Rory Gallagher's guitar genius captured on new Blu-ray, and you can win a copy

Last September Ear of Newt raved and raved about the release on DVD of Ghost Blues, a documentary about one of our ultimate guitar heroes, Rory Gallagher. But what's got us even more psyched than that is tomorrow's release on Blu-ray of Irish Tour '74, a godsend of a documentary by Tony Palmer, who followed Gallagher around Ireland when the 28-year-old picker was at the very top of his game.

I watched it on the weekend, and lemme tell ya: if you like rock guitar, you have to see it. Palmer's concert footage is superb, and Gallagher tears up the frets like a wild man on tracks like "Walk on Hot Coals", "A Million Miles Away", "Going to My Home Town", and the only thing he wrote that resembled a radio hit, "Tattoo'd Lady".

The bonus material includes home-movie footage from Gallagher's Japanese tour of the same year and a half-hour Irish TV documentary that boasts live performances from '72 of such Rory standards as "Laundromat", "Pistol Slapper Blues", and "Bullfrog Blues". Insightful audio commentary by Gallagher's brother/manager Donal and his old bassist Gerry McAvoy is the icing on the cake.

The really good news for Rory Gallagher freaks is that you don't even have to rush out and buy Irish Tour '74 tomorrow: you can win a copy of the Blu-ray right here on Ear of Newt, courtesy Eagle Rock Entertainment. All you have to do is explain, in 50 words or less, why Gallagher deserves to be mentioned in the same breath as Hendrix, Clapton, Beck, and Page. Tell everyone who might not know why he's so damned great, and let me take a break from it for a change.

The winning entry will be announced this Saturday (April 16), the same day that we'll decide once and for all which solo on Thin Lizzy's "Cowboy Song" is the best, Scott Gorham's or Brian Robertson's. Why not enter that contest too, and try to win a copy of the Jailbreak: Deluxe Edition CD as well as the Irish Tour '74 Blu-ray. That's one damn fine Irish-rock combo, if I do say so myself.

You can follow Steve Newton on Twitter at twitter.com/earofnewt.

Comments

6 Comments

Rocky_Mercurio

Apr 11, 2011 at 7:45pm

Rory IS in the company of Hendrix, Clapton, Beck, and Page,..Rory was, "THE REAL DEAL".. uncompromising and honest, in both his playing, and his career, the man "meant" every tasteful note he played!, if you'll excuse me, I'm gonna grab my Rory Strat, and learn Bad Penny!

Steve Newton

Apr 12, 2011 at 7:38am

I wish I had a Rory Strat.

Erol Sora

Apr 13, 2011 at 7:26am

Rory was ahead of his time! He was fiery, aggressive, melodic and bluesy. He stuck to his guns, played what he wanted and didn't succumb to fashions/musical trends. It's no surprise Deep Purple and the Rolling Stones both wanted him. His music is as fresh today as ever! Respect!

Steve Newton

Apr 13, 2011 at 10:10am

Couldn't have said it better myself, Erol. Well, maybe a little bit better. Kidding! I knew he'd passed on joining the Stones, but didn't know about the Deep Purple part. I'm trying to imagine him playing "Highway Star". It's sounding pretty damn good!

Steve Newton

Apr 16, 2011 at 1:03pm

Erol Sora put up a good fight, but Rocky Mercurio wins the Blu-ray of Irish Tour '74 because he loves Rory Gallagher so much that he even owns a Gallagher Signature Stratocaster. Congratulations Rocky!

anthony innerd

Jun 15, 2012 at 3:36pm

Rory was in a class of his own, and i was so sad when all the heavy-sound groups launched on the music scene, he was still the genius even though only Rory fans know that.