Customer Reviews

Calling Card

5 star:		(19)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

You probably should buy all of Gallagher's albums up to and including the recent (and phenomenal) BBC SESSIONS, but, hey, I might be a little biased. But if you had to limit yourself to one, clearly CALLING CARD is it. His songwriting was never better, nor his guitar playing, but there's an added x factor: you could call it chemistry, or kismet, or mojo. WhatEVER that elliptical, intangible magic that all too rarely occurs when the tape is rolling might be termed, this record is drenched with it. From the opening drum-and-Telecaster intro of 'Do You Read Me' to the down-home warmth of set closer 'Barley and Grape Rag', regardless of whether it's a rave-up ('Moonchild', 'Secret Agent Man') or a ballad ('Edged in Blue', the gorgeous title track), soul and heart suffuses these songs; you can't not respond to them. There is an infectious joy and depth of feeling in these tracks that does what hardly any of today's high-tech, digitally-perfect recordings can even attempt: they make you happy to be a human being and grateful to be alive. A gorgeous, luminous album - buy this and become a Gallagher fan for life.

Rory Gallagher's "Calling Card" was never a huge commercial success and it will probably never make a top 100 albums list, but those who are lucky enough to know Rory's work are aware that this is perhaps the greatest album ever recorded.
First off, I can't overemphasize the incredible musicianship this album offers. Rory Gallagher was one of the most amazing guitar players who ever lived. Give him shred, blues, jazz, folk, rockabilly, he could play it and any given subgenre flawlessly. Also, he was a tasteful player. No "excess" noodling and repetitive A minor runs here. "Calling Card" also features the stunning Lou Martin on piano, Gerry McAvory on bass (great chemistry between he and Rory) and the enormously talented Rod de'Arth on drums.
There's no shortage of good rockin' tunes on "Calling Card". Most notably, "Country Mile", "Jackknife Beat", and the almost Deep Purple-esque "Moonchild".
But there's something for everybody, including the jazz/blues fusion title track, the melancholy acoustic number "I'll Admit You're Gone", the folk jam "Barley and Grape Rag", and arguably the best track, "Edged In Blue" (which might have been a hit for Rory had he decided to release singles).

I urge anybody to give "Calling Card" a listen. Without a doubt, you'll be hooked

I lived in ignorance of Rory Gallagher for a long time until I read an article on him in one of last summer's issues of GUITAR PLAYER magazine. He sounded like someone I liked so I searched up and down until I found this album. I can't say I was disappointed!

It's a shame that Rory never caught on in the US like he did in Europe because this is a damn fine album. With production from Deep Purple/Rainbow bassist Roger Glover and backing from Rory's seasoned touring band, Rory made an album that should've made him a star in America.

This is quite a diverse album. "Country Mile" and "Secret Agent" are uptempo rockers while "Do You Read Me?" and "Jacknife Beat" rock at slower beats. The title cut is blues with a jazz edge. "Moonchild" is a minor key rocker in the vein of Glover's bandmate Ritchie Blackmore. "I'll Admit You're Gone" and "Edge in Blue" are gorgeous, melodic ballads and the album ends with the acoustic rave-up "Barley and Grape Rag." The two bonus cuts are good, but seem to interrupt the perfect end "Barley and Grape Rag" provides.

I'm thankful I read the GUITAR PLAYER article and picked up this album. Rory was an amazing guitarist, writer, and singer. If you've never heard his music, give this CD a spin. For those of us who have heard Rory Gallagher, pass it on...

I'm out of words to express the sheer joy that is to listen to this absolute masterpiece by the late Rory Gallagher. Man, this album is just unbelievable!! It has some kind of magical texture, some kind of chemistry seldom witnessed in his records, in any kind of records. Of course I love all of Rory's work, but CALLING CARD is his best, period.
ALL THE TUNES are killer, mixturing blues, rock, jazz, funk, whatever you want.
Rory, wherever you are, be sure that this is your best album, and I'll listen to it always!!

Few guitarists have been as underappreciated by the public as this one (with the possible exception of Roy Buchanan). This CD smokes. Rory not only shows why he is one of the industries best bluesmen, but also demonstrates his ability to rock. This is by far his best recording. The tracks on this CD are highly listenable for any rock affeciando as well as the blues lover. From the simplicity of Barley and Grape Rag to the complexity of Moonchild through the almost Jazz-influenced Jacknife Beat, Rory shows an incredibly complex range of sounds. This is one of the top twenty rock or blues recordings of all time. If you make one purchase of a Rory Gallagher recording - this should be the one. And if you become a fan - buy Top Priority as your second choice. You won't be disappointed

This is the mother's milk of blues rock, and "Moonchild" is a better song than anything ever recorded by Rory's more famous contempraries. This album is the finest example of a talent that was taken too soon away. You won't be disappointed!

Calling Card is my first Rory Gallagher album I ever bought. It won't be my last(in fact I now plan to get them all).
This man needs much more recognition for the wonderful contribution he made to the blues. Calling Card is such a maginificent album because it showcases Gallagher's blues history, and shows where he was headed with his jazz influences.I love all the tracks, but in particular I love the swing of 'Calling Card', the new directions taken with 'Moonchild', and the soul-driven 'Edged in Blue. I could go on and on about the other tracks, but you HAVE to hear this man for yourself.
Make no mistake though, Gallagher is the stuff blues is made of through and through, and I can only hope that more people become exposed to this wonderful artist.

After reading the other reviews, I decided to go out and buy 'Calling Card'. I already owned 'Live In Europe' and 'Irish Tour' and loved them , especially 'Irish Tour'.

At first I was a bit suprised with the album, since I found that Rory had moved away somewhat from his blues roots. This album is produced by Roger Glover of Deep Purple, and it shows. It does have a certain Purple feel to it (especially on 'Do You Read Me' and 'Moonchild', where I even find Rory sounds a bit like Ritchie Blackmore)

But after a few listens, the album really grew on me. The tracks mentionned above are excellent, as well as the jazzy 'Calling Card' and the outstanding 'Edged In Blue'. The 2 bonus tracks are also pretty good and add to the album.

Overall a great album showing Rory maturing and treading some new ground.

Once asked how it felt to be the greatest rock guitarist in the world, Jimi Hendrix replied, "I wouldn't know. Ask Rory Gallagher."

This as good as a studio album as Rory recorded but nothing matches his live recordings.
Stand out cuts are the title track, Calling Card and Country Mile.
Two bonus tracks help out in making this a great studio effort of Rory at his peak.
As mentioned in the liner notes, sadly this would be the last album with Rory's amazing band, Gerry McAvoy on bass, Lou Martin on keyboards and Roddy de'Ath on drums.

After all these years, and so long after Rory's untimely death, his music still has the gut-punch as the day these tracks were laid down.
I'm always surprised at how many rock/blues fanatics have never heard Rory. Like the great Roy Buchanan, they were better than many of the well known names in rock guitar.

Rory is much missed but what he left behind is timeless and in my opinion, flawless.

Simply another stellar effort from Rory Gallagher, who, along with Charlie Whitney of Family and Streetwalkers, remain two of the most unappreciated guitarists from before the days when rock and roll was a budget-line item for multinational corporations. Rory just has so much soul and emotion in his playing and singing, and there is a certain raw edge to his searing guitar work that will have you reaching to turn up the volume at once.

Rory Gallagher seems a true blue-collar musician: his music is lean, muscular, and at times urgent. Listen to the angst of Secret Agent or the power in Do You Read Me. Calling Card is a classy acknowledgment that the blues can't bested. The Barley and Grape Rag reframes the derelict's lamentable goal of having to get wasted but makes the whole thing sound like such fun you want to go along.