Tattoo is the fifth album released by Rory Gallagher. It demonstrated Gallagher's eclectic range of musical influences starting with the blues and adding elements from jazz, folk, and country. Tattoo showcased the skill of Gallagher and his band across a number of genres from Delta and Chicago blues, the jazz-influenced "They Don't Make Them Like You Anymore" and blues-rock tracks such as "Tattoo'd Lady". According to his brother, Gallagher was in a "prolific and confident mood" when he recorded it. The album showcased Gallagher's writing ability resulting in several songs that would go on to become staples of his live act. Tattoo'd Lady reflects Gallagher's love for the fairground life and its similarities to life on the road. "Cradle Rock" was inspired by the happy coincidence that Gallagher "rocked literally all his life" having been born at the "Rock Hospital" in Ballyshannon, Ireland. "Cradle Rock" was also covered by Joe Bonamassa as the first track on his debut album A New Day Yesterday. Tattoo illustrates Gallagher's proficiency with all manner of guitar playing from acoustic to electric, various types of slide guitar, and mandolin. On the song "They Don't Make Them Like You Anymore" Rory used the bouzouki of Greek virtuoso Manolis Chiotis. Rory was a big fan of the Greek virtuoso, and as a tribute played "Perasmenes mou agapes" as an intro to the above-mentioned song.

Gallagher's work ethic was in high gear as he somehow found time to write nine more songs in the midst of non-stop touring for his second album released in 1973. Even more astounding is that far from sounding fatigued or burnt out, his performance here is loose and impassioned, and the tunes are some of the best of his career. Lou Martin's keyboards are better integrated into the band, and drummer Rod de'Ath swings and burns with easy confidence. The double whammy of the album's two crunching leadoff tracks, "Tattoo'd Lady" and "Cradle Rock" illustrate just how comfortable Gallagher is with his backing group, and the smooth-rolling unplugged guitar and harmonica of "20-20 Vision" proves that the blues rocker is a more than adequate Delta/folk musician. Better still is the acoustic slide intro to "Who's that Comin'" that effortlessly and discretely eases its way into a Chicago styled, mid-tempo, electric attack. "A Million Miles Away" pushes the envelope even further with a slow, greasy swamp groove against which Gallagher picks clipped, staccato notes over a well-oiled rhythm section, thick Hammond organ overdubbed with piano from Martin, and even a multi-tracked sax section from the guitarist. The 2000 reissue adds "Tuscon, Arizona" an unusual acoustic waltz-time country Link Wray cover, and a seemingly unrehearsed driving version of the blues standard "Just a Little Bit" that runs almost eight minutes, and is interesting for about half that. Short but informational track-by-track liner notes from Gallagher's brother Donal and crisp remastered sound makes this an essential purchase for established fans and an excellent place to start for new Rory Gallagher listeners.



Track List:

01. Tattoo'd Lady [4:41]
02. Cradle Rock [6:16]
03. 20:20 Vision [4:03]
04. They Don't Make Them Like You Anymore [4:05]
05. Livin' Like A Trucker [4:21]
06. Sleep On A Clothes-Line [5:16]
07. Who's That Coming [7:13]
08. A Million Miles Away [6:56]
09. Admit It [4:22]
10. Tuscon, Arizona [3:53]

Personnel:
Rory Gallagher - Vocals, Guitars, Mandolin, Saxes and Harmonica
Gerry McAvoy - Bass
Lou Martin - Keyboards, Accordion
Rod De'Ath - Drums, Percussion