Rory Gallagher – Blueprint (LP)

In mid ’72 bassist Gerry McAvoy’s flat-mate, drummer Rod de’Ath, deputised for the late Wilgar Campbell and following Wilgar’s departure Rod became a permanent replacement in Rory’s band. After six years of working with the trio format, Rory looked to embellish his sound by introducing keyboards into the line-up. Rod who had been a member of blues band ‘Killing Floor’, recommended to Rory their piano player Lou Martin who ironically hailed from Belfast. The line-up clicked and remained together for some five years this recording being the Blueprint. Originally released in early ’73, the cover features the circuit board of a Stramp ‘power baby’ amplifier which was custom designed for Rory in Hamburg. It was specifically designed to be compact enough to fit into the small luggage compartment of a VW Beetle car, a particular Rory favourite.