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Today in rock history: on this date in 1995, one of the greatest rock guitarists of all time, the sadly underrated and often overlooked Rory Gallagher passed away at the age of 47. The Irish-born blues influenced guitar wiz began his recording career in 1966 with his group Taste with whom he released a few highly regarded albums before the band dissolved in 1970. At that time, the singer, songwriter and masterful guitarist embarked on a solo career and assembled a brand new band. Gallagher released many records which are now considered among the best guitar-driven albums of all time. Most often recognized as his greatest and strongest record is Irish Tour ‘74, a concert album that consists of performances around Rory’s home country throughout 1974. Often cited as a huge influence by guitarists like Slash, The Edge, Johnny Marr, Brian May and many others, Gallagher’s work and achievements are still held in high esteem although he’s rarely given the credit he so richly deserves.
MIEN OF THE HOUR
In Clearwater, Rufus Wainwright offers solace and songs for a tortured, tired America
Today in rock history: on this date in 2006, in a bold and daring move, singer/songwriter Rufus Wainwright recreated Judy Garland’s triumphant and legendary 1961 performance at New York City’s prestigious Carnegie Hall. Garland’s performance was hailed as a comeback of sorts as her career had suffered drastically in the years leading up to this now famous show where she performed a series of standards and delivered an amazing, heartfelt performance. Wainwright’s tribute and homage to Garland’s performance found him playing every song Judy originally performed in the exact, original sequence. The response to Rufus’s audacious undertaking was grand: the show sold out immediately and a second show was added by popular demand on the very next night. Global attention was showered on this tribute and performances were scheduled in California, England and France as well. Wainwright eventually released his complete performance in 2007 under the title Rufus Does Judy at Carnegie Hall. While the record wasn’t exactly a chart success, it nonetheless earned Rufus a Grammy nomination and was well received by critics who admired his bravery in recreating a concert that’s often referred to as “the greatest night in show business history.”
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Today in rock history: on this date in 1970, a brand new band called Derek and the Dominoes made its live debut with a performance at London's Lyceum Theatre. The band consisted of musicians and seasoned pros bassist Carl Radle, drummer Jim Gordon, keyboardist Bobby Whitlock and singer and guitar virtuoso Eric Clapton. The band members had already performed as part of the soul-influenced rock band Delaney & Bonnie and Friends, but the idea to form a band of their own came about when all four musicians lent their talents to the recording sessions for George Harrison’s blockbuster album, All Things Must Pass. The band would succeed as a dynamic live act yet only recorded one proper album together, Layla and Other Assorted Love Songs, which was released in November of 1970. Response and reaction to the 2-LP set was lukewarm with many fans and critics expressing a distaste about Clapton taking over the role of lead singer and front man as opposed to his former standing as a guitar ace with former bands The Yardbirds and Cream. The album, and its hit single “Layla” would eventually find success two years after its release but, by then, the group had disbanded and the members had already undertaken different musical projects.
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Today in rock history: on this date in 1970, San Francisco’s favorite sons, The Grateful Dead, released a fourth album, Workingman’s Dead. Breaking away from the more psychedelic sound of previous records, The Dead opted to attempt a more roots-oriented, purer sound and, for many fans, it was at this stage that the band found its true niche. Collaborating with songwriter Robert Hunter, lead singer and chief band songwriter Jerry Garcia unveiled a truly consistent and now-classic album that led to The Dead being exposed to a wider and more varied audience. Highlights from this fine record include Dead classics “Uncle John’s Band,” “Casey Jones” and “Dire Wolf” among so many others. While the album only climbed as high as the lower reaches of Billboard's Top 30 at the time of its release, it eventually went on to become a million-selling record and remains an important, integral part of the vast Grateful Dead discography.
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This article appears in Jun 14-21, 2018.