Rory Gallagher

"Rory Gallagher" is the first solo album by Irish blues rock musician Rory Gallagher, released on 23 May 1971. It marked his departure from "Taste". After disbanding Taste, Gallagher auditioned some of the best musicians available at the time including Noel Redding and Mitch Mitchell the bassist and drummer for the Jimi Hendrix Experience. He decided on two Belfast musicians; drummer Wilgar Campbell, and bass guitarist Gerry McAvoy to be the core of his new power trio band. With his first solo album Gallagher continued in the eclectic style that had exemplified his first band Taste. The album begins with "Laundromat" which was to become a regular number in his live set. Its a blues rock song with a classic Gallagher riff. The song was inspired by the public laundromat located in the basement of his flat where he lived at the time in Earls Court. The next song "Just a Smile" is an acoustic number that was inspired by the British folk revival. It shows the influence of some of Gallagher's favorite English folk musicians such as Richard Thompson, Davy Graham, and Bert Jansch. The album was recorded in Advision Studios in London. As with most of Gallagher's albums he produced it himself.