Albums, Guest appearances

Joe O'Donnell - Gaodhal's Vision

(Polydor Super 2383465, UK, 1977)

Side 1:
The Vision
The Exodus
Caravan
The Battle and Retreat Underground
Tara

Side 2:
The Fair
The House of Hostages
For Trades and Hospitality
House of Warriors
The Great Banqueting Hall
Poets and Storytellers

Guitars: Rory Gallagher (Lead on Poets and Storytellers)
Bass: Bill Smith
Drums:Theodore Thunder
Keyboards: David Lennox
Flutes: Jon Field
Violin, Violectra 8-string violins: Joe O'Donnell
Conductor: Fiachra French
Producer: Jon Field
Engineers: Tom Newman and Tom Nordon
Recorded at: The Argonaut and Decca Studios
Executive Producer: Donal Gallagher
All compositions by Joe O'Donnell.

Mark J. Prendergast (Irish rock: roots, personalities, directions. Dublin,
The O'Brien Press, 1987, p. 89-92 (p. 90-91 are completely illustrated))
comments: "Still on crossovers, that year [1977] also produced the first
symphonic Celtic concept album in Joe O'Donnell's Gaodhal's Vision... The
work spans classical, jazz and rock, and charts the journey of the
Milesians from Egypt to Spain and thence to Ireland. The orchestral nature
of the music conveys the atmosphere of the history, with flutes, violins
and percussion forming the basis of the structure. Unfortunately, the
overall effect is 'pomp' rock, with nice solos and instrumentation doing
little to ease the bombast. The only redeeming feature of this album is
the final cut, "Poets and Storytellers", which develops into something
very special when Rory Gallagher applies a searing, fast-fretted guitar
sound to the mix."

---

Gallagher's Blues - Rory Gallagher Home Page