Rating: 
Summary: If you dig Rory...
Review: ...just get it. It's obviously dated. But that's half of the charm. Rory's was amazing. And this is a beautiful document. A time capsule. It just plain rocks. You'll love it. - db
Rating:
Summary: Simply THE BEST
Review: Any one who has ever picked up a guitar, or played "air guitar", or or dreamed in their wildest fantasies to be a rock star needs to own this DVD. I was first introduced to Rory Gallagher by his performances on Don Kirchner's ROCK CONCERT in the 1970's.
This film-to-DVD is not of the highest quality, but....it's the music and performance that matters, so techies STAY AWAY. If you get it, you'll get this DVD, if not, you are not one of the Illuminati....let the CRADLE ROCK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Rating:
Summary: Raw and magical!
Review: Anyone who's a big fan of blues-rock or guitar-hero rock of the sixties and seventies should get a huge thrill out of this gem. It begins with scenes of the sea thrusting into the Irish coast and then makes its way into a spellbound onstage version of 'Walk On Hot Coals'. Rory Gallagher was definitely the most under-rated blues-rock guitarist of all time; this DVD is proof of it. His style and tone are both blustery and unrefined, but natural and brown-toned as well. His band of himself on vocal and guitar (mainly a strat player), Gerry McAvoy (bass), Lou Martin (piano), and Rod de'Ath (drums), is loud and raw blues-rock heaven. The backstage interviews are interesting too, as they show how electrified and personable he really was. It was obvious how much he loved playing live by the huge smile on his face and the way he interacted with the crowd. The scenes of Belfast and the rough old Irish nightclubs and venues just add to the raw beauty of the music. I'll watch, and listen, to this one many times over, I'm sure.
Rating:
Summary: RORY GREAT AS ALWAYS
Review: BUY IT, GREAT DVD FROM RORY AND BAND. DONAL THANKS FOR RELEASING THIS VERY SPECIAL MEMORY. I HOPE THIS IS THE FIRST DVD RELEASED WITH RORY. MY FAVORITE GUITARIST OF ALL TIME. THANKS AGAIN!
Rating: 
Summary: The editing is terrible! Awesome gig though......
Review: I love Rory Gallagher. The picture quality is great, the sound is great, but the way in which the programme has been edited is frustrating.Every time the camera should include the guitar in shot all we see is Rorys face! As a musician this winds me up immensely. I want to see him play and see his brilliant technique. This is an awesome gig, only problem is you cant see it! 1st class in all other respects, but for me the DVD gets only 2 stars. Surely I'm not the only person with this major gripe?
Rating:
Summary: RARE RORY
Review: I'm from the US and it is quite obvious from the UK-centered reviews that this dvd is held under greater scrutiny, probably because folks in britain were fortunate enough to be able to see this INCREDIBLE guitarist in his prime while, for whatever reason, Rory Gallagher remains in this country anyway, an afterthought when it comes to classic rock(?), and an unheared-of genius (much like Roy Buchanan). Do yourself a favor and BUY THIS DVD! If you have come this far in your couriosity about Rory Gallagher, then you have reached the point at which you CAN make up your mind! Rory Gallagher is AWSOME and you will not be able to deny this after watching this dvd. Yes the footage is dated, but the HEART (IRISH HEART) is there!
Rating:
Summary: MEMORIES ARE MADE OF THIS.
Review: Irish Tour the film.What can one say.This film depicts what we have been listening to these past 28 years on the vinyl record double album then titled Irish Tour '74.To be honest if you come from Cork City,like I do it makes the film that little bit more sentimental.Viewing old footage of Cork City and remembering these shops when I was younger just like Rory,it brings back lots of fond memories indeed.The film is fantastic in so far as we get to go backstage with the band in the dressing rooms,tuning the guitar for Rory,the old bottles of Guinness being drunk,and the band hanging out with their old buddies in Cork.We see Rory and Donal walking the streets of Belfast in the height of the troubles.Probably what stands out for me really is the great relationship two brothers shared.It must have been some buzz for both Rory as the performer and Donal as manager to successfully steer his career from these early,almost primitive days in 1974 to what he finally achieved before his sad and untimely death in 1995.It's obvious they had a special relationship.The concert footage is also a great insight into the Ireland of that particular time.It's hard to explain to people outside of Ireland,but what the Gallagher brothers(the original Gallagher Brothers) were doing back in those days was the start of something huge.Rory has influnced U2 along the way,among others.This film is a must have for any self respecting music fan,let alone Rory fan.Do yourself a favour,go out and buy it before it's all sold out.
Rating:
Summary: Nice one Rory let's have another one
Review: Just got the DVD after waiting 28 years. .... I went to see him for the first time in the Carlton Cinema, O'Connell st, Dublin in 74, so I have always associated this particular album with this time period. So, to finally see this on DVD, after all this time, threw me right back to my long-haired days. I know the quality could be better but it is '74 after all. If you are a real fan, you have to buy it, but there are no surprises cause you know he's the best. Same shirt, same unpretentious way, same old story ... deh deh deh deh, deh deh.
Rating:
Summary: 5 stars... but should have been better !!
Review: Let me first say I've been a BIG Rory fan since 1973.Luckily, I saw him play about a dozen times. The absolute best live music I ever heard in my life were those 4 shows at the Bottom Line in NYC; where I had a seat right next to the stage about 3 feet from Rory. I wish to God someone had filmed that !! Anyway, ANY film of Rory playing will show a supreme musician and be more interesting than 99% of the garbage out now. Irish Tour 74 looks like it was shot on a limited budget and has quirky editing... perhaps it is intended to be that way. I also wish that there were more cameras employed to show different views ( from the audience, overhead, etc. ). My biggest "complaint" is using parts of songs from different shows edited together. It breaks up the continuity of the music for me and is a distraction. I have to agree I'm disappointed with not showing Rory's fingers flying up and down the fretboard, especially on the GREAT, GREAT end solo to "Tatooed Lady". I keep thinking to myself I could have made a movie Rory's fans would have liked much better. Having said that... it's still a very good portrait of Rory, his bandmates, slices of Ireland and of a time that is gone forever.
Rating:
Summary: A Legend but...
Review: No doubt the man was a genius as this dvd shows but this dvd has some problems: video quality is dodgy ranging from passable to poor. The sound also has serious problems: weird left and right fading and a general dated muddy sound quality. Despite the fact that it was remastered in 5.1, I don't hear it. To compound things, we don't get entire full performances rather edited ones. I was hoping this disc would have the entire performances without all the backstage musings/footage. If you want to hear the real show, buy the cd instead and skip this dvd.
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