Calling Card
Encyclopedia
Calling Card is the sixth studio release by Irish singer/guitarist Rory Gallagher
. A 1976 release, it was his second of four albums released on Chrysalis Records
in the 1970s. Deep Purple
/Rainbow
bass guitar
ist Roger Glover
co-produced with Gallagher: it was the only time that Gallagher worked with a "name" producer. It also marked the final appearances of longtime Gallagher bandmates Rod de'Ath (drums) and Lou Martin (keyboards); Gallagher would revamp the band after the ensuing tour, retaining only his long time bass guitarist Gerry McAvoy
.
in Munich, Germany, in the summer of 1976. Glover came onboard as co-producer after having met Gallagher when the latter opened for Deep Purple on an American tour. The choice of Glover signified a shift in the direction of straight hard rock
for Gallagher. Nevertheless, Calling Card is one of his most diverse albums, containing Deep Purple
-like hard rock
("Moonchild", "Secret Agent"), jazz-rock (the title track, "Jacknife Beat"), acoustic ballads ("I'll Admit You're Gone") and traditional Irish folk ("Barley and Grape Rag") among other genres.
s "Oeuvre Easy" feature on Gallagher praised its "brilliant songs" and "rockin' edge" and listed it in the "Inspired" section of his catalogue. Irish folk group The Dubliners
later covered "Barley And Grape Rag" on their 1992 release, 30 Years A-Greying
.
in 1999 along with the rest of Gallagher's catalogue. As with the rest of the reissues, the album featured remastered sound, newly-written liner notes by Gallagher's brother Donal, and bonus tracks "Rue the Day" and "Public Enemy" (an early version of a track that later appeared on Gallagher's 1979 album Top Priority
).
.
Rory Gallagher
William Rory Gallagher, ; 2 March 1948 – 14 June 1995, was an Irish blues-rock multi-instrumentalist, songwriter, and bandleader. Born in Ballyshannon, County Donegal, Ireland, and raised in Cork, Gallagher recorded solo albums throughout the 1970s and 1980s, after forming the band Taste...
. A 1976 release, it was his second of four albums released on Chrysalis Records
Chrysalis Records
Chrysalis Records was a British record label that was created in 1969. The name was both a reference to the pupal stage of a butterfly and a combination of its founders names, Chris Wright and Terry Ellis...
in the 1970s. Deep Purple
Deep Purple
Deep Purple are an English rock band formed in Hertford in 1968. Along with Led Zeppelin and Black Sabbath, they are considered to be among the pioneers of heavy metal and modern hard rock, although some band members believe that their music cannot be categorised as belonging to any one genre...
/Rainbow
Rainbow (band)
Rainbow were an English rock band, controlled by guitarist Ritchie Blackmore from 1975 to 1984 and 1994 to 1997. It was originally established with American rock band Elf's members, though over the years Rainbow went through many line-up changes with no two studio albums featuring the same line-up...
bass guitar
Bass guitar
The bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
ist Roger Glover
Roger Glover
Roger David Glover is a Welsh bassist, songwriter, and record producer. Glover is best known as the bassist and lyricist for the hard rock band, Deep Purple.-Early career:...
co-produced with Gallagher: it was the only time that Gallagher worked with a "name" producer. It also marked the final appearances of longtime Gallagher bandmates Rod de'Ath (drums) and Lou Martin (keyboards); Gallagher would revamp the band after the ensuing tour, retaining only his long time bass guitarist Gerry McAvoy
Gerry McAvoy
Gerry McAvoy is an Irish blues rock bass guitarist, who is best known for his twenty five year long friendship and professional association performing with Rory Gallagher between 1970 and 1991...
.
Recording
The sessions for the album began at Musicland StudiosMusicland Studios
Musicland Studios was a recording studio located in Munich, Germany. It was established by Italian record producer, songwriter and performer Giorgio Moroder in the late 1960s...
in Munich, Germany, in the summer of 1976. Glover came onboard as co-producer after having met Gallagher when the latter opened for Deep Purple on an American tour. The choice of Glover signified a shift in the direction of straight hard rock
Hard rock
Hard rock is a loosely defined genre of rock music which has its earliest roots in mid-1960s garage rock, blues rock and psychedelic rock...
for Gallagher. Nevertheless, Calling Card is one of his most diverse albums, containing Deep Purple
Deep Purple
Deep Purple are an English rock band formed in Hertford in 1968. Along with Led Zeppelin and Black Sabbath, they are considered to be among the pioneers of heavy metal and modern hard rock, although some band members believe that their music cannot be categorised as belonging to any one genre...
-like hard rock
Hard rock
Hard rock is a loosely defined genre of rock music which has its earliest roots in mid-1960s garage rock, blues rock and psychedelic rock...
("Moonchild", "Secret Agent"), jazz-rock (the title track, "Jacknife Beat"), acoustic ballads ("I'll Admit You're Gone") and traditional Irish folk ("Barley and Grape Rag") among other genres.
Reaction
The album is often considered one of Gallagher's finest studio offerings with Allmusic giving the album 4.5 stars out of 5. In its August 2005 issue, Guitar PlayerGuitar Player
Guitar Player is a popular magazine for guitarists founded in 1967. It contains articles, interviews, reviews and lessons of an eclectic collection of artists, genres and products. It has been in print since the late 1960s and during the 1980s, under editor Tom Wheeler, the publication was...
s "Oeuvre Easy" feature on Gallagher praised its "brilliant songs" and "rockin' edge" and listed it in the "Inspired" section of his catalogue. Irish folk group The Dubliners
The Dubliners
The Dubliners are an Irish folk band founded in 1962.-Formation and history:The Dubliners, initially known as "The Ronnie Drew Ballad Group", formed in 1962 and made a name for themselves playing regularly in O'Donoghue's Pub in Dublin...
later covered "Barley And Grape Rag" on their 1992 release, 30 Years A-Greying
30 Years A-Greying
30 Years A-Greying is a double album by The Dubliners, again produced by Eamonn Campbell. 30 Years A-Greying is similar to 25 Years Celebration in that it also featurs a number of special guests. The Pogues featured again, this time on a version of "Whiskey In The Jar"...
.
1999 remaster
The album was reissued by Buddah RecordsBuddah Records
Buddah Records was founded in 1967 in New York City. The label was born out of Kama Sutra Records, an MGM Records-distributed label, which remained a key imprint following Buddah's founding...
in 1999 along with the rest of Gallagher's catalogue. As with the rest of the reissues, the album featured remastered sound, newly-written liner notes by Gallagher's brother Donal, and bonus tracks "Rue the Day" and "Public Enemy" (an early version of a track that later appeared on Gallagher's 1979 album Top Priority
Top Priority
Top Priority is Rory Gallagher's eighth album.-Track listing:All titles composed by Rory Gallagher.#"Follow Me" – 4:40#"Philby" – 3:51#"Wayward Child" – 3:31#"Key Chain" – 4:09#"At the Depot" – 2:56#"Bad Penny" – 4:03#"Just Hit Town" – 3:37...
).
Track listing
All songs composed by Rory GallagherRory Gallagher
William Rory Gallagher, ; 2 March 1948 – 14 June 1995, was an Irish blues-rock multi-instrumentalist, songwriter, and bandleader. Born in Ballyshannon, County Donegal, Ireland, and raised in Cork, Gallagher recorded solo albums throughout the 1970s and 1980s, after forming the band Taste...
.
- "Do You Read Me" – 5:20
- "Country Mile" – 3:18
- "Moonchild" – 4:48
- "Calling Card" – 5:24
- "I'll Admit You're Gone" – 4:25
- "Secret Agent" – 5:45
- "Jack-Knife Beat" – 7:04
- "Edged in Blue" – 5:31
- "Barley and Grape Rag" – 3:39
- "Rue the Day" – 4:14 (bonus track)
- "Public Enemy" (B-Side Version) – 4:35 (bonus track)
Musicians
- Rory GallagherRory GallagherWilliam Rory Gallagher, ; 2 March 1948 – 14 June 1995, was an Irish blues-rock multi-instrumentalist, songwriter, and bandleader. Born in Ballyshannon, County Donegal, Ireland, and raised in Cork, Gallagher recorded solo albums throughout the 1970s and 1980s, after forming the band Taste...
– vocalsSingingSinging is the act of producing musical sounds with the voice, and augments regular speech by the use of both tonality and rhythm. One who sings is called a singer or vocalist. Singers perform music known as songs that can be sung either with or without accompaniment by musical instruments...
, guitarGuitarThe guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
and harmonicaHarmonicaThe harmonica, also called harp, French harp, blues harp, and mouth organ, is a free reed wind instrument used primarily in blues and American folk music, jazz, country, and rock and roll. It is played by blowing air into it or drawing air out by placing lips over individual holes or multiple holes... - Gerry McAvoyGerry McAvoyGerry McAvoy is an Irish blues rock bass guitarist, who is best known for his twenty five year long friendship and professional association performing with Rory Gallagher between 1970 and 1991...
– bass guitarBass guitarThe bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick.... - Lou MartinLou MartinLouis 'Lou' Martin Louis 'Lou' Martin Louis 'Lou' Martin (born 12 August 1949, Belfast, Northern Ireland is a piano and organ player, who is most famous for his work with the London-based band Killing Floor and fellow Irish musician Rory Gallagher....
– keyboardsKeyboard instrumentA keyboard instrument is a musical instrument which is played using a musical keyboard. The most common of these is the piano. Other widely used keyboard instruments include organs of various types as well as other mechanical, electromechanical and electronic instruments... - Rod de'AthRod de'AthRod de'Ath , is a former musician, best known for his role as drummer with Irish guitarist Rory Gallagher in the 1970s....
– drumsDrum kitA drum kit is a collection of drums, cymbals and often other percussion instruments, such as cowbells, wood blocks, triangles, chimes, or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single person ....
Sources
- Donal Gallagher – "Calling Card: Liner Note Essay" Buddah RecordsBuddah RecordsBuddah Records was founded in 1967 in New York City. The label was born out of Kama Sutra Records, an MGM Records-distributed label, which remained a key imprint following Buddah's founding...
, 1999. - Michael Molend – "Oeuvre Easy: Rory Gallagher" Guitar PlayerGuitar PlayerGuitar Player is a popular magazine for guitarists founded in 1967. It contains articles, interviews, reviews and lessons of an eclectic collection of artists, genres and products. It has been in print since the late 1960s and during the 1980s, under editor Tom Wheeler, the publication was...
, August 2005.