1987

DEFENDER - LP All tracks composed by Rory Gallagher except noted.

Side one

  1. "Kickback City" - 4:49
  2. "Loanshark Blues" - 4:27
  3. "Continental Op" - 4:33
  4. "I Ain't No Saint" - 4:58
  5. "Failsafe Day" - 4:23

Side two

  1. "Road to Hell" - 5:32
  2. "Doing Time" - 4:06
  3. "Smear Campaign" - 4:47
  4. "Don't Start Me Talkin'" (Sonny Boy Williamson II) - 3:35
  5. "Seven Days" - 5:14

CD bonus tracks, also included as a bonus 7inch single on some issues of the LP

  1. "Seems to Me" - 4:52 (Bonus)
  2. "No Peace for the Wicked" - 4:09 (Bonus)

Initial Release: July 1st, 1987 / Remastered release 2018

Record Label: UMC

Featuring:

Rory Gallagher (Electric & Acoustic Guitars, Vocals & Harmonica)

Gerry McAvoy (Bass)

Brendan O’Neill (Drums)

Mark Feltham (Harmonica on ‘Don’t Start Me Talkin’)

Lou Martin (Piano on ‘Seven Days)

Bob Andrews (Piano on ‘Don’t Start Me Talkin’)

John Cooke (Other Keyboards)

WHAT DONAL GALLAGHER AN JON LEVIN THINK ABOUT THIS ALBUM Rory gave a lot of technical details about instruments he used.

By far the most underrated of Rory's albums. Wrongly of course, as this return to business after five years of absence is excellent! 1,663,444 listens on Spotify and 495,902 for ''Loanshark Blues'', the most listened to track. ''Ain't No Saint'' comes next with 200,000 and ''Kickback City'' closes the march with nearly 159,000... ;-(

NOTES ABOUT THIS ALBUM

First time of his career that Rory let not less than five year without any new studio album! We can notice the return of Lou Martin one of his old Bandmate (on 'seven Days' only) and the add of Mark Feltham, a great harmonist, John Cooke who played with Rory live on stage is also assimilated for this album credited as 'Other Keyboards'. On an unique song ('Don't Start Me Talkin'), Bob Andrews remplaced Lou on the piano.

On the cover of the album, these strange light coming from the inside of a red American car (?) reminds me 'Christine' the novel of Stephen King...

KICKBACK CITY - what a great song! A big Hard Rock to prove us, the fans, that Rory is still able to put a big power in some of his songs. Angry and sometimes desperate words ('This town had cut me to the bone - You're lost before you start - Feel I'm going down slow') and in the middle a great guitar solo that any fan should love.

LOANSHARK BLUES - Back to Blues with a sublime tempo. A story, not very optimistic, of a man who has 'One foot in the grave' ... ;-(

CONTINENTAL OP - Rory loved Dashiel Hammet and this song take the title of one of his novels. Gerry McAvoy brillant bass guitar above all that. Almost a perfection.

I AIN'T NO SAINT - Another great Blues and Another great presence of Gerry on bass.

FAILSAFE DAY - 

ROAD TO HELL - Again really pessimist words that probably leads to is most darkest song ever :... ' No chances left - The walls falling down on me - Broken wishes, Broken dreams - The flames getting higher on me - Too Late to save me' DO YOU WANT SOME MORE?...

DOING TIME - Great musical song but, again, so sad words! Great parts of slide on his Gretsch Corvette

SMEAR CAMPAIN - Political opinion about dirty politicians lies ? I am afraid my English is to poor to completely understand

DON'T START ME TALKIN' - First cover of a Sonny Boy Williamson, one of Blues Rory's references. What an inspired Blues!

SEEMS TO ME - 'Feel six feet under, feel like a drowning man... Must admit it, guess may race is done'. LET US BREATH A LITTLE RORY!

NO PEACE FOR THE WICKED - One of my favorite of the album. Another great guitar solo (as usual, should I say!)

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