#9 Crest Of A Wave

 

Album: Deuce, 1971

Somehow, in his busy calendar of 1971, that saw him launch his solo career, record his debut solo album, record with his hero Muddy Waters and tour just about everywhere, before ending the year playing to ecstatic, music starved crowds in Belfast for the New Year, Rory Gallagher found time to record his second solo album.

That autumn, he went to Tangerine Studios, London, which was famously established by producer Joe Meek, though they had somewhat fallen out of ‘fashion’ by this point, primarily used by reggae artists. Recording there was also hampered in daytime hours by the fact there was a bingo hall next door, with the sound of the bingo caller wafting through the walls. Rory, being a bit of a nighthawk, resolved this by recording in the wee small hours, alongside bassist Gerry McAvoy and drummer Wilgar Campbell. Part of that was also because the band was still on the road, so would return to the studio after gigs. Rory also produced the album Deuce, released on November 28, 1971, and going on to achieve something of a legendary status amongst the likes of Bill Hicks and Johnny Marr.

There are several fan favourites on Deuce, from ‘I’m Not Awake Yet’, ‘Whole Lotta People’, ‘In Your Town’ and ‘Don’t Know Where I’m Going’. ‘Crest Of A Wave’ also joins this list. It is so popular that on the BBC’s Rock Goes To College, for which Rory recorded a show in January 1979, years after Deuce’s release, one highly enthusiastic fan loudly and repeatedly calls on Rory to play ‘Crest Of A Wave’.

 "Well, they say it's a lie, a joke

That you are living
But you know one thing they don't
You won't give in

'Cause you're like a cat, chasin' its tail
Makes a million circles but you're gonna fail
Look down you just don't understand

Well, you can ride on the crest of a wave
If that's where you want to be
But does the look on your face
Mean you're really feeling happy?"

 It doesn’t particularly follow the narrative style songs Rory did well. Instead, the lyrics appear to focus on just the dilemma of just floating along, not making any particular effort to pick up and do something, and indecisiveness. There is the nastiness of people who talk behind your back, perhaps the reaction of people who feel threatened by the individual who walks their own path in life, who’s choices are sneered at, and whose failure is greatly anticipated. You could keep them quiet by fitting into the norms, but at the end of the day, as Rory sings, does it lead to true happiness? It’s a choice – you can go with the flow – the crest of the wave of the title, or you can break out of it and make things happen.

It’s a situation many of us face in life. Perhaps one that hits us more at a very early age, and peer pressure, the compulsion to conform can be a difficult burden when you’re trying to figure out just where you want to go in life. Do you keep the world happy by being a square peg in a round hole? Sticking with the flow when you want to do something else can be the source of a lot of unhappiness. Ultimately it is only a choice that a person can make for themself, though it’s safe to say the philosophy of the song – would you really be happy? – is sound advice. If you look at Rory’s own life story, breaking out to become Ireland’s first true rock icon, it’s safe to say he opted to go against the grain. He often said that music was his life. As the Glasgow sage, Sir Billy Connolly, put it – don’t be beige!

Musically, the song is made up of the three components of bass, guitar, and drums, but it sounds monstrous. Rory’s slide playing has come in for particular praise, taking the listener on a ride, perhaps breaking against that wave sung about in the song.

Deuce has often been mooted as a good entry point to Rory’s music. It is worth checking out. Given that Bill Hicks wore out his copy from playing it so much that he had to buy a new one, it perhaps should also come with the warning of being mildly addictive!