Taste – TASTE****

Blister On The Moon/Leaving Blues/Sugar Mama/Hail/Born On The Wrong Side Of Time/Dual Carriageway Pain/ Same Old Story/Catfish/I’m Moving On

Self titled debut album from the Irish blues rock trio Taste that launched guitarist Rory Gallagher, who would enjoy a successful solo career in the early 1970s. (US:133)

“The first 'taste' of Rory Gallagher given to the world. And, indeed, the focus really is on him and his guitar prowess. Most of the material showcased on their debut sticks to what was the ‘white’ sound of the times during the late 60s - bluesy jams like Catfish and the proto-hard rock of Blister On The Moon.”

“Taste was an electrifying band that somehow managed to avoid most of the typical 'white-guys-trying-too-hard' blues rock trappings to deliver several potent albums. Their immediate and intense style was more akin to Hendrix than just about anybody else - but with a driving, unified band sound.”

“This is a good hard rock blues album, Gallagher's guitar playing is top notch and he could write some good songs too. Born On The Wrong Side Of Time has a great riff and equally good lyrics and hook line making it a classic. Sugar Mama is a blues classic that all the legends would have been proud of. Overall its a consistent album, and a razor sharp debut, that launched Rory to stardom as one of the greatest blues players of the 1970s, with his distinctive sound and catchy riffing.”

“About half of it is traditional blues covers, and the other half is penned by Gallagher himself. And all of it is highly entertaining and delivered with enough ferocity. Rory doesn't go treading the blues with reverence - he plays it as dirty, loud and as fast as possible.”

“Here in the first album by Taste there is Rory Gallagher's masterful guitar playing, not only electric but acoustic and bottleneck. Six out of the nine tracks are written by Rory who was only nineteen at the time. Once you have heard this Taste album you will want to hear the others. Rory Gallagher was not only a great guitarist but was equally at home with harmonica and saxophone.”

“Mostly very heavy, blues driven power-trio hard rock, and reasonably consistent as well.”