Previously Undiscovered Recording Unearthed For Rory Gallagher Blues Album

Hot Press has confirmed that there is a previously undiscovered – and never before heard – Rory Gallagher composition on the late Cork star's upcoming album Blues.

The track is entitled ‘Prison Blues’, and it confirms the strong identification of the great Irish guitarist with the dispossessed and the downtrodden. It was recorded during the sessions for the Blueprint album, released in 1973.

While that is the most thrilling find, ‘Prison Blues;’ is only one among many rarities on an album that has been curated by Daniel Gallagher – a nephew of Rory and son of the G-man’s brother, manager and mentor, Dónal Gallagher. Daniel – himself a guitar player of considerable skill – operates as an A&R consultant in New York, with Universal Music.

“There’s a number of tracks on the album that have never featured in Rory’s catalogue before,” Daniel told Hot Press.

These include Rory’s take on John Lee Hooker’s 'Want Ad Blues' (sometimes called 'Wanted Blues'), ‘Blow Wind Blow’ (an acoustic blues recorded for a Cleveland radio station in 1972), ‘Comin’ Home Baby’ (recorded live with the Chris Barber Band in 1989) and the Albert King classic ‘Born Under A Bad Sign’ (written by William Bell and Booker T. Jones), recorded live with Jack Bruce at Rockpalast in 1990.

“Every track on the album, bar three, is previously unreleased,” Daniel added. However, even these outliers – tracks 9, 10 and 11 on the album – have never previously appeared on an official Rory Gallagher release.

'Leaving Town Blues’ is a tribute track from the Peter Green album, 'Rattlesnake Guitar' (1994);
 'Drop Down Baby’, with Rory Gallagher as guest guitarist was on Lonnie Donegan's "Puttin' On The Style (1978); and 'I'm Ready’, again with Rory as guest guitarist, was on Muddy Waters 'London Sessions' album (1971)
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“Some tracks are different versions or alternative takes of songs that were released,” Daniel adds. "For instance, ‘As The Crow Flies’ and ‘Nothin But The Devil’ are full-band versions, instead of the acoustic takes. There's an additional track from the Albert King sessions, ‘You Upset Me’, which wasn’t included on Albert's album so that's unheard as well.”

It all adds up to a hugely tantalising prospect for Rory Gallagher fans. Indeed, in focussing on the blues aspect of Rory’s musical personality and lineage, the album will surely highlight for younger rock ’n' roll and blues fans just how revered Rory Gallagher was among the international community of musicians, with tracks included from sessions with Muddy Waters, Albert King, Jack Bruce of Cream, Lonnie Donegan and Chris Barber.

Blues, which is released on the Chess label through Universal Music, comes in a variety of editions: the 3CD De-Luxe edition, which is broken down into Electric Blues, Acoustic Blues and Live Blues strands; with 36 tracks in all; the 1CD version, with 15 tracks; and the Limited Edition, blue vinyl 2LP version, also with 15 tracks.

Born in Ballyshannon in Co. Donegal on 2 March 1948, Rory Gallagher died on 14 June 1995.

Below, we present the full track-listings for the three versions of this latest work from Rory Gallagher:

3CD Deluxe Edition
Electric Blues
1. Don't Start Me Talkin’ (Unreleased track from the Jinx album sessions 1982)
2. Nothin’ But The Devil (Unreleased track from the Against The Grain album sessions 1975)
3. Tore Down (Unreleased track from the Blueprint album sessions 1973)
4. Off The Handle (Unreleased session Paul Jones Show BBC Radio 1986)
5. I Could've Had Religion (Unreleased WNCR Cleveland radio session from 1972)
6. As the Crow Flies (Unreleased track from Tattoo album sessions 1973)
7. A Million Miles Away (Unreleased BBC Radio 1 Session 1973)
8. Should've Learnt My Lesson (Outtake from Deuce album sessions 1971)
9. Leaving Town Blues (Tribute track from Peter Green 'Rattlesnake Guitar' 1994)
10. Drop Down Baby (Rory guest guitar on Lonnie Donegan's "Puttin' On The Style" album 1978 11. I'm Ready (Guest guitarist on Muddy Waters 'London Sessions' album 1971)
12. Bullfrog Blues (Unreleased WNCR Cleveland radio session from 1972)

Acoustic Blues

1. Who's That Coming (Acoustic outtake from Tattoo album sessions 1973)
2. Should've Learnt My Lesson (Acoustic outtake from Deuce album sessions 1971) 3. Prison Blues (Unreleased track from Blueprint album sessions 1973)
4. Secret Agent (Unreleased acoustic version from RTE Irish TV 1976)
5. Blow Wind Blow (Unreleased WNCR Cleveland radio session from 1972)
6. Bankers Blues (Outtake from the Blueprint album sessions 1973)
7. Whole Lot Of People (Acoustic outtake from Deuce album sessions 1971)
8. Loanshark Blues (Unreleased acoustic version from German TV 1987)
9. Pistol Slapper Blues (Unreleased acoustic version from Irish TV 1976)
10. Can't Be Satisfied (Unreleased Radio FFN session from 1992)
11. Want Ad Blues (Unreleased RTE Radio Two Dave Fanning session 1988)
12. Walkin' Blues (Unreleased acoustic version from RTE Irish TV 1987)

Live Blues

1. When My Baby She Left Me (Unreleased track from Glasgow Apollo concert 1982) 2. Nothin' But The Devil (Unreleased track from Glasgow Apollo concert 1982)
3. What In The World (Unreleased track from Glasgow Apollo concert 1982)
4. I Wonder Who (Unreleased live track from late 1980s)
5. Messin' With The Kid (Unreleased track from Sheffield City Hall concert 1977) 6. Tore Down (Unreleased track from Newcastle City Hall concert 1977)
7. Garbage Man Blues (Unreleased track from Sheffield City Hall concert 1977) 8. All Around Man (Unreleased track from BBC OGWT Special 1976)
9. Born Under A Bad Sign (Unreleased track from Rockpalast 1991 w/ Jack Bruce)
10. You Upset Me (Unreleased guest performance from Albert King album 'Live' 1975)
11. Comin’ Home Baby (Unreleased track from 1989 concert with Chris Barber Band) 12. Rory Talking Blues (Interview track of Rory talking about the blues)

1CD Version

1. Don't Start Me Talkin’ (Unreleased track from the Jinx album sessions 1982)
2. Nothin’ But The Devil (Unreleased track from the Against The Grain album sessions 1975)
3. Tore Down (Unreleased track from the Blueprint album sessions 1973)
4. Off The Handle (Unreleased session Paul Jones Show BBC Radio 1986)
5. A Million Miles Away (Unreleased BBC Radio 1 Session 1973)
6. Leaving Town Blues (Tribute track from Peter Green 'Rattlesnake Guitar' 1994)
7. As the Crow Flies (Unreleased track from Tattoo album sessions 1973)
8. Secret Agent (Unreleased acoustic version from RTE Irish TV 1976)
9. Should've Learnt My Lesson (Acoustic outtake from Deuce album sessions 1971)
10. Prison Blues (Unreleased track from Blueprint album sessions 1973)
11. Who's That Coming (Acoustic outtake from Tattoo album sessions 1973)
12. I'm Ready (Guest guitarist on Muddy Waters 'London Sessions' album 1971) 13. What In The World (Unreleased track from Glasgow Apollo concert 1982)
14. Garbage Man Blues (Unreleased track from Sheffield City Hall concert 1977) 15. Born Under A Bad Sign (Unreleased track from Rockpalast 1991 w/ Jack Bruce)

2LP / Limited Edition Blue Vinyl 2LP Version

SIDE 1
1. Don't Start Me Talkin’ (Unreleased track from the Jinx album sessions 1982)
2. Nothin’ But The Devil (Unreleased track from the Against The Grain album sessions 1975) 3. Tore Down (Unreleased track from the Blueprint album sessions 1973)
4. Off The Handle (Unreleased session Paul Jones Show BBC Radio 1986)
SIDE 2
1. A Million Miles Away (Unreleased BBC Radio 1 Session 1973)
2. Leaving Town Blues (Tribute track from Peter Green 'Rattlesnake Guitar' 1994)
3. I'm Ready (Guest guitarist on Muddy Waters 'London Sessions' album 1971)
4. As the Crow Flies (Unreleased track from Tattoo album sessions 1973)
SIDE 3
1. Who's That Coming (Acoustic outtake from Tattoo album sessions 1973)
2. Should've Learnt My Lesson (Acoustic outtake from Deuce album sessions 1971)
3. Prison Blues (Unreleased track from Blueprint album sessions 1973)
4. Secret Agent (Unreleased acoustic version from RTE Irish TV 1976)
SIDE 4
1. What In The World (Unreleased track from Glasgow Apollo concert 1982)
2. Garbage Man Blues (Unreleased track from Sheffield City Hall concert 1977)
3. Born Under A Bad Sign (Unreleased track from Rockpalast 1991 w/ Jack Bruce).