Rory Gallagher
Top Priority

THE REVIEW

"Strike while the iron is hot!": This is what the executives at Chrysalis Records must have thought in the wake of the success of "Photo-Finish," with which the genius from Ballyshannon returned to the "power trio" of his beginnings, alongside the loyal McKenna and McAvoy in the rhythm section. For this reason, exactly one year later, in 1979, this Top Priority was officially released, a name proposed, in turn, by the record company to make the most of the magic moment of Rory and his bandmates.

From a stylistic point of view, this album doesn't differ much from the previous one, but the overall quality of the platter remains excellent: the start, in fact, is explosive with the compelling Hard Rock of "Follow Me," which would soon become one of Rory's major live hits.

This is followed by another intense track like "Philby," dedicated to the figure of the well-known British agent who lived during the 1930s and 1940s, Kim Philby, who later enlisted in the service of the then USSR. The track features a unique (but not too much) electric sitar, specifically a Coral, lent to him by none other than the illustrious Pete Townshend of The Who, with which Rory crafts a couple of fairly short but intense solos, as per his usual style.

"Wayward Child" is another fast-paced Hard Rock piece, as well as another track loved by his audience in its Live version. Similarly impactful is the duo "At The Depot" and "Just Hit Town," two equally fast tracks that this time decidedly nod to the dear old Rock 'N' Roll of Chuck Berry and his associates, whom Rory held in great admiration.

However, there is also room for excellent Rock/Blues with the enveloping "Keychain" (also listen to the Live version featured on "Stage Struck"), and especially with "Off The Handle," which is undoubtedly one of the true jewels of the album, where Rory's guitar takes on decidedly fiery characteristics with at least a couple of stunning solos reminiscent of some "Hard Blues" tracks by AC/DC from the "Bon Scott era," particularly "Night Prowler," to which this piece bears a structural resemblance.

But the crowning masterpiece is undoubtedly "Bad Penny," another masterful example of Hard Blues that literally oozes passion and good vibrations from every pore, with decidedly notable Southern Rock accents.

Finally, "Public Enemy No.1" closes the album, which in reality neither detracts from nor adds to another excellent Hard Rock album that would be followed by the already mentioned "Stage Struck" the following year. The 1980s would prove a difficult period for him, mainly from a health perspective (especially due to the plague of alcoholism, which would tragically claim his life on June 14, 1995), but artistically, it would yield two more excellent albums, "Jinx" in 1982 and "Defender" in 1987.

Lastly, it's worth noting the presence in the 2018 CD reissue of two more excellent tracks, "Hell Cat" (also included in "Stage Struck") and "The Watcher," both of which are worth listening to and enjoying.