, so the real treat in this set are all the goodies on the first disc, which is all live. The extended, quite jazzy at times "Jacknife Beat" is a real treat, and the addicting "Country Mile" is one of the most convincing mixes of country, folk, and rock you will ever hear. Over on CD 2, you get various cuts from numerous sessions, most being straight blues and very good. Passionate numbers like "Race the Breeze", "For the Last Time", and "Hands Off" run the gamut from Delta Blues to steadfast British blues rock, and both "Daughter of the Everglades" and "Seventh Son of a 7th Son" have a slight psychedelic feel to it, taking you right back to the late 1960's. Toss in some raunchy rockers such as "Toredown" and "It Takes Time", and the beer soaked swamp blues of "Hoodoo Man", and you have another thrilling set from Gallagher and crew with some fantastic ensemble playing, recorded at the BBC throughout the 70's and 80's.
To say there's awesome guitar work in this 2CD set is a severe understatement. Rory Gallagher was perhaps one of the most underrapreciated & underrated guitar players (unless of course you ask his peers) of the last 40 years, and it's a shame that he never got the fame & recognition he deserved. Once again, kudos to Eagle Rock for keeping his memory & music alive, and allowing for legions of new listeners to discover his music for the first time.
Track Listing
Disc 1:
1. Calling Card 8:25
2. What In The World 9:17
3. Jacknife Beat 8:59
4. Country Mile 3:17
5. Got My Mojo Working 5:17
6. Garbage Man 5:54
7. Roberta 2:37
8. Used To Be 4:59
9. I Take What I Want 6:57
10. Cruise On Out 5:50
Disc 2:
1. Race The Breeze 6:53
2. Hands Off 4:58
3. Crest Of A Wave 3:57
4. Feel So Bad 4:58
5. For The Last Time 4:12
6. It Takes Time 4:27
7. The Seventh Son Of The Seventh Son 7:59
8. Daughter Of The Everglades 6:12
9. They Don't Make Them Like You 3:58
10. Toredown 5:14
11. When My Baby She Left Me 5:00
12. Hoodoo Man 7:23
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