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ARTIST: Gallagher, Rory
ALBUM: Top Priority
LABEL: Chrysalis
SERIAL: CHR1235
YEAR: 1979
CD REISSUE: Reissue List

COUNTRY OF ORIGIN:

LINEUP: Rory Gallagher - vocals, guitars, harmonica, dulcimer * Gerry McAvoy - bass * Ted McKenna - drums

TRACK LISTING:? 01 Follow Me * 02 Philby * 03 Wayward Child * 04 Keychain * 05 At The Depot * 06 Bad Penny * 07 Just Hit Town * 08 Off The Handle * 09 Public Enemy No 1

WEBLINKS: Official Website | Wikipedia Page

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Background
During my high school years, I owned a few Rory Gallagher LP's. These have long since disappeared from the collection, even though I still have some not-often played fileshares hanging around. My affinity for the late Irishman came about due to two reasons: a follow-on to fellow Irish legends Thin Lizzy who I was right into at the time, plus rival trio the Pat Travers Band, who was also operating in that hard rock/blues zone. Gallagher was more of a traditionalist, having paid his dues a decade or so earlier with the band Taste, and upon going solo, releasing a swag of LP's during the 70's including 'Blueprint', Tattoo', 'Against The Grain' and 'Photo Finish'. But 1979's 'Top Priority' is the album we'll look at today.

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The Songs
A renowned master of the Fender Stratocaster, you hardly ever saw him play anything else. The album opens with the ripsnorter 'Follow Me', with a pumping bass line supplied by Gerry McAvoy. The next two tracks 'Philby' and 'Wayward Child' are album highlights, which I remember fondly from those heady days of 1979. 'Keychain' is a slow bruiser, while 'At The Depot' has the metronome set to a typical Irish jig! 'Bad Penny' is the other track which stood out for me, with a memorable guitar lick which hints at a similar tune which I can't quite place. Oh the ravages of time. 'Just Hit Town' suggests how good this trio were live; this song a mighty example of their prowess. 'Off The Handle' is the second of the traditional blues workouts, the closer 'Public Enemy No 1' reminding me of the aforementioned Pat Travers Band during this same timeframe.

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In Summary
The fileshare I have also includes two extra tracks: 'Hell Cat' and 'The Watcher', whcih came off a 2007 Japanese reissue, though on earlier reissued versions, a track called 'Nothing But The Devil' was also included. But the nine tracks you see listed above were on the original LP only. Much of his back catalogue is very collectable, including a brace of live albums which showed Rory and his band in their most natural environment; the stage. Rory passed away in 1995, and has left a legacy which strangely, did not include singles nor videos. Investigate freely.

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