The Fat Angel Sings

I am assuming that Rory fans would want to know one thing first and foremost about this release: what does it sound like? Good. It sounds good. Very good indeed.

Radio show recordings are sprouting like mushrooms in the woods these days and buyers are frequently ignorant of sound quality, which can and does vary enormously between releases. Most carry little or no information and company description of content on the product or Amazon’s website can vary from irrelevant to non-existent. Also beware of the same show being released under different names by different companies.

According to the sparse information provided with this release, this recording is from a radio show taped at ‘My Father’s Place’ in Roslyn on Long Island on September 7th 1979 while Rory toured his ‘Top Priority’ album with Gerry McAvoy and Ted McKenna as his rhythm section. The sound quality is amongst the top end of that of other radio show recordings I have. The band are cooking, without a doubt, and the balance between vocals and instruments is good. There is an awkward, rapid fade at the end of the penultimate track of disc two as the track goes into a bass solo and then the sound quickly comes back in for the final track. Remember, these are live recordings without overdubs or re-recordings added later and there was doubtless some radio station editing to fit the performance into a time slot for broadcast. With the quality of this trio of road warriors, though, there need be no fear that they supply anything but a very good, truly live performance.

This is prime Rory Gallagher. This set shows what the sonic capabilities of the electric guitar sound like in the hands of a master. The trio (including Ted McKenna-drums and Gerry McAvoy-bass) play tight, loud, no-holds-barred music in the best tradition of a rock n’ roll trio. At times Gallagher sounds like he’s been plugged into an over-charged battery that’s been switched to full-on, in-the-red, over-loaded power. Listen to anything here (even the acoustic “Too Much Alcohol” or “Pistol Slapper Blues”) and you’ll hear a man whose focused on giving the audience his very best. This is one of those sets where every song has something to recommend it. The passion, the fire, the very electricity that powers this concert has to be heard.

The sound is very good–better than you would expect. The trio can be easily heard with Rory Gallagher’s guitar out front where it belongs. And yes, this music could easily fit on one CD. Obviously the label wanted to make as much money as they could from this release, and the music actually sounds better on one disc–there’s no interruptions in the flow and excitement–so that’s kind of a bummer. And the “notes” (there’s no booklet) are pretty anonymous (“…give a listen to Rock Beat Records “Irishman In New York”), adding very little to this great set.

But if you’re a fan of Gallagher and/or the electric guitar you need to hear this. Gallagher even does an intense version of Frankie Ford’s 1950’s era “Sea Cruise” like you’ve never heard before. This new release from way back in 1979 can easily sit next to whatever you think is the best live Gallagher recording you own. And it might just wipe up the floor with it. It’s that good.

Track Listing:
Disc 1
Shin Kicker (3:38)
Last of the Independents (5:40)
Keychain (5:52)
Moonchild (5:10)
The Mississippi Sheiks ( 5:45)
I Wonder Who? (7:47)
Tattoo’d Lady (5:09)
Too Much Alcohol (3:47)
Pistol Slapper Blues (3:02)
Disc 2
Shadow Play (5:42)
Bought & Sold (4:59)
Walk On Hot Coals (5:26)
Messin’ With The Kid (5:22)
Bullfrog Blues (2:50) [Quick fade out to avoid bass solo]
Sea Cruise (2:58)