Following on from the experimental 'A Different Beat' in 1999, Gary Moore returned to the blues for his first album of the new millennium. A repositioning of sorts much in the same way that 'Still Got The Blues' had been a decade earlier, it's now receiving its first ever vinyl release.
Gary Moore had worn many musical hats. A member of classic rock behemoths Thin Lizzy on and off, he’d dabbled in jazz crossover with Colosseum II, and carved out a solo career that touched on metal, and saw him scoring a number of hits in the pop charts. He'd also embraced his roots with the Celtic rock of ‘Wild Frontier’ in1987, however his heart truly lay elsewhere, and as the 1980s drew to a close, he returned to his first love; the blues.
Released in 1990 'Still Got the Blues', was a complete reinvention that gave the guitarist his greatest success, and save for a brief dalliance with electronic dance music, the style would remain his home for the rest of his career.
Released in 2001, 'Back to the Blues' followed the experimental period that had began with 1997's 'Dark Days in Paradise' and culminated on 1999's 'A Different Beat'. As the new millennium dawned, Moore, almost begrudgingly, according to the opening 'Enough of the Blues', came home; "I had enough of the blues, but the blues ain't had enough of me", he confessed. Kicking off with slide guitar, it's as primitive as it gets, and a reassertion of Gary's blues credentials.
As with 'Still Got the Blues', the album melds originals with a number of blues standards. The first of these, 'You Upset Me Baby', an upbeat swing number adds horns and Hammond organs, for a real authentic sound. There's also faithful takes on T-Bone Walker's 'Stormy Monday', which features some heart-wrenching soloing, and Johnny 'Guitar' Watson's 'Looking Back'.
Of the originals, the grooving 'Cold Black Night' is among the album's highlights, and it's not too much of a stretch to see this as a rewrite of 'Can't Help Myself' from 'A Different Beat'. 'Picture of the Moon' meanwhile carries with it 'Parisienne Walkways' vibes, while instrumental 'The Prophet' is a worthy follow-up to 'The Loner', and is achingly melancholic.
This later period of Moore's career is a fascinating one, and this long overdue 2LP vinyl release is a great reminder of the power he possessed in those unparalleled fingers right up until his final years.
'Back To The Blues' is available to order order now.
Released in 1990 'Still Got the Blues', was a complete reinvention that gave the guitarist his greatest success, and save for a brief dalliance with electronic dance music, the style would remain his home for the rest of his career.
Released in 2001, 'Back to the Blues' followed the experimental period that had began with 1997's 'Dark Days in Paradise' and culminated on 1999's 'A Different Beat'. As the new millennium dawned, Moore, almost begrudgingly, according to the opening 'Enough of the Blues', came home; "I had enough of the blues, but the blues ain't had enough of me", he confessed. Kicking off with slide guitar, it's as primitive as it gets, and a reassertion of Gary's blues credentials.
As with 'Still Got the Blues', the album melds originals with a number of blues standards. The first of these, 'You Upset Me Baby', an upbeat swing number adds horns and Hammond organs, for a real authentic sound. There's also faithful takes on T-Bone Walker's 'Stormy Monday', which features some heart-wrenching soloing, and Johnny 'Guitar' Watson's 'Looking Back'.
Of the originals, the grooving 'Cold Black Night' is among the album's highlights, and it's not too much of a stretch to see this as a rewrite of 'Can't Help Myself' from 'A Different Beat'. 'Picture of the Moon' meanwhile carries with it 'Parisienne Walkways' vibes, while instrumental 'The Prophet' is a worthy follow-up to 'The Loner', and is achingly melancholic.
This later period of Moore's career is a fascinating one, and this long overdue 2LP vinyl release is a great reminder of the power he possessed in those unparalleled fingers right up until his final years.
'Back To The Blues' is available to order order now.