To celebrate the 50th Anniversary of his self-titled 1971 debut solo album, UMC/UMe has announced the release of a five-disc deluxe box set titled Rory Gallagher 50th Anniversary Edition which will include a brand-new mix of the original album from the influential blues-man, self-titled: RORY GALLAGHER.
The stunning box set will also includes 30 previously unreleased outtakes and alternate takes, a six-song 1971 BBC Radio John Peel Sunday Concert, and four 1971 BBC Radio Sounds of the Seventies session tracks, all mastered at Abbey Road Studios.
All this set for release on 3rd September 2021.
Also included is a previously unreleased 50-minute DVD of Rory’s first-ever solo concert which was filmed in Paris for the “Pop Deux” television show. All formats are available to pre-order here
The debut album includes some of Rory’s most glorious songs, including “I Fall Apart” (Rory’s second most played song), “Laundromat” and “Just The Smile.”
While reviewing numerous tapes during the 2021 mixing sessions, two songs were added to the collection: the previously unreleased “At The Bottom,” a track Rory ended up re-recording for his 1975 Against The Grain album, plus “Advision Jam,” a rocking instrumental.
The recording saw the multifaceted musician on guitar & lead vocals, as well as alto sax, harmonica, and mandolin, with Gerry McAvoy on bass, and Wilgar Campbell on drums. Atomic Rooster’s Vincent Crane plays piano on two out of the 10 songs on the album “Wave Myself Goodbye” and “I’m Not Surprised.”
The box set will also include exclusive liner notes written by his brother and manager Donal Gallagher, his longtime bass guitarist Gerry McAvoy (1970-1991) and photographer Barry Wentzel, plus a full 1971 interview with Rory by journalist Roy Eldridge.
Rory had not performed live since his previous band Taste disbanded on October 24, 1970. When Rory’s self-titled solo album was released in May 1971, he embarked on a 16-date UK tour that included 10 days of touring in Ireland and a little excursion into Switzerland.
Recorded at the legendary Advision Studios in Fitzrovia, London, Rory’s debut album shows the Irish guitarist as a multidimensional interpreter of the blues with a perceptive view of the genre from acoustic to heavy blues and soul. Advision was one of the hottest recording studios in the 60s and 70s and home of classic albums recorded by The Yardbirds, The Who, The Move, T. Rex, David Bowie, and many more.
The 50th Anniversary Edition Box Set (1971-2021) is out September 3rd 2021
Main image photo credit © Barrie Wentzell