Personnel: Rory Gallagher (vocals, guitar, harmonica); Lou Martin (keyboards); Rod De'Ath (drums, percussion).
Audio Remasterer: Tony Arnold .
Audio Remixer: Tony Arnold .
Recording information: His Masters Wheels, San Francis; His Masters Wheels, San Francisco.
Photographers: Michael Putland; Mick Rock .
Gallagher's second album for Chrysalis -- and last with his longstanding trio of Lou Martin (keyboards), Rod De'Ath (drums) and Gerry McAvoy (bass) -- was a milestone in his career. Although Calling Card was produced by Deep Purple bassist Roger Glover and not surprisingly contained some of his most powerfully driving rockers, tracks like the acoustic "Barley & Grape Rag" and the jazzy, soulful, finger snapping title cut -- a perennial concert favorite -- found the Irish rocker not only exploring other musical paths, but also caught him on one of his most consistent songwriting streaks ever. Even "Do You Read Me," the muscular opening track, is a remarkably stripped-down affair that adds subtle synths to the rugged blues rock that was Gallagher's claim to fame. While "Moonchild," "Country Mile," and "Secret Agent" displayed catchy hooks, engaging riffs, and raging guitar work (the latter adds a touch of Deep Purple's Jon Lord-styled organ to the proceedings), it's the elegant ballad "I'll Admit You're Gone" that shifts the guitarist into calmer waters and proves his melodic talent was just as cutting on quieter tunes. And it's a crime that the gorgeous "Edged in Blue," certainly one of the artist's saddest and most beautiful pop melodies, was overlooked in his catalog. The 1999 reissue sports track-by-track and first person liner notes from Gallagher's brother Donal, crisp remastered sound, and two additional songs not included on previous versions, one of which, "Public Enemy (B-Girl Version)," later appeared on the Photo-Finish album in an inferior performance to this. Arguably Rory Gallagher's finest studio effort, it was among his best and most varied batch of songs, and it is a perfect place for the curious to start their collection as well as an essential disc showing Gallagher at the peak of his powers. ~ Hal Horowitz
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Reviews
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You probably should buy all of Gallagher's albums up to and including the recent (and phenomenal) BBC SESSIONS, but, hey, I might be a little biased. But if you had to limit yourself to one, clearly CALLING CARD is it. His songwriting was never better, nor his guitar playing, but there's an added x factor: you could call it chemistry, or kismet, or mojo. WhatEVER that elliptical, intangible magic that all too rarely occurs when the tape is rolling might be termed, this record is drenched with it. From the opening drum-and-Telecaster intro of 'Do You Read Me' to the down-home warmth of set closer 'Barley and Grape Rag', regardless of whether it's a rave-up ('Moonchild', 'Secret Agent Man') or a ballad ('Edged in Blue', the gorgeous title track), soul and heart suffuses these songs; you can't not respond to them. There is an infectious joy and depth of feeling in these tracks that does what hardly any of today's high-tech, digitally-perfect recordings can even attempt: they make you happy to be a human being and grateful to be alive. A gorgeous, luminous album - buy this and become a Gallagher fan for life.
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