I'll Remember: A Box Of Taste

"Rory created something really special on stage, bringing an aura to a room, no matter what it's size." Eddie Kennedy, Taste manager."We don't put any gimmicks into it to make Taste a supergroup." Rory Gallagher."When Taste go, they go like a train, and they take everyone with them." Clive Woods, Polydor Records UK. I still remember buying the first album by Taste (or The Taste as they were also known in the early days) when it was an "import" album back in the days of vinyl. From that point I was hooked on Rory Gallagher. So I'm probably biased towards just how good this band was. The remastered sound is improved relatively speaking from previous album CD releases, but remember that the live tracks are from an early era and various venues, so don't expect pristine sound. Sound is so subjective so listen for yourself and decide if the studio albums sound much, or a bit, improved or not. Included is a 40 page booklet (attached inside the package) with an essay on Gallagher and his music by Nigel Williamson, along with many unseen photos. Plus there's gig ads (including one ad ("On Tour") for Taste, Stone The Crows, and an acoustic guitar-based singer, Jake Holmes, who wrote "Dazed And Confused" but got little credit, who seems an odd choice to have on such a fiery bill with Crows and Taste--hmmm. And another ad--can you imagine a concert with both Taste and Family on the bill? Wow. The discs snap inside the front and back covers--not the best way to keep your discs in good shape--I put mine in two double jewel cases for safekeeping. Everything comes in a thick cardboard book-style package. This set was put together under the watchful eye of Gallagher's brother, Donal, as Executive Producer. Visually and sonically (with noted exceptions) this box set is a real treat of a ride in the way-back machine for (longtime especially) Taste fans. I still find it amazing that Taste (and Gallagher as a solo artist) aren't mentioned in the All Music Guide To Rock. Why? Hmmm. But if you're not a Taste fan you will probably wonder what all the fuss is about.Disc 1 is the first album, "Taste", from 1969, along with some alternate recordings of the officially released tracks. Disc 2 begins with the 1970 album "On The Boards", a fine album much better in many ways than the first album, plus some period live tracks from Beat Club. Disc 3 is all live, mostly from Stockholm and a few from London, but all from 1970. This is where the meat of this package gets really exciting, but be aware of fairly long fade-outs on a couple of tunes which is a shame for Taste fans. Live this trio could (and did) blow other bands off the stage. And this is the proof. Taste fans will recognize many of these tunes along with other great live performances of similar bluesy/rock tunes. But there's a difference in sonic quality between the Stockholm tracks (good) and the London tracks (listenable) Disc 4 begins with seven demos from 1967 which are a treat for deep Taste fans. I say "deep" because these tracks are here (I assume) for historical purposes only--the sound is less than what you'd hope for. But the trio (with a different rhythm section) has a passable style--sounding like a late '60s, European blues band--emulating a Chicago electric blues band. Plus there's two singles which are rarely heard nowadays, along with five more live tracks from various venues from this same period.The self-titled first album is the blueprint for what Taste would become. Album two, "On The Boards", is more fully formed and is an altogether stronger album than their first. While the first album had some visceral sounding performances, "On The Boards" shows the band extending their sound into blues, rock, and jazz, for a more fully formed, tighter effort. While it could be argued that Gallagher's solo albums after Taste broke up were an extension of Taste, it's fun to wonder what a third Taste album would've sounded like.While the studio albums hold a number of great performances, it's the live stuff that really grabs your shirt and gives you a good shake. This is Rory Gallagher from his younger days when his intense performances were even more incendiary. And the stripped down trio sound only added to the feel. Some of these live tracks may cause your speakers to light up and your disc player to get a bit warm. This is Rory Gallagher on the edge of intensity early on in his career. Fans of Gallagher who only know him from his days after Taste broke up need to hear this set. This is where it all began, and it's still some of the best Rory Gallagher there is. But I told you I was biased.But with (if the sound doesn't bother you) great live versions of "What's Going On", "Sugar Mama", "Sinner Boy", "Catfish", and others from 1970, along with demos like "Wee Wee Baby", "Take It Easy Baby", plus an eleven minute live medley to finish things off, this is a great haul of Rory Gallagher during his fiery first stage playing all-out blues/rock 'n' roll. It's too bad that the sound isn't better on these last few tracks.As I write this, this set is a bit pricey. Hopefully it will both come down in price and become more widely available in the U.S. But if you can swing the bucks, this is something that Gallagher fans should check out. Plus, the live Isle of Wight set is being expanded a bit and being reissued very soon. Something else for Taste fans to look forward to.

This was Rory's greatest era. His solo career had some very high points, but these two studio albums (and various live tracks) and the rare first version of Taste's singles of "Blister on the Moon b/w Born on the Wrong Side of Time" are sublime. The great Eddie Offord engineered these records. The dropout that has always existed on Taste Mk. II's first album, "Taste," on the track "Blister on the Moon" has been fixed here - boy, what a difference that makes in the ending outro passage. This is essential listening. While never getting the same attention as Cream or the Jimi Hendrix Experience, this was a very important group. Rory's lyric writing after this was never quite the same - he seemed to want to put Taste behind him and pursue a slightly different sort of bag.

everything song wise is wonderful come on its Rory as a young man the box that holds the cds is tricky but it works well Taste rules

Rory Gallagher just developing his later greatness. There are some fine songs, well-worth listening to. There are some good songs and a very few not-so-good ones. If you are a Rory Gallagher fan, get this. It's the complete anthology of Taste.

all right

The Taste collection plus bonus tracks in a excellent oresentation!

👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍

Love the Box set I think Taste was way better then Cream and Rory was why better then Clapton back in the day

Very fast delivery and great quality

Per i fans di Gallagher è un cofanetto imperdibile: ben confezionato, con copertina rigida e libretto interno, consta di 4 dischi. I primi due sono i due album da studio dei Taste, arricchiti da versioni alternative. Il terzo e il quarto sono album dal vivo, precisamente "live in Konserthuset" del 1970, Bbc live in concert sempre del 1970, "the Belfast early sessions" ed infine "live at Wobum Abbey" del 1969. La qualità delle registrazioni è ottima per gli album da studio, buona (considerando gli anni) per i live. Lo consiglio vivamente anche perché tra poco sarà introvabile...

Rory GALLAGHERon ne peut jamais être déçucorrespond tout à fait à la descriptionje recommandearrivé en très bon état

Ya era hora de que hubiera algo tan grande como esto, la banda entera está gigante, el sonido imponente y las fotos formidables, hecho de menos mucha más información acerca de la trayectoria, y es que se sabe poco de la banda, de sus tiempos en belfast u en Londres.Los pocos testimonios de la gente que los vió siempre son de una banda arrolladora, que se comía el escenario y que lo daba todo. Pues bien, un poco más de esto por favor, y cuanto antes... Gracias Rory, John, Richard, Eric, Norman y Donal...

Great to have all the Taste tracks together in one place. Some of the recordings are better than others, and although I'm certain that the first two albums have been remastered more faithfully to the original recordings than those on the best of Taste, some of the recordings on best of Taste simply cover a more dynamic range and sound better, although there isn't that much in it. All in all a fantastic package and a pleasure to listen to, with the exception of some of the live recordings which are a bit harsh. As Jimi Hendrix said when interviewed and asked what it was like being the greatest guitarist in the world..."I don't know, ask Rory Gallagher". However, all of that aside, this is a great box to listen to and the sheer musicianship comes through very strongly from all three of them.