Rush! You either love em or hate em

Rush are one of those bands that a lot of people have never heard of. They have however, sold tens of millions of records and have 24 gold and 14 platinum selling records. Impressive! They however are generally more popular with musicians and music aficianados given the extremely high level of competency displayed by each of the members on his instrument. Formed by Alex Lifeson, (guitar) Geddy Lee (bass) and John Rutsey (drums) in Toronto, Canada in 1968, Rush set out as typical garage band, jamming on Cream numbers and the like. After years of practice and honing their talents, it took until 1974 before that they first started to get noticed and soon released their self titled debut album 'Rush'.
A month before they were due to begin their first US tour, Rutsey announced his decison to back out of the band so the race was on to find a new drummer... and what a drummer they found. Enter Neil Peart, aka The Professor. Not only did Peart bring his exceptional skills with a pair of sticks and some skins, he also bought a creative flair that would be the heart of the bands lyrics/songwriting right up to the present day.

Rush are a band that have had several facelifts, starting out as a hard rock/blues band, and currently a straight rock band, with a few guises inbetween. When Peart joined, the band began to take on a more conceptual feel. With epic album tracks, lyrics dripping in Sci-Fi and Fantasy lore, they began to have a more creative take on their original hard rock theme, and were being classed as a Progressive Rock band. When the mid eighties hit, the band reached to what some consider a low, as many older fans did not agree with their new Synth based sound, which to me just sounds very dated these days. My opinion is that only a few of the albums released since 1981/82 have got the odd one or two decent tracks on. Anyway, they just lost such a huge cool factor that existed in their first few albums and became the band of the muso, not cool enough for mainstream, but still impressing many with their skills.

I'll probably flesh this post out with a few other tracks later on, but I had to share this song with you as its such a rarity. Recorded 1 month after Peart joined, at a venue in Cleveland, Ohio. This is taken from a bootleg recording of this gig and it is an absolutely brilliant representation of their early formative years. Never mind the odd mistake here and there, what do you expect after only a month of practice? I think it adds to the overal feel of the performance, plus, its the only time you will ever mistakes such as these from a Rush concert, such is their musicianship.

Anway, enjoy 'What You're Doing' released on their debut, but taken here from the bootleg album 'The Fifth Order of Angels'. I think it really captures what a power trio these guys are/were!

Jons Rock on a Stick will return

Next topic:

"Rush - Is Progressive rock really that bad?"

Rory's bumper book of blues

I think I may have mentioned this in an early post, but Rory Gallagher is by far and away my favourite guitarist that ever breathed. Massively underrated in his time, and to this day is more of a footnote in a budding guitarists list of great axemen, it wasn't till his death that more people sat up and took note of his jaw dropping, amazing skill. I could not find the stats but I could imagine a large amount of the 30million albums he sold were sold after his untimely death in 1995, aged 47.

Born in County Donegal in Ireland in 1948, but growing up in Cork, the young Rory began playing the guitar and quickly began performing at the age of 17 in various Irish showbands playing popular songs of the day. He first came to prominence with the band 'Taste' an R&B trio, formed in 1966 who split up in 1970 after the Isle of Wight Festival. A performance so entertaining that they were called back 5 times to perform encores such was it's quality.

The first track is taken from Tastes second album 'On the Boards' and is the opening number.




Gallagher began touring and recording under his own name, but lost nothing of the trademark sound that Taste had been so popular for, namely Rory's playing. His first album was the self titled 'Rory Gallagher', and introduced a softer, jazzier feel to compliment the raw blues he had been renowned for. There are some incredibly beautiful songs on this album. The gentle 'Just a Smile', the ubher chilled out 'For the Last Time', and my favourite track, the brilliantly arranged 'Can't Believe It's True'

However, the selection I have chosen from this album is the haunting 'I Fall Apart'. Check out the Instrumental..... Just fantastic! Music just does not get any better than this!



It was the 70's where Rory did arguably his best work, releasing 10 albums including two live records. I could share a track from each one with you, but there is one song that for me is the most important, which is the song that got me into him in the first place. My first ever post on this blog was the performance of this song on the Old Grey Whistle Test. From the 1973 album 'Blueprint'... 'Walk on Hot Coals'



Following up 'Blueprint' and his next studio album 'Tattoo' was the imaginatively titled 'Irish Tour' live album. This really showed Rory at his peak in my opinion, and his performance of the McKinley Morganfield (AKA Muddy Waters) track 'Wonder Who' just demonstrates his obvious joy of playing the blues, and showcases one of the best live Guitar Solos I think I have ever heard.



The next song choice is from the 1976 album 'Calling Card' and again it's another wonderful demonstration of Rory's devotion to his art. A very laid back, swinging blues number with a superb piano performance matched by some very effective guitar parts. Also worth checking out the tune 'Jack-Knife Beat', very cool indeed.



Last up, and its a song taken from the 1979 album 'Top Priority'. To be honest I am too scared to go any later into Rory's back catalogue as this album is beginning to sound a little dated in its general production and I am too worried I will dislike anything he recorded afterwards. However this song has got to have one of the coolest guitar hooks ever, not to mention the use of an electric sitar in the solo! Check it out!



I hope you've enjoyed this very small slice of a musician that I really do think should still be popular today. He influenced so many people, but you hear nothing about him and you never hear his stuff played on the radio, well I don't, but I do generally only listen to Talk Radio :)

When he died of an MRSA infection after a liver transplant (to help alleviate an alcohol and drug addiction), countless musicians came out to pay tribute. Jimmy Page, Van Morrison, Eric Clapton and even the Edge all eulogised about him Even Brian May claims he owed Rory Gallagher for inspiring his very own unique sound.

However my favourite quote about him came many years before he passed away. A certain Mr James Marshall Hendrix was asked what it was like to be the greatest guitarist in the world.

His Reply?

"Don't ask me, ask Rory Gallagher"

Monkey Magic

Okay, so I am a HUGE Stones fan. I might get round to doing a larger Stones post later down the line, but for now, I want to leave you with one of my favourite album tracks.

The Stones recorded this track in April 1969 and can be found on the album 'Let it Bleed'. 'Monkey Man' is has often been the topic of debate amongst commentators who think that the song refers to the Stones' use of drugs at the time of composition.

......Whatever! It's cool!