FOR a long time, it wasn’t that easy to get hold of Rory Gallagher records, and now, it seems like there’s a new double CD budget collection or reissue campaign coming out every couple of years. Arguably, the only downside to this The Rory Gallagher Collection (which is basically a repackaged version of his Essential 2-CD series) is that it ignores his work with Taste, the awesome trio Gallagher fronted before becoming a solo artiste.

This Irishman, who died in 1995, has, quite accurately, been described by critics as a “one-man Led Zeppelin.” Over the years, he has also been championed by Johnny Marr (“I picked up a guitar because of him”) right to Slash, The Edge and Joe Bonamassa.

What better time than now to find out more about him. For the new generation of fans and his loyal following, the good news is that there is no shortage of Gallagher albums on the racks.

This year, Sony embarked on a reissue campaign to celebrate 40 years since the start of Gallagher’s solo career. From vinyl to CD digipaks (original artwork, liner notes), Gallagher’s catalogue has been given the respect it deserves.

However, newcomers to Gallagher’s work might need a one-stop, budget friendly collection before they dig deeper.

This 28-track compilation, despite not being compiled chronologically, is a decent start. You’ll soon forget its shortcomings as Gallagher storms his way through a string of gems. Bad Penny always gets me. So does A Million Miles Away. The live material shows what an explosive talent he was. Solo-ing, riffing, even the voice sounds underrated.

However, for the long haul, I would recommend you to go beyond compilations and check out classic album like Deuce and Tattoo.