Rory Gallagher, Blue Oyster Cult

Sunday is a great day to dig into the music archives. On the way to the ski slopes, I pumped a Rory Gallagher's "Live in Montreux" through the car stereo. Released last year, this live concert showcases the legendary Irish blues and rock guitarist at his finest. The recording, which sounds thin at first but acquires more sonic depth as the live mix improves, is a terriffic starting point for anyone who wants an introduction to Gallagher's music. With his perfectly destroyed Stratocaster and whiskey-infused voice, Gallagher plays like a man possessed on "Laundromat," "Shin Kicker," and his masterpiece, "Philby." He plays the blues straight on "Tore Down," and tosses us an acoustic track, "Out On the Western Plain." Gallagher's life was cut short, but the man left behind a legacy of music that is still inspiring young guitarists.

Anyone who claims to enjoy hard rock needs some Blue Öyster Cult in their collection. Start with their third studio album, "Secret Treaties," which contains the amazing tracks "ME-262" and "Astronomy." These two tracks defined hard rock in the 70's, fusing a heavy-metal guitar onslaught with comic book and sci-fi lyrics. Jump forward to their next studio album, "Agents of Fortune," and you'll get their biggest hit "Don't Fear the Reaper." I recommend staying away from the many compilations that are avaialble and instead grabbing their first 5 records, which is an amazing body of work with very little filler material. If you haven't heard "Last Days of May," "Cities On Flame," "Hot Rails to Hell," "Dominance and Submission," or "Harvestor of Eyes," then you are not a true rock fan.