For the love of rock
Vol III, Issue 10 – Edged in blue (15 May 2018)
www.intheloveofrock.com
Name of song– Edged in blue
Band- Rory Gallagher
Album- Calling Card
Writer– Rory Gallagher
Release year– 1976
Similar Artists- Gary Moore, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Peter Green, Ten Years After
Edged in blue
Reviewers- Bikash Shrestha/Nirab Kayastha
Ireland has contributed a lot to the rock world. And amongst them all, Rory Gallagher is undoubtedly the finest guitarist Ireland has ever presented to the world. Sadly, his career was cut short by various illnesses and he succumbed after liver transplantation in 1995, at the age of 47 years. He has been an inspiration to many, including Eric Clapton, Jeff Beck, Jimmy Page, Paul Rodgers to name a few and it is rumored that during his heydays, when Jimi Hendrix was asked how he felt to be the world’s greatest guitarist, he is reported to have said- “I don’t know, go ask Rory Gallagher.” A multi talented instrumentalist, a guitar wizard and blues rock maestro, Rory’s albums had been sold over 30 million copies despite not producing any single.
Initially in the late sixties, he debuted with the band Taste and after few albums, he went solo and started to conquer the world with his guitar and live concerts. Unlike his contemporaries, he stuck to his blues roots and avoided the more popular blues pop tempo. His solo albums have been all inspirational and his eighth album “Calling Card” is perhaps one of his most treasured gems. This album was co-produced by Deep Purple bassist Roger Glover when the two became friends during the tours. It is a master piece capturing the finest moments by Rory.
“Edged in blue” is undoubtedly one of the underdogs of the album. A song of amazing guitar work, fine poetry, gritty vocals and sad emotions, all blended in a perfect symphony. A totally unconventional blues rock number, starting with a typically catchy bluesy note, then speeding up like a marching band, and then pouring out emotions full of heart break and lead solos surpassed by none and fading with the fine finger play by Rory-It’s just out of the world. This song definitely requires your attention and once you are into it, it never goes over. Rory has given his best efforts of finger play into it and Gerry McAvoy’s bass, Lou Martin’s keyboards and Rod de’Ath’s drums, all are absolutely fabulous and irreplaceable. It begins with Rory’s typical fine blues note in slow, dreamy pace along with captivating bass by Gerry McAvoy and then, Rod’s drums start marching in. Before you get into confusion, the song starts to take a rock twist and Rory’s typical gritty vocals drive you into frenzy. After the two main choruses and a latter slightly changed chorus, you get Lou Martin’s cake piece of marvelous keyboards. Soon, Rory’s lead comes into play which is absolutely spellbinding. And after the repeat chorus following it, again comes Rory’s lead which keeps on going on side by side and till the fading end. Absolutely a thrilling zenith of blues and rock combination!!!
Although, Rory Gallagher’s life was troubled with illnesses and premature death, his contribution to the rock world cannot be over emphasized. A truly multi-instrumentalist with amazing talent, he has given a lot to the blues rock world. “Edged in blue” is one of Rory’s finest products which keeps you at the perfect edge of blues and rock all the time!
Happy listening!!
Resources– Wikipedia.org, Allmusic.com
Edged in blue
I’ve cried enough tears to fill up an ocean,
Surely you see that my world’s been broken?
Here I am, where are you?
Help me please, pull me through.
Here I am, where are you?
All my days are edged in blue.
You made up your mind and nothing can change it,
You want to be free but I can’t rearrange it.
Here I am, where are you?
Tell me please, what to do,
Here I am, broken into,
All my days are edged in blue.
I’d go anywhere, if I thought you’d be there,
‘Cos I’ve made up my mind that’s where I belong.
I’ve traveled the world ‘cos I couldn’t be told,
Told by my heart that you really had gone.
I’d go anywhere, if I thought you’d be there,
‘Cos I’ve made up my mind that’s where I belong.
I’ve traveled the world ‘cos I couldn’t be told,
Told by my heart that you really had gone.
Yeah….
Our lines got crossed through all things unspoken.
A tangle of knots not easily opened,
Here I am, where are you?
Help me please, pull me through.
Here I am, where are you?
All my days are edged in blue.
Here I am, where are you?
Help me please, pull me through,
Here I am, where are you?
Can’t you see I’m edged in blue.
Ohhh…….
Ohhh…….
Lyrics link -https://www.lyrics.com/lyric/3286722/Rory+Gallagher/Edged+in+Blue
Video link- https://youtu.be/NTc5-yHUngM