Customer Reviews

Big Guns: The Very Best of Rory Gallagher (Hybr)

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(5)

 

 

As a long time fan of Rory Gallagher's music, I was eagerly awaiting this release.

There is nothing bad here. But the selection of material is completely inadequate: instead of showcasing a great talent, this 2 CD set may only serve to destroy Gallagher's commercial potential. This collection is a faint echo of Gallagher's work, not a brilliant showcase.

Needed are more TASTE cuts, and far more cuts from Gallagher's timeless works, including 'Irish Tour 74', 'Live In Europe 72', and 'Calling Card'. Other excellent, but under-represented, works include 'Top Priority', 'Fresh Evidence', and other major works. It's hard to believe that Gallagher, who recorded with Muddy Waters, Albert King, and other blues legends, left no previously unreleased tracks behind.

Another problem with this collection is the mastering: most of the songs here sound like a collection of demo-recordings. WIth all of the high-tech remastering equipment available, and the growing number of skilled digital music engineers, there is no real excuse for the hack-job mastering on a premium priced package like this. What appears to be pure laziness (on the part pf the producer) and/or penny-pinching cheapness (on the part of the record company) combine to do great dishonor to the artist here.

As a long time fan of Rory Gallagher, I am underwhelmed by the content of this release.

Sorry, I really didn't want to, but I have to agree with the less than positive reviews above - primarily beacuse of the remixes. I bought all Rory's LPs first time around (saw him live several times too), and Donal did a brilliant job on the cd remastering of the original albums - stunning reissues, every single one. But on this new compilation he's failed, sadly. As just one example of the mess on this new compilations, just compare "A Million Miles Away" on Tatoo to this almost shameful remix on Big Guns... You can barely hear the guitar during the introduction passage! Doanl may feel I'm just resistant to change - not at all. I loved the idea of new sonics and remixes - but the remixes are not good. And why tack on the introduction from "Live in Europe" to a track from Taste???!!! Or why change the opening bit of "Tatoo'd Lady" to something that is less musical, and less effective? Not tasteful, or appropriate for all sorts of reasons. In terms of track selection, I accept that over 2 CDs you can't satisfy all of the people etc. - but no "Crest of a Wave" or "Walk on Hot Coals"...??!! In terms of the 5.1 sound thing, I believe that Donal's intentions were entirely honorable, but the execution is very poor. Sorry.

I hope the intention of the Gallagher estate was to turn on new fans to a great great guitar player with this release, however..."they got the right airplane but the wrong airport."
If you are a new fan looking to get some RG CD's, Don't waste your $$$ on this POS. Buy the BBC sessions, Irish Tour, live in Europe, Calling Card first. God bless Amazon for offering most if not all of the original CDs. Buy these instead!!!! This Sony/BMG offering is a shame.

Perhaps it is a misnomer to call this two-CD set of music the "very best" of Rory Gallagher. Although many of the numbers would make my own "best of" list, there are some glaring omissions. Missing are tracks such as "Laundromat," "Blister on the Moon," "Philby," and "Moonchild" among others. And sadly, not a single track is included from the live albums "Irish Tour" and "Live in Europe." Instead we are "treated" to alternate versions from another tour. Rory's brother and manager Donal admits, for mixing purposes, some songs were chosen more for their studio sonic qualities. Therein lies the problem - the mixes. Rory may never have agreed to some of these "interpretations" of his recordings. In his numerous interviews, the guitarist spoke of seeking to capture a live sound in the studio. He disliked overproduced albums. Rory said he preferred a raw, demo sound, to his music. He was a perfectionist and had abandoned at least two completed albums dissatisfied with production and mixes. Rory Gallagher was a vastly under appreciated and underrated songwriter. This compilation, however, does hint of his immense talent and musicianship. Still, picking up two of his live albums, "Irish Tour" and "Live in Europe," would best serve anyone needing an introduction to Rory's music.

rory gallagher was one of the finest guitarist to walk the face of the planet. period. but "the big guns: the very best of rory gallagher" would not convince anyone of that. besides ommitting key tracks that would make this a true best of (souped up ford, laundromat and the slide guitar tour de force crest of a wave) this cd remixes most of rory's songs to a point of irritation. having grown up in the 70's with the original records these remixes bear very little resemblence to those records. the vocals and guitar are buried in the mix and the instrumentation that was used as subtle coloring in the background of the original recordings is brought up front where it just becomes annoying on the remixes (ex: the saxes in tattoo'd lady). those of you who are new to rory's music and looking for a place to start should check out any of his original albums or the etched in blue or blue day for the blues compilations. this compilation could have been a great introduction to a new generation of fans. unfortunately it may be the swan song of a brilliant, much loved but criminally over looked artist.

First of all, let me start by saying that I am a huge Rory fan and have been for thirty plus years. I have all the original CD's and all of the remastered CD's issued over the last few years. The only reason I've given this collection two stars at all is because it's Rory! The 5.1 surround mix is a joke. It pales in comparison to the recent 5.1 Elton John titles and similar SCAD's and DVD-A's where there was some effort put forth into really doing 5.1 right. The 5.1 mix here is hardly worth the bother and isn't any better than many of the very early Silverline 5.1 titles (I'm sure there are a few who'll understand what I mean by this but for those who don't, they weren't very good). As far as the two channel SACD layer goes, it sounds overly "hot" on a number of the tracks (a few of the slower acoustic tracks sound fine however) and always sounds like it's about to clip and distort, if it isn't already. I also hate the newly mixed intro on "Tattoo'd Lady" (my all time favorite Rory song). I haven't listened to the regular redbook CD layer yet but if it's anything like the mess this disc is in both stereo and 5.1 SACD, then this disc will not be played very often. It's a darn good thing I've still got all the other to regular CD's to listen to. Shame on you Mr. Donal Gallagher for this mess. This set/collection could've been so much better with some time, care, and proper attention paid to an artist that truly deserves it.

I'm a big Rory fan and I agree with all the others. I was waiting for a long time for this and I've listened to it maybe twice. This is not what I would call the best of Rory. Where is Seventh Son of a Seventh Son,Brute Force and Ignorance, As the Crow Flies. Shadowplay is one of my favorite songs but this version sounds like it was made in a garage.

Thanks to these Rory fans for their honest reviews. I just learned from a Rory newsgroup that this CD was out, and hoped to find out more on amazon.com. I'm greatly disappointed to learn that this "greatest hits" package is poor both in terms of mixing and song selection. I argued years ago for a Rory box set, but many Rory fans said we'd be better served by reissues with bonus tracks. Since Donal Gallagher has chosen to issue a greatest hits CD that is highly unsatisfactory, I once again call for a box set, even though I already have all the original LPs, the original CD versions, the reissues, and many bootlegs.

First and foremost, Rory Gallagher was one of the best blues/rock guitarists in the world. Period! His playing was honest, electrifying and downright influential. His work with Taste is fondly remembered and his solo albums contained awesome performances worth discovering or rediscovering. Buddha/BMG's remastered albums (released towards the end of the 1990s) are worthy investments thanks to superb audio restoring, full liner notes and fine bonus tracks. So, let's get the question of RG's skills out of the way from the get-go. He had chops and knew how to use 'em. That said, as an introductory set to Gallagher's skills and recordings, Big Guns leaves an awful lot to be desired. It's a sonic mess. A remastering nightmare that does no justice whatsoever to the original recordings. Remember, this SACD/CD hybrid is supposed to be the "ultimate" sound experience. I've heard this collection twice, once on a CD player and again on an actual SACD player. Both times, I could only shake my head in disgust. Muddy, fuzzy bass overshadows the actual playing. And the production job sounds dirty and unpolished. I don't even think these are the final takes: they sound like demos or alternates. It begs the question: why? Why have we been given this sonic stew to "digest"? RG fans deserve a "blow apart the barndoors" kind of anthology. This ain't it. There's no question devotees should own this regardless: there's still something magical in the way RG plays on these takes. They just aren't the real thing sonically. And that's a real shame.

Rory never had mainstream hits, and I'm quite happy about that.
But lets get real people,,,,who the heck wants somebody else picking out the 'greatest hits' for you, me or any other Rory fan? Fact is, with Rory being so supremly talented, and us being such huge fans, we will buy up all the regular releases, and some of Donals compliations such as the excellent Wheels within wheels. Face it, 'Greatest hits' albums are only good for acts like Billy Joe and Hall and Oats. Nuff said.