Albums: Calling Card, 1976
See also: Stage Struck, 1980 and Check Shirt Wizard, 2020
Rory Gallagher shook things up a little when it came to recording the Calling Card album, which saw its release on 24 October 1976, after being recorded that summer. Rory had only had someone else produce albums for him while he was in Taste – he had taken on the job himself for his solo albums up until now.
“For this album he was keen to find a producer who had an affinity with traditional rock values but was open to new ideas.” Writes Dónal Gallagher, in the Calling Card article on Rory’s official website, “On his previous release, ‘Against The Grain’, Rory had started to shift away from the blues/rock style he’d made his own, creating an album with a harder sound. He was keen this progression should continue but needed to find a producer who shared his convictions and could help create the sound he wanted.”
Enter Roger Glover, bassist for Deep Purple. Rory and his band had already supported Deep Purple on tour and Glover had booked eight weeks at the Musicland Studios in Munich, Germany, for his own work. Rory bought four weeks off him and work began. The band that Rory took into the studio consisted of his by then long-time line-up of Gerry McAvoy on bass, Rod de’Ath on drums and Lou Martin on piano and keyboards. Glover noted that the band appeared very dedicated to Rory. This was the final album he recorded with this particular line-up. And from a personal perspective, what a line-up it was!
Gerry noted that Rory attempted to make things a little more relaxed in the studio. Bringing Roger Glover in was the first time Rory had worked with a ‘name’ producer, so things were a little different to how they had previously worked. Rory had a very strong sense of humour, and as the studio sessions proved, not averse to the odd gag. While recording ‘Barley and Grape Rag’, he said to Lou to take a turn on vocals to try something different. Lou was duly sent to the microphone set up in a bathroom, which Rory liked the acoustics of, and started singing, to the high amusement of everyone in the recording booth. Gerry himself became a ‘victim’. Rory decided they would have a day off and they went to a local bar, enjoying a drink. Then Rory announced there was something he wanted to try, and they had to go back to the studio. He wanted to get the bass off of an organ or keyboard there, and as bassist, Gerry was given the job. He found himself lying on the floor, pressing the various pedals attempting to get it right, when the sound of laughter let him know he had been had!
Rory was always serious about his craft, but he didn’t come in with screeds of paper when introducing a new song, as Gerry mentioned recently on the podcast The Strange Brew. Rory would simply start playing it on guitar, and Gerry, who played guitar before taking up bass, could see what Rory was playing and transfer it to bass, with the drummer joining in. Rory also wrote according to what each band member could bring in, each musician being different.
Calling Card is seen as the most eclectic of Rory’s solo albums, as he started to head in a harder rock direction. However, listen closely and the blues really aren’t far behind. ‘Moonchild’, the third song on the album, is probably one of his most iconic. From the start, with Rory’s rocking guitar intro and Rod’s heavy drums, it’s a song that makes a statement from the start.
"You are a moonchild and pretty soon child
If I can.
Just give me a sign and I'll show you my plan."
The song lyrics are about, as Rory said himself in an interview, a mythical woman he made up. It almost seems as if she has a folkloric quality, perhaps like one of the fae, with mentions of ‘just give me a sign’. Anyone who knows even just a little bit of Celtic mythology could tell you that the fae-folk or fairies, are an enigmatic lot. They form a large part of Irish folk culture, with the Sidhe and Tuatha Dé Danaan. It is of course mere speculation on my part, but it is a thought that perhaps there was a touch of this inspiring Rory when he wrote ‘Moonchild’.
It’s song that sears itself on your mind and falls into the category of earworm, but fortunately an earworm that you really want to have. The fact that the line-up of Rory, with Gerry, Rod and Lou had been together for a few years by this point, with countless performances beneath their belt shines through. They are very tight and gel together brilliantly. You can hear what each musician brings to the table, Rory leading with his guitar solo, Lou echoing the riff on keyboards providing a strong background and adding to the heavy edge of the song. Gerry’s prowess as a bassist shines through beautifully, giving it a further edge. And Rod’s drums are phenomenal – I have said it many times, but I’ll say it again – Rod is one of the best drummers in rock and blues and deserves to be recognised as such.
‘Moonchild’ is one of those songs that Rory could raise the roof off the house with when played live – if it was possible to raise it any higher by time he started playing the opening riff!
Today's post marks what would have been Rory's 74th birthday, and what a song to remember him by!
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