Taste (Irish band)
| Company type | Band |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 1966 in Cork, Ireland |
| Founder | Rory Gallagher |
| Defunct | 1970 (original lineup) |
| Headquarters | Cork , Ireland |
| Products | Music albums, live performances |
Taste is a blues rock group from Ireland, established in 1966 in Cork by guitarist and songwriter Rory Gallagher. Gallagher departed from the band in 1970.
History
Initially named "The Taste," the band was formed in Cork in August 1966 as a trio comprising Rory Gallagher (guitar and vocals), Eric Kitteringham (bass), and Norman Damery (drums). Before gaining prominence, they toured both Hamburg and Ireland, eventually becoming regular performers at Club Rado, an R&B venue located in Belfast, during the summer of 1967.
The original ensemble dissolved in 1968, leading to a revamped lineup featuring Richard McCracken on bass and John Wilson handling drums. This new formation moved to London and secured a contract with Polydor. In November 1968, Taste served as the opening act for Cream’s farewell shows alongside Yes. They subsequently toured North America as support for the British supergroup Blind Faith.
Taste produced two studio albums: their debut Taste released in April 1969, followed by On the Boards in early 1970. The latter album incorporated jazz elements, with Gallagher contributing saxophone on two tracks.
The band appeared at the renowned Isle of Wight Festival 1970, performing alongside legendary artists such as Jimi Hendrix and The Who. Their energetic set was extensively recorded despite initial plans for limited filming.
Following a European tour later that year, Taste disbanded amid conflicts involving management and disputes over creative authority—Gallagher was the exclusive songwriter while other members desired equal acknowledgment. Their final performance took place on New Year's Eve in Belfast. Shortly after, Wilson and McCracken formed the band 'Stud', while Gallagher embarked on a solo career. Post-split, recordings featuring the original lineup emerged.
In 1996, McCracken and Wilson revived Taste with guitarist and vocalist Sam Davidson stepping in for Gallagher; Albert Mills replaced McCracken in 2010. From 2017 onward, the group toured under the name "Little Taste of Rory feat. John Wilson," with Alan Niblock on bass. After Wilson retired due to health issues in 2018, Davidson continued performing as "Sam Davidson's TASTE," accompanied by Mills on bass and Lyn McMullan on drums.
Members
- Current members
- Sam Davidson – guitar, vocals
- Albert Mills – bass
- Lyn McMullan – drums
- Former members
- Rory Gallagher – guitar, vocals, saxophone, harmonica
- Norman Damery – drums
- Eric Kitteringham – bass
- John Wilson – drums
- Richard McCracken – bass
- Alan Niblock – bass
Timeline
Line-ups
| Years | Lineup |
|---|---|
| 1966–1968 |
|
| 1968–1970 |
|
| 1970–1996 |
|
| 1996–2010 |
|
| 2010–2017 |
|
| 2017–2018 |
|
| 2018–present |
|
Studio albums
| Album title | Release information | Highest chart rankings | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GER | UK | US | ||
| Taste |
|
— | — | 133 |
| On the Boards |
|
33 | 18 | — |
| Wall to Wall |
|
— | — | — |
Live albums
| Album title | Release information | Highest chart rankings | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AUS | BEL FL | BEL WA | FRA | GER | SPA | UK | ||
| Live Taste |
|
35 | — | — | — | 38 | — | 14 |
| Live at the Isle of Wight |
|
— | 191 | 88 | 181 | 37 | 91 | 41 |
| In Concert |
|
— | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Compilation albums
| Album title | Release information | Highest chart rankings | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| BEL FL | GER | NL | ||
| Pop History Vol. 9 |
|
— | — | — |
| The Best of Taste |
|
— | — | — |
| I'll Remember |
|
118 | 39 | 38 |
Singles
- "Blister on the Moon" / "Born on the Wrong Side of Time" – UK, April 1968[a]
- "Born on the Wrong Side of Time" / "Same Old Story" – UK/EU/JPN, 1969
- "What's Going On" / "Railway and Gun" – EU, 1970[b]
- "If I Don't Sing I'll Cry" / "I'll Remember" – Spain, 1970
- "Wee Wee Baby" / "You've Got to Play" – Germany, 1972
- "Blister on the Moon" / "Sugar Mama" / "Catfish" / "On the Boards" – UK, 1982
notes:
- a - reissued in 1970 with A and B sides swapped.
- b - paired with "Morning Sun" in certain territories.
DVDs
- Message To Love – released in 1995 (features Isle of Wight Festival performances from 1970 including "Sinner Boy" and "Gamblin' Blues")
- What's Going On: Live At The Isle Of Wight – released in 2015
Bibliography
- The New Musical Express Book of Rock, Star Books, 1975, ISBN 0-352-30074-4
- Cork Rock: From Rory Gallagher To The Sultans Of Ping, Mark McAvoy, Mercier Press (2009), ISBN 9781856356558