The late Irish blues rocker Rory Gallagher would have been pleased to see the Chess logo embossed on the three-disc Blues, a box of rare, unissued, acoustic, and live recordings. Issued to mark what would have been his half-century as a recording artist, 90-percent of the material here is previously unreleased. The discs are divided thematically: Electric, Acoustic, and Live. The booklet is wonderfully annotated with an authoritative essay from journalist and music historian Jas Obrecht; it places Gallagher in his rightful historical place as an electric blues rock pioneer alongside admirers Eric Clapton, Johnny Winter, Jimi Hendrix, and Peter Green. The set opens with a raucous cover of Sonny Boy Williamson's "Don't Start Me Talkin'," an unissued cut from the sessions that begat the excellent 1982 offering Jinx. Gallagher is in full Chicago house-rocking mode with his wailing harmonica and nasty slide guitar, accompanied by pounding piano and a barely contained rhythm section shuffle. His songwriting is showcased to fine effect, too, with the slow-burning "Off the Handle" from a live BBC appearance in 1986, "Should've Learnt My Lesson," an outtake from the Deuce sessions in 1971 (a midtempo blues rocker steeped in the Celtic folk tradition), and an unhinged take of his "Bullfrog Blues" from a radio station appearance in 1972. Along the way, we get lean, mean covers of Tony Joe White's "As the Crow Flies," Green's "Leaving Town Blues," and two guest spots, "I'm Ready" with Muddy Waters in 1971, and "Drop Down Baby" with skiffle icon Lonnie Donegan from 1978. The second disc showcases Gallagher's considerable acoustic guitar playing and extremely effective singing, as well as his obsessions with Waters' slide playing and Jesse Fuller's and Big Bill Broonzy's rhythmically complex fingerpicking. Highlights include "Prison Blues" and Broonzy's "Bankers Blues" (both from the Blueprint sessions), the slide-tastic solo acoustic "Secret Agent" from a TV appearance in 1974, and a screaming solo take on John Lee Hooker's "Want Ad Blues" from a 1988 radio session. There are also several key originals, including the previously unissued "Whole Lot of People."

The first three tracks from the live volume are drawn from a 1982 concert, with Gallagher's wrangling readings of Sonny Boy Williamson's "When My Baby Left Me," Jerry West's "Nothing But the Devil" and Willie Dixon's "What in the World" - they're fiery, direct, improvisational, and raw as hell. Junior Wells' "Messin with the Kid," culled from a 1977 Sheffield concert rocks like the MC5, as does Sonny Thompson's "Tore Down" from another show. There are three Gallagher guest spots, including "Born Under a Bad Sign" with Jack Bruce from 1991, "Comin' Home Baby" with Chris Barber in 1989, and "You Upset Me" from Albert King's Live in 1975. All told, this box places Gallagher in his rightful place with his peers above, and as an influence cited by guitar slingers Brian May, Gary Moore, Johnny Marr, and Slash. Blues makes a final incontrovertible case for Gallagher's musical immortality.

Track List CD1 - Electric Blues:

01. Don't Start Me Talkin' (Unreleased track from the Jinx album sessions 1982)
02. Nothin' But The Devil (Unreleased track from the Against The Grain album sessions 1975)
03. Tore Down (Unreleased track from the Blueprint album sessions 1973)
04. Off The Handle (Unreleased session Paul Jones Show BBC Radio 1986)
05. I Could've Had Religion (Unreleased WNCR Cleveland radio session from 1972)
06. As the Crow Flies (Unreleased track from Tattoo album sessions 1973)
07. A Million Miles Away (Unreleased BBC Radio 1 Session 1973)
08. Should've Learnt My Lesson (Outtake from Deuce album sessions 1971)
09. Leaving Town Blues (Tribute track from Peter Green 'Rattlesnake Guitar' 1994)
10. Drop Down Baby (Rory guest guitar on Lonnie Donegan's "Puttin' On The Style" album 1978
11. I'm Ready (Guest guitarist on Muddy Waters 'London Sessions' album 1971)
12. Bullfrog Blues (Unreleased WNCR Cleveland radio session from 1972)

Total Time: 01:04:14

Track List CD2 - Acoustic Blues:

01. Who's That Coming (Acoustic outtake from Tattoo album sessions 1973)
02. Should've Learnt My Lesson (Acoustic outtake from Deuce album sessions 1971)
03. Prison Blues (Unreleased track from Blueprint album sessions 1973)
04. Secret Agent (Unreleased acoustic version from RTE Irish TV 1976)
05. Blow Wind Blow (Unreleased WNCR Cleveland radio session from 1972)
06. Bankers Blues (Outtake from the Blueprint album sessions 1973)
07. Whole Lot Of People (Acoustic outtake from Deuce album sessions 1971)
08. Loanshark Blues (Unreleased acoustic version from German TV 1987)
09. Pistol Slapper Blues (Unreleased acoustic version from Irish TV 1976)
10. Can't Be Satisfied (Unreleased Radio FFN session from 1992)
11. Want Ad Blues (Unreleased RTE Radio Two Dave Fanning session 1988)
12. Walkin' Blues (Unreleased acoustic version from RTE Irish TV 1987)

Total Time: 00:47:07

Track List CD3 - Live Blues:

01. When My Baby She Left Me (Unreleased track from Glasgow Apollo concert 1982)
02. Nothin' But The Devil (Unreleased track from Glasgow Apollo concert 1982)
03. What In The World (Unreleased track from Glasgow Apollo concert 1982)
04. I Wonder Who (Unreleased live track from late 1980s)
05. Messin' With The Kid (Unreleased track from Sheffield City Hall concert 1977)
06. Tore Down (Unreleased track from Newcastle City Hall concert 1977)
07. Garbage Man Blues (Unreleased track from Sheffield City Hall concert 1977)
08. All Around Man (Unreleased track from BBC OGWT Special 1976)
09. Born Under A Bad Sign (Unreleased track from Rockpalast 1991 w/ Jack Bruce)
10. You Upset Me (Unreleased guest performance from Albert King album 'Live' 1975)
11. Comin' Home Baby (Unreleased track from 1989 concert with Chris Barber Band)
12. Rory Talking Blues (Interview track of Rory talking about the blues)

Total Time: 01:15:19