Customer Reviews

Best of the Blues

5 star:		(18)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Gary Moore?! Isn't he the heavy metal guitar shedder who used to play with Thin Lizzy?
Well, yes, but Irishman Gary Moore also occationally responds to the calling of the blues. He put out his almost-classic almost-pure-blues album "Still Got The Blues" in 1990, and had a big hit in Europe with the title track, but he is still not particularly well known in North America. And that's a shame, really, 'cause Moore, who hails from Van Morrison's hometown of Belfast, is a very talented, versatile guitarist, a good composer, and an even better interpreter of songs.

This 2-disc set is a collection of Moore's high-octane early-90s blues material...it opens with his excellent, fiery cover of Jimmy Rogers' "Walking By Myself", and other highlights include the driving "Moving On", the funky boogie of "Stop Messin' Around", a fine rendition of West side blues king Otis Rush's "All Your Love (I Need Loving)", and of course the well-crafted original "Still Got The Blues For You", which includes an immediately recognizable main single-string riff as well as a fine melody. And the classic "Parisienne Walkways" is here as well, although it is more rock ballad than blues...Moore's bell-clear Gibson Les Paul doesn't need the backing of a string orchestra, but the song itself is too good for little things like that to spoil the mood.

The second disc is actually a 77-minute live album, and a really good one at that.
Opening with a thumping "Caldonia" which features both Albert Collins and Albert King, it duplicates many of the songs on disc one, but it is actually a little bit stronger, providing a more cohesive listen and a little bit more grit as well.
An energetic "You Don't Love Me" is really good, as is "Walking By Myself", a muscular "Still Got The Blues", and a ten-minute "Stormy Monday", again featuring Albert "King" Nelson.

The annotation is poor, but the music is generally good, although 31 tracks are six or eight too many. Diehards will want this set for the live disc, though, and more casual listeners can pick up "Best Of The Blues" instead of buying all of Moore's Virgin albums. There's plenty of good stuff here.

Gary Moore is a flawless musician that unfortunately has not gotten the recognition he most definitely deserves. This Album like all his work will have you jumping out of your seat. The bonus live CD is priceless. The Albert King, Albert Collins and BB King Duets are unreal. The guitars are screaming!!!!! Probably music's best kept secret besides John Sykes!!!!! BUY IT, BUY IT, BUY IT now!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Fans of Gary Moore will most likely already own his individual albums, which renders this set pretty much obsolete except for collection purposes. For the unitiated, this album is a must.
Other than Peter Green in the late 60's, no other "white boy blues" guitarist can match Moore's technical prowess and sheer energy; well Johnny Winter does, so lets add "British/UK" to the adjective list.
True this is more of a blues-rock affair, but let's not split hairs. From straight out blues, to boogie, to blues-rock 'n' roll, Moore can do it all. So if you enjoy the music of performers like Savoy Brown, Johnny Winter, Ten Years After, and early Fleetwood Mac you will thoroughly enjoy this album guaranteed. Gary Moore doesn't just "honk" on bobo, he literally blows bobo away!

This is a double-cd, the first cd being a studio set compiled from previous albums. It is good, even though I've heard the tracks on other albums.
The second cd however is, in my opinion, a bit special.All LIVE tracks, teamed up with blues legends like Albert King, B.B King and last and certainly not least THE ICEMAN, Albert Collins. Wow this stuff is dreamy. From the first track "Caldonia" right through to the last track "Midnight Blues" this will not disapppoint.

Without a doubt,Gary Moore is the most shreddin guitarist on the planet! This album is the finest in guitar expression. He makes that old 58 Les Paul wail with incredible feeling. Moore gets the sound that every guitar player only dreams of coming close to! If you want to groove to the blues, this album is truly the absolute best rockin blues ever! Long live Gary Moore...King of the Blues!

Yes, Gary Moore fans, the blues best of CD you have been waiting patiently for has finally arrived... and it's NOT a CD-R! Virgin has put out a whopper too, as the CD times in at just under 70 minutes and, if you are fast, the first pressing includes a 77 minute bonus disc of absolutely [fascinating] live stuff! The material on the regular CD is all previously released from the After Hours, Ballad & Blues 1982-94, Blues Alive, Blues for Greeny, and Still Got the Blues albums offered by Virgin during his popularity heyday. "Still Got the Blues" is in the better full version while both "Story of the Blues" and "Need Your Love So Bad" are the single edits. My one gripe is I wish they'd used the remaining eight minutes of space to include the long version of "The Loner". Then again, that would have made it a six-star CD! Buy it, and BUY IT NOW!!! Don't miss the first pressing live bonus CD! One listen and it's like a 77 minute full cardio workout of air guitaring! It's not cheap, but it's well worth it!

This CD is a great compilation of Gary Moore's best. I'm probably going to have to buy another to hold back for when this one wears out.

If you're not familiar with Gary Moore, this 2 CD album is a great place to start.

The first CD is a compilation of material culled from other Gary Moore albums and includes duets with Albert Collins, Albert King and B.B. King. The second CD is a live set with more guest appearances by Albert Collins, Albert King and B.B. King.

Great stuff.

If you like blues guitar, Gary Moore is a guitar player you should know about. This CD is a great introduction to Moore's work.

For those of you who weren't around in the 1970s, you might also want to check out the 70s band Thin Lizzy, which featured Gary Moore on guitar.

Added note to my original review: Gary Moore died a few months ago. RIP Gary. Your music will live on.

Great Chicago style blues. Simple but powerful. Much closer to the original American blues roots than a lot of the English blues. (Although I love that too.)

Gary Moore is one of the greatest Blue's guitarists in the world,
what a shame he is no longer with us but with all the great CDs available
we will be able to listen to him whenever we want and I plan to do that.
I can play this over and over and never get tired of his music,
I plan to collect all of his CDs. If you love Blues no one could ever be disappointed in this CD.