Product Details

• Actors: Rory Gallagher
• Directors: Tony Palmer
• Format: Color, DVD, NTSC
• Language: English
• Region: Region 1 (U.S. and Canada only. Read more about DVD formats.)
  
• Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1
• Number of discs: 1
• Rated: NR (Not Rated)
• Studio: Bmg Special Product
• DVD Release Date: May 29, 2001
• Run Time: 83 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (37 customer reviews)
• ASIN: B00005NNSP
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #66,794 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)

Editorial Reviews

Studio: Bmg Special Products Release Date: 05/15/2001 Run time: 80 minutes

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

47 of 48 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Unsung Rory Gallagher live at his peak!, July 27, 2003

By 

J. E FELL "boogaloojef" (Carterville, Illinois United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Rory Gallagher - Irish Tour 1974 (DVD)

Rory Gallagher is quite possibly the most criminally underrated guitarist from the seventies. He has been described as the Irish version of Eric Clapton or Johnny Winter. Like these two guitarists he is comfortable playing blues or rock but he can also play in a more folk oriented style or even a jazzier style if the situation warrants it. This documentary of his 1974 Irish Tour should go a long way to rectify the situation. While Gallagher's reputation may have suffered due to his fear of flying and his humble nature, his playing more than speaks for itself. This fact is evident during the interviews and non-concert footage from the DVD. Gallagher's primary motivation appears to be the music and his fans, not the money and acclaim. Rory appears almost embarrassed at times about his fame and while taking the time to sign autographs for his fans he appears almost shy. His stage apparel of jeans and a checkered shirt and battered Stratocaster are legendary and further prove that he is not on some sort of star trip.

The music itself is both incendiary and emotion filled. Aided by long time bassist Gerry McAvoy along with former Killing Floor members Rod de'Ath on drums and Lou Martin on keyboards Gallagher succeeds in translating the live concert experience to disk. The concert itself contains three numbers "Hands Up", "Going To My Home Town" and the raucous encore "Bullfrog Blues" lamentably not issued on the compact disk version of the "Irish Tour 1974". Gallagher is adept at both acoustic and electric guitars as evidenced by his acoustic cover of Tony Joe White's "As The Crow Flies". Rory was also an excellent slide guitarist and "Who's That Coming" provides a testiment to his slide guitar playing. His emotional reading of the slow blues "A Million Miles Away" is another highlight. The smile on Rory's face during the concert shows the viewer that he is both having a great time, which translates to the audience and is emotionally involved in the music. The concert footage is alternated with footage of Ireland and areas where Rory performed and grew up. This allows the viewer to identify with Gallagher's struggle to get his music heard outside of his native Ireland. Commentary is provided by both bassist Gerry McAvoy and Rory's brother and manager Donal. Some of the most interesting non-concert footage is of Gallagher jamming with the band before the concert and explaining the various styles and techniques he uses on both the acoustic and electric guitars. He also seems amused while shopping at a music store to find sheet music for some of his songs with his first band Taste.

I highly recommend this to fans of great blues and rock guitar playing. Rory Gallagher fans will find this essential due to the dearth of available live Gallagher footage and the three unissued versions of songs from the Irish Tour 1974. The film also provides valuable insights into Rory's background and personality. It also enhances the legacy of one of Ireland's greatest musicians.

18 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Raw and magical!, July 1, 2002

By 

BDH (Massachusetts USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Rory Gallagher - Irish Tour 1974 (DVD)

Anyone who's a big fan of blues-rock or guitar-hero rock of the sixties and seventies should get a huge thrill out of this gem. It begins with scenes of the sea thrusting into the Irish coast and then makes its way into a spellbound onstage version of 'Walk On Hot Coals'. Rory Gallagher was definitely the most under-rated blues-rock guitarist of all time; this DVD is proof of it. His style and tone are both blustery and unrefined, but natural and brown-toned as well. His band of himself on vocal and guitar (mainly a strat player), Gerry McAvoy (bass), Lou Martin (piano), and Rod de'Ath (drums), is loud and raw blues-rock heaven. The backstage interviews are interesting, too, as they show how electrified and personable he was. It's blatantly obvious how much he loved playing live by the huge smile on his face and the way he interacts with the crowd. The scenes of Belfast and the rough old Irish nightclubs and venues just add to the raw beauty of the music. This one will be all worn out by the time I'm done watching it and listening to it. It's one of my favorite DVDs.

17 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Rory Gallagher: Irish Tour '74, July 29, 2001

By 

Charles A. Gili "Bad Penny" (Brooklyn, New York United States) - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Rory Gallagher - Irish Tour 1974 (DVD)

Rory Gallagher remains the best kept secret in blues/rock history. If you are just discovering this largely over-looked musician, you are in for a real treat! IT'74 is a fantastic way to start your investigation of one of the greatest rock and blues guitarists of all times. Tony Palmer, the film maker does a great job in capturing a young Rory with this film. It's a great little chunk of history that depicts a special time in music history, a vital, energetic and creative time. Rory Gallagher died much to young. He played and toured into the early nineties, so you are looking at a snapshot of his early work, which just happened to coincide with a dangerous time in Ireland. Rory was the only major artist to consistently play and tour venues in Ireland, that other musicians avoided. IT'74 captures the excitement and love of this great man in a magnificent look back at these shows. Hopefully, many new fans will get a chance to enjoy the work of this very humble man. I hope that IT'74 is the "first" Rory Gallagher DVD and that we can look forward to more in the future. This is definitely worth the price of admission. Don't miss it!