Blueprint

"Blueprint" is the third album by Irish guitarist Rory Gallagher, released on 18 February 1973 as a vinyl record . With his first band Taste and with his solo band up to this point Gallagher was one of the first guitarists to lead a power trio lineup. With Blueprint Gallagher included a keyboardist for the first time. For Blueprint Gallagher replaced drummer Wilgar Campbell with Rod de'Ath and decided to add Lou Martin, the keyboardist from de'Ath's previous band Killing Floor. This four piece lineup was to be one of Gallagher's most successful resulting in many of his most popular songs and documented in live film and TV appearances on shows such as Rockpalast and the Old Grey Whistle Test. The band would play together for five years. Blueprint, as with all the studio albums recorded by the Gallagher quartet illustrated Gallagher's eclectic musical influences. The album title and artwork were taken from the blueprint of a Stramp "Power Baby" amplifier that had been custom designed for Gallagher in Hamburg. "It was compact enough to fit into the small luggage compartment of a Volkswagen Beetle" recalled Gallagher's brother and manager Donal.