Taste was an Irish rock band formed in the 1960s and is most noted for the fact that musician Rory Gallagher was an original member.

History

Taste (originally "The Taste") was formed in Cork, Ireland in August 1966 as a trio consisting of Rory Gallagher on guitars & vocals, Eric Kitteringham on bass, and Norman Damery on drums. In their early years Taste toured in Hamburg and Ireland before becoming regulars at Maritime Hotel, an R&B club in Belfast, Northern Ireland.

In 1968 Taste began performing in the UK where the original lineup split up. The new lineup formed with Richard McCracken on bass and John Wilson on drums. The new Taste moved permanently to London where they signed with the record label Polydor. While with Polydor, Taste began touring the United States and Canada with the British supergroup Blind Faith. In 1969 Taste released their first two studio recordings, the self-titled "Taste" first and "On The Boards" soon following, the latter showing Rory and the band's jazz influences with Gallagher playing saxophone on numerous tracks. In November, the band, along with Yes, opened for Cream at Cream's farewell concerts.

Perhaps their most notable performance came in 1970 as part of the Isle of Wight Festival, joining such notable musicians as Jimi Hendrix and The Who. They were well-received by those in attendance, ultimately being called back for five encores. Later the same year Taste would once more tour Europe before performing their last show on New Year's Eve in Belfast. In 1970 Taste split leaving frontman Rory Gallagher to pursue his solo career.

Some years after the band's untimely split, earlier recordings featuring the original lineup emerged. These are rough and ready run throughs, some of which would have had appeared on the first Taste album. Fascinating for fans, not least because the quality of Gallagher's guitar playing is not evident. Where his fretwork would appear on the later version, the solo slots here are filled by his harmonica playing.

A musical homage to Taste and Rory Gallagher was penned by NYC-based Irish-American rock band Black 47 in their song "Rory" -- released on 1998's "Green Suede Shoes" album (Mercury Records).

Lineup

Aug 1966 - May 1968

Rory Gallagher - Guitars, vocals, saxophone, harmonica

Eric Kitteringham - Bass

Norman Damery - Drums

May 1968 - Oct 1970

Rory Gallagher - Guitars, vocals, saxophone, harmonica

Richard McCracken - Bass

John Wilson - Drums

Discography

Albums

• Taste - Polydor, 1969
• On the Boards - Polydor, 1970
• Live Taste - Polydor, 1971
• Live at the Isle of Wight - Polydor, 1972
• Taste First - BASF, 1972 (Recorded in 1967 - also released as In the Beginning (1974) and Take It Easy Baby (1976))

Singles

• "Blister on the Moon" / "Born on the Wrong Side of Time" - Major Minor, 1968 (Edited for Polydor Records in 1969)
• "Born on the Wrong Side of Time" / "Same Old Story" - Polydor, 1969
• "What's Going On" / "Born on the Wrong Side of Time" + "Blister on the Moon" - Polydor, 1969
• "Wee Wee Baby" / "You've Got to Play" - BASF, 1972 (Exclusive to Germany)
• "What's Going On" / "Railway and Gun" - Polydor
• "Blister on the Moon" + "Sugar Mama" / "Catfish" + " "On the Boards" - Polydor, 1982
• "Born on the Wrong Side of Time" / "Same Old Story" - Polydor (Exclusive to Italy)
• "Born on the Wrong Side of Time" / "Same Old Story" - Polydor (Exclusive to Japan)
• "If I Don't Sing I'll Cry / "I'll Remember" - Polydor (Exclusive to Spain)

Compilations

• The Best of Taste - Polydor, 1994

DVDs

• Message To Love - 1995 (Isle of Wight Festival recordings of "Sinner Boy" and "Gamblin' Blues" only.)

References

• The New Musical Express Book of Rock, 1975, Star Books, ISBN 0 352 300744

External links

• [65028] Taste website
• Timeline Timeline of Rory Gallagher's career detailing Taste's life.
• [65029] Rory Gallagher life Time Line