Calling Card

Album: Calling Card (1976)
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Songfacts®:

  • Written in the slightly unusual signature of 12/8 time, "Calling Card" is the title track of the Irish guitar hero's 6th studio album. A Gallagher solo composition, as usual, it runs to 5:24. An uptempo blues-type number, there are popular live versions. In spite of his virtuosity, Gallagher was not one for ego trips, and some recordings also include some decent keyboard and bass work, the latter from his longtime bass player Gerry McAvoy. >>
    Suggestion credit:
    Alexander Baron - London, England
  • This is the fifth and final record to feature what is considered Rory Gallagher's classic lineup: Gerry McAvoy on bass, Lou Martin on keyboards, and Rod De'ath on drums. Roger Glover, famously the bassist for the '70s Rock group Deep Purple, produced the album and said of the band's chemistry: "They all seemed very dedicated to Rory. There was an allegiance, born of years of smoky clubs and endless journeys."

    After this record Gallgher kept McAvoy on bass and hired Ted McKenna to play drums.

Comments: 3

  • Mike Bleathman from Yeovil A wonderful guitarist, saw Rory a few times over the years. Bless his battered strat, and his check lumberjack shirt. A rocking rhythm section too.
  • Lorcan from Dubh Linn, IrelandI've been using songfacts a long time, only registered when i seen this...........

    Yes Rory has some unreal talent when playing/entertaining live but that statement is more of a personal opinion, this song is a top tune, Gery and Lou are as Ace said, under-rated, who isn't when standing next to the Gallagher fella. decent- needs to be re-written in my opinion.

    Definitely a strange write up, no offense, no real information about the track. I know a lot of Rory information is hard to get but......nothing you cant learn from listening to it with the copy in your hand.
  • Ace from Otaki, New ZealandWoh, bit of a strange write up. The studio version is great, to say there are better live versions is purely subjective. As for "decent keyboard and bass work" that really is an insult to Lou Martin and Gerry McAvoy. They are very under-rated, which often happens in a situation where the so-called band "leader" is so brilliant.
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