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Great moments in obscure rock ‘n’ roll: Rory Gallagher, “Bullfrog Blues,” live in 1976 and 1980

Brian Leiter

ORIGINALLY POSTED AUGUST 13, 2016

From the band Taste in the late 1960s, through his solo performances into the 1990s, the great Irish guitarist Rory Gallagher was a "big name" throughout Europe, but never got the same level of recognition on this side of the Atlantic.  A fabulous rock, blues and slide guitarist, as well as phenomenal stage performer, these two versions of one of his live staples, the "Bullfrog Blues," give a fine taste for those not familiar.  The first, from 1976, is a live performance on an old BBC show, in which each member of the band gets his moment in the spotlight:

 

The second version was recorded live in 1979, and is several minutes shorter, because it's all Rory (and the audience)–it doesn't really start until a minute in:

4/26/26 addition:  feel free to post links to favorite Rory Gallagher live performances.

 

 

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5 responses to “Great moments in obscure rock ‘n’ roll: Rory Gallagher, “Bullfrog Blues,” live in 1976 and 1980”

  1. Dean C. Rowan

    Didn't know this until your post prompted me to snoop around, but Gallagher appears on a 1991 Stiff Little Fingers album, Flags & Emblems, making a brief cameo on slide guitar on "Human Shield." SLF, a Northern Irish band, were among the mid-to-late-'70s UK punk bands that caused such a marvelous ruckus. By '91, the band's bass player (again, news to me) was Bruce Foxton, formerly of The Jam, which had dissolved almost a decade earlier. (Being in the right place at the right time, I scored a press pass to The Jam's first West Coast appearance in fall '77 at The Whisky on Sunset Blvd.)

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  2. Dean C. Rowan

    URL would help:

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  3. David Morrice

    It is said that when Jimi Hendrix was asked how it felt to be the greatest guitarist in the world he responded that it would be necessary to ask Rory Gallagher.

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  4. Rex Welshon

    Thanks for this post on Rory Gallagher, one of the greats and severely underappreciated. His band during the 1970s–Jerry McAvoy on bass, Rod De'Ath on drums, and Lou Martin on keyboards–was as tight as possible from relentless touring and Gallagher was at the height of his powers. His "Irish Tour" love album (1974) is an overwhelming document of rock and roll power. I saw him twice, in 1976 and 1979. Both shows were barn burners.

    Here's "Shadow Play" from the Montreux Jazz Festival, 1979. Stick with it to the end–you'll get an idea of what a wild man Gallagher could be on stage.



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  5. Rex Welshon

    Apologies: 'live', not 'love'.

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