Top Priority

1979 studio album by Rory Gallagher

Top Priority

Studio album by

Rory Gallagher

Released| September 1979
Recorded| March–April 1979
Studio| Dierks Studios, Cologne, Germany
Genre|

* Hard rock
* blues rock

Length| 46:45
Label| Chrysalis
Producer| Rory Gallagher, Alan O'Duffy
Rory Gallagher chronology
| Photo-Finish
(1978)  | Top Priority
(1979)  | Stage Struck
(1980)

|
|

Professional ratingsReview scores

Source| Rating
Allmusic| [1]

Top Priority is Rory Gallagher's eighth studio album and tenth album overall. It was his fourth and final studio album for Chrysalis Records both in the UK and USA. The album was the second with his revised power trio band. Like the previous album Photo-Finish, Top Priority is a return to hard rock. The ballads, acoustic and folk influences that were seen on albums such as Calling Card are replaced by more conventional but powerful blues rock.[2]

The album title reflects the pressure that Gallagher often felt regarding the business end of making music. After the release of Photo-Finish Gallagher's band had a successful tour of the United States that resulted in good press both in the states and at home. Chrysalis was eager to keep the momentum going and encouraged Rory to release another studio album quickly, telling him they would make it their "Top Priority" and actively promote it. To remind the executives of their promise Gallagher used the phrase for the album title.

The song "Philby" was based on Kim Philby who was a famous Cold War British double agent for the Soviets. The song is an example of Gallagher's fascination with men on the outside of society. For the guitar solo Gallagher utilized a Coral electric sitar that he borrowed from The Who's Pete Townshend to give a feeling of the Eastern Bloc.[3]

## Track listing

[edit]

All tracks composed by Rory Gallagher.

Side one

1. "Follow Me" – 4:40
2. "Philby" – 3:51
3. "Wayward Child" – 3:31
4. "Key Chain" – 4:09
5. "At the Depot" – 2:56

Side two

1. "Bad Penny" – 4:03
2. "Just Hit Town" – 3:37
3. "Off the Handle" – 5:36
4. "Public Enemy No. 1" – 3:46

re-released CD bonus track

1. "Nothing But The Devil" (Capitol Radio broadcast - 18 March 1980) – 3:41

remastered CD bonus track

1. "Hell Cat" – 4:50
2. "The Watcher" – 5:46

## Personnel

[edit]

* Rory Gallagher – vocals, guitars, dulcimer, harmonica, electric sitar
* Gerry McAvoy – bass guitar
* Ted McKenna – drums

## References

[edit]

1. ^ Horowitz, Hal (2011). "Top Priority - Rory Gallagher | AllMusic". allmusic.com. Retrieved 20 August 2011.
2. ^ Horowitz, Hal (2011). "Top Priority - Rory Gallagher | AllMusic". allmusic.com. Retrieved 11 June 2013.
3. ^ Gallagher, Donal. "Top Priority Liner Notes". rorygallagher.com. rorygallagher.com. Retrieved 11 June 2013.

## External links

[edit]

* Rory Gallagher's Official Site

* v
* t
* e

Rory Gallagher

* Gerry McAvoy
* Wilgar Campbell
* Rod de'Ath
* Lou Martin
* Ted McKenna
* Brendan O'Neill
* Mark Feltham
* David Levy
* Jim Leverton
* Richard Newman
* John Cooke

Studio albums|

* Rory Gallagher
* Deuce
* Blueprint
* Tattoo
* Against the Grain
* Calling Card
* Photo-Finish
* Top Priority
* Jinx
* Defender
* Fresh Evidence

Live albums|

* Live in Europe
* Irish Tour '74
* Stage Struck

Posthumous albums|

* Meeting with the G-Man
* Live at Montreux
* Notes from San Francisco

Compilations|

* BBC Sessions
* Wheels Within Wheels
* Blues

Box sets|

* The G-Man Bootleg Series Vol.1

Videos|

* What's Going on – Taste Live at the Isle of Wight
* Ghost Blues – The Story of Rory Gallagher
* Live at Montreux
* Live at Rockpalast
* Live in Cork
* Irish Tour '74

Taste albums|

* Taste
* On the Boards
* Live Taste
* Live at the Isle of Wight

Related articles|

* Rory Gallagher discography
* Taste

Authority control databases |

* MusicBrainz release group

|

This 1970s rock album–related article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it.

|

* v
* t
* e

*[v]: View this template
*[t]: Discuss this template
*[e]: Edit this template