•
Rating: I have always considered Rory Gallagher one of the most underrated guitarists in the history of Rock. Often, when speaking with people who, nonetheless, are fans of the same musical genres as I am, none of them know the talent of the Irish six-stringer. And when they ask me who Rory Gallagher is, I always respond by telling the (true or alleged) anecdote in which someone asks Jimi Hendrix how it feels to be the best guitarist in the world. Hendrix's response is eloquent: "I don't know, you should ask Rory Gallagher". Personally, I discovered Gallagher thanks to DeBaser and particularly to Trix, who made me listen to "Wonder Who" and "Who's That Coming" (present on the album), and from there, my love for this Irish guitarist was born (and I will always be grateful to Trix).
"Tattoo" is the fourth studio album by Rory Gallagher, who had embarked on a solo career after his experience with Taste, a power trio styled after the great super-groups like Cream and the Jimi Hendrix Experience. The album follows the successful releases of the excellent "Deuce" from 1971 and "Blueprint" from 1973 (the same year as the release of "Tattoo"). The album is produced with the collaboration of excellent musicians, such as Gerry McAvoy on bass, Lou Martini on keyboards, and Rod de'Ath on drums.
While Rory Gallagher's first albums are predominantly blues-oriented, the same cannot be said of "Tattoo", in which the group and Gallagher himself prefer to explore various musical realms, almost as if to demonstrate that the album should contain the essence of the European blues man's technical-musical repertoire. And so here are how the 9 songs present themselves (two will be added in the remastered edition of 2000: the acoustic country "Tucson, Arizona" and the crazy boogie-woogie "Just A Little Bit"): opening the album is the classic blues rock of "Tatto'd Lady", in which, however, there is never missing that touch of melancholy a bit typical of Gallagher's style. The same style is maintained in "Admit It" and "Sleep On A Clothes-Line", in which Rory Gallagher shows off musical talent and breathtaking solos in succession, with absolute ease. The first "novelties" are represented by "Cradle Rock" and "They Don't Make Them Like You Anymore": the former is an energetic Hard Rock that borders on early Heavy Metal. Such "heaviness" had not yet been seen in Rory Gallagher's albums. Heaviness that is synonymous with energy. In the latter, however, the group tries to delve into jazz territories, with excellent results. There is also room for the most classic, pure, and hard blues, as in the acoustic "20:20 Vision" and the already mentioned "Who's That Coming", complete with slide riffs on the resonator guitar (commonly known as Dobro).
A special mention, on the other hand, deserves (in my opinion) the best song on the album and surely one of the most moving "ballads" in the history of Rock: "A Million Miles Away". Melancholy takes over in a hotel bar where there are lots of people having fun, drinking, and listening to piano music. All this does not affect me because I would like to be a million miles away from that place, and during the solo, an oniric journey begins, a detachment of the mind from the body and from the place where I am. And when the solo ends, we realize that the journey was long, so much so that the bar has emptied, the pianist has gone home, and the bartender is so tired that he's fallen asleep in a corner, but why I am still here, I still do not know. I would just like to be a million miles away from here.
Tracklist and Lyrics
01 Tattoo'd Lady (04:41)
Tattoo'd Lady,
Bearded baby,
They're my family.
When I was lonely,
Something told me, where,
I could always be.
Where I could,
Wish for pennies,
If we had any.
You'd meet me down,
At the shooting gallery.
Yes I'm a,
Fair ground baby.
Wonder what made me,
Fall for the pearly queen.
I spent my youth,
Under canvas roof,
As I roamed from town to town.
I'm not fooling,
When I say I got no schoolin',
Never like the class bell sound.
From the caravan,
I hear the fairground band,
Sounding good as they can be.
You know I can't be found,
But if you look around,
Tomorrow we'll be gone by dawn.
Alright...
Now hear it on the loud speaker say,
The fire eater is a real fine sight to see,
Yeah he's a death cheater,
Some kind of central heater,
Be sure to save a seat for me.
Let me tell you 'bout wicked Sadie,
She's no baby,
The law came,
And tried to close her sideshow down.
But soon she had the D.A. cheering,
The police chief wearing,
Her garter for a crown.
I spent my youth,
Under canvas roof,
As I roamed from town to town.
I'm not fooling,
When I say I got no schoolin',
Never like the school bell sound.
From the caravan,
I hear the fairground band,
Sounding good as they can be.
You know I can't be found,
But if you look around,
Tomorrow we'll be gone by dawn.
Yeahh...
Tattoo'd Lady,
Bearded baby,
They're my family.
When I was lonely,
Something told me, where,
I could always be.
Where I could,
Wish for pennies,
If we had any.
You'd meet me down,
At the shooting gallery.
Tattoo'd lady........
02 Cradle Rock (06:17)
If I was a cradle then you'd let me rock
If I was a pony then you'd let me trot
If I was the atom then you'd split me into three
But when I want to see you, baby
How come you lock your door on me?
If I was a baby you wouldn't let me fall
If I was an outlaw you wouldn't have me caught
If I was a tiger you wouldn't have me caged
If I was somebody else you would act your age
You'll miss out if you leave me out of your day and night
I will try to make you see and hear what I got to say
It's all about me and you, alright
If I was a blind man then you'd make me see
If I was a deaf man you'd give me hears to hear
If I was a lame man you'd give me legs to walk
But if you were true to me, baby
You would listen when I talk
If I was a cradle then you'd let me rock
If I was a pony then you'd let me trot
If I was the atom then you'd split me into three
But when I want to see you, baby
How come you lock your door on me?
03 20:20 Vision (04:04)
People talk about her like she was a diamond on the shelf.
People talk about her like she was a diamond on the shelf.
Well, I got 20/20 vision, I can see that for myself.
I got a high steppin' baby, you know she's really about as good as gold.
I got a high steppin' baby, you know she's really good as gold.
She can make my Grandpa, feel like he's six years old.
I got 20/20 vision, and that's all I need.
Enough to keep my baby here by me.
Oooh...whooo...
You know my little baby, she buzz around like a bumble bee.
Well, you know my little baby, she buzz like a bumble bee.
And I won't complain if she comes around here and stings me.
Sting me!
I got 20/20 vision, and that's all I need.
Enough to keep my baby good company.
Yeah...oooh...whooo...
You know my little baby, I'd recognize her anywhere.
If I seen her in a crowd, I'd recognize her anywhere.
She can even make my Grandpa, get up out of his wheelchair.
All the boys hang around her, she says she don't love no one else.
All the boys hang around, she says she don't love no one else.
Well, I got 20/20 vision, I can see that for myself.
I got 20/20 vision, I can see that for myself.
Take me home...
04 They Don't Make Them Like You Anymore (04:07)
They don't make them like you anymore,
That's for sure,
And when they made you,
They made sure they threw away the mold.
It comes as no surprise to me,
That I want to be in your vicinity.
If I stand close to you,
I'm not sure if I'm really there.
With my feet on the ground,
But my head it's lost in the air,
Oh, how I wish you could see,
That I'd love to be in your vicinity.
Where would I go?
What would I do if you should run from me?
How does it show were I to lose?
Would you explain to me?
There's something growing,
There's something showing,
There's something won't let me be.
Yeahhh..
Where would I go?
What would I do if you should run from me?
How does it show were I to lose?
Would you explain to me?
There's something growing,
There's something showing,
There's something won't let me be.
They don't make them like you anymore,
That's for sure,
And when they made you,
They made sure they threw away the mold.
Oh, how I wish you could see,
I want to be in your vicinity.
Well I've heard that one day,
Everything comes to him that waits,
Well that may be so,
But you know it may be too late,
Oh, how I'd love for you to see,
That I want to be in you vicinity.
05 Livin' Like a Trucker (04:24)
Well I've been livin' like a trucker,
For a month or more.
Well, I'm steaming like a diesel,
That cannot feel it's throat.
Well, I'm closing all the windows,
Keeping out the rain.
But, I'm not complaining,
In fact I'd do it all again.
I'm a ramblin' man,
Cannot stop a travlin' man.
I've been singing for my supper,
But I never get to eat.
Well I queue up at the diner.
But I cannot find a seat.
Well, I've been livin' like a gypsy,
Feeling like a king.
Really feel like singin'..you know,
That's the mood I'm in.
I'm a ramblin' man,
Some kind of travlin' man.
You'll never catch me working 9 to 5,
That's for some people, but me I wanna ride.
All around the world, to the planets end,
I've seen some places, but more I ain't seen yet.
Yeah....
Lose an hour, gain an hour,
Somewhere on a map.
Flying through the time zone,
Another plane to catch.
Why I've always gotta see what's on the other side,
So I pack my bag.
Get on my way.
And catch my train and ride.
I've been livin' like a hawker,
In days both hot and cold.
Well, I'm sleeping if I have to,
Before the wagons roll.
Well, I've been hopin' and I've been prayin,
Since I was last here.
Tell your mama not to worry,
Come on baby, get on up here.
I'm a ramblin' man,
Some kind of travlin' man.
Well I've been livin' like a trucker,
For a month or more.
Well, I'm steaming like a diesel,
That cannot feel it's throat.
Well, I'm closing all the windows,
Keeping out the rain.
But, you won't hear me complaining,
In fact I'd do it all again.
I'm a travlin' man,
Some kind of ramblin' man.
Yes, I'd do it all again.
I'd do it all again, baby.
Travlin' man, travlin' man.
Yeah....
07 Who's That Coming (07:15)
Tell me, who's that coming?
Not walking, but running.
Cool as the mountain breeze.
Well, that song she's humming,
Could make my guitar start strumming.
Automatically.
Tell me, who's that speaking?
To make my heart start beating.
Really wanna make it pound.
Well, those words she's saying,
Could make even the devil start praying.
On his knees down upon the ground.
She's always had just what it took,
To read me like I was an open book.
There's something burning deep inside of me,
And she's the only one who can set me free.
Yeah....awhhh..
Tell me, who's that coming?
Not hitching or thumbing.
Walking straight at me.
Well, I sure am grinning,
Yeah, she's the one..and,
I guess she'll always be.
Tell me, who's that coming?
Not walking, but running.
Cool as the mountain breeze.
Well, that song she's humming,
Could make my guitar start strumming.
Automatically.
Yeah...
She's always had just what it took,
To read me like I was an open book.
There's something burning deep inside of me,
And she's the only one who can set me free.
Awhhh..that's right.
Who's that coming?
Who's that coming here?
Who's that coming?
Who's that coming?
Who's that coming?
Is that you?
Is that you?
Well, tell me, is that you?
Tell me, is that you?
Who's that coming?
Who's that coming?
08 A Million Miles Away (06:57)
This hotel bar is full of people, the piano man is really laying it down
The old bartender is a high as a steeple, so why tonight should I wear a frown? (Yes, I'm a...)
Million miles away, I'm a million miles away
I'm sailing like a driftwood on a windy bay
Why ask how I feel how does it look to you?
I feel hook, line and sinker, I lost my captain and my crew
I'm standing on the landing, there's no one there but me
That's where you'll find me, looking out on the deep blue sea
This hotel bar is full of people, the piano man is really laying it down
The old bartender is a high as steeple, so why tonight should I wear a frown?
The joint is jumping all around me and my mood is really not in style
Right now the blues want to surround me but I'll break out after a while
Well, I'm a million miles away, I'm a million miles away
I'm sailing like a driftwood on a windy bay
Why ask how I feel, well, how does it look to you?
I feel hook line and sinker, I lost my captain and my crew
I'm standing on the landing and there's no one there but me
That's where you'll find me, looking out on the deep blue see
There's a song on the lips of everybody, there's a smile all around the room
There's conversation overflowing, so why must I sit here in the gloom?
This hotel bar lost all its people, the piano man has caught the last bus home
The old bartender is asleep in the corner, so why must I still be here, I don't know
Well, I'm a million miles away, I'm a million miles away
I'm sailing like a driftwood on a windy bay
09 Admit It (04:23)
Admit it baby, you've gone and broke your word
Now ain't it crazy, I believed every word I've heard
Imagine baby, we were just like one
But that's it baby, I believe you've had your fun
I'm mad when I'm mad and I'm mad with you right now
I'm mad when I'm mad and I'm mad with you right now
Yeah, someone told me time and time again
To watch you closely, but I didn't heed a word they said
Now something matter, but I know in time
You'll go your way and walk right out of my mind
Who cooled your goose, who took the wind out of your sails?
Who cooled your goose, who took the wind out of your sails?
You blew it baby, now look what you've done
You made me fall down, now you wanna run
Supposin' baby, we had just now met
Well, I guess I'd fall again, so why should I have some regrets?
Just a fool for you baby, you know I just can't say no
Just a fool for you baby, you know I just can't say no
Loading comments slowly
