Live & On Song

Skid Row (Gary Moore) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (April 3, 2006)
• Original Release Date: 2006
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Hux Records
• ASIN: B000EU1MZI
• Average Customer Review: 3.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #317,985 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. New Places, Old Faces

2. Misdemeanour Dream Felicity

3. Saturday Morning Man

4. Mervyn Aldridge

5. Christian Blues Brother

6. Felicity

7. Unco-Op Showband Blues

Editorial Reviews

Skid Row was formed in Ireland in 1967 by bassist & songwriter Brush Shiels. The band also featured Phil Lynott on vocals, the 17 year old Gary Moore on guitar and Noel Bridgeman on drums. Phil Lynott left after recording the band's debut single, and went on to form Thin Lizzy. The band continued as a trio, with Gary Moore, Brush Shiels & Noel Bridgeman. Eventually, Gary Moore also left, and went on to become one of rock music's most acclaimed guitarists. Skid Row recorded two ultra-rare singles in 1969. These were only ever released in Ireland, on the independent Song Records label. Phil Lynott was the vocalist on the A side of that first single. It is his earliest and rarest recording. The B side was sung by Gary Moore, who also handled vocal duties on the A side of the second single. All 4 sides of both singles are now released here on CD for the first time. Also included is the group's powerful live show, recorded in London by the BBC in 1971. This recording captured the band at the peak of their improvisational powers as a concert act. From psychedelic-influenced beginnings, the classic Skid Row sound developed as a combination of breezy country ballads, cream-like heavy blues, angular King Crimson-ish high-volume prog rock and an overriding fascination in finding a Brubeck/Coltrane influenced, rock-based fusion entirely their own. Hux.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Rare, Worthy Material From Flawed Sources, May 24, 2006

By 

317 East 32nd (Toledo, OH USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Live & On Song (Audio CD)

I read a few comments about this disc on overseas message boards prior to its U.S. release, and they weren't altogether flattering. Still, the prospect of hearing the original Skid Row in live performance meant that, for me, this was a "must" purchase.

The studio single sides don't sound all that bad, though they were taken directly from vinyl. It's nice to hear early versions of "Felicity" and "Saturday Morning Man;" they're much more folky, and laid-back than the later album versions. In fact, a couple of the studio sides have a vibe not all that far removed from America recordings like "Tin Man" and "Ventura Highway."

Unfortunately, the best vinyl source available actually had a SKIP (on two consecutive revolutions) in the song "Misdemeanour Dream Felicity." That is to say, the CD doesn't skip, but the record used to make it did... I know the single is ultra-rare, but that's pretty raw!

Skid Row was recorded live twice for BBC broadcasts. One has been lost, and the other is presented here. Sound quality is fair/acceptable. But that doesn't really matter because the performance is heavy and furious. "Christian Blues Brother," after getting off to a ferocious start, goes on for a total of 13:39 and I should warn you that a full eleven minutes of it is drum solo. Fortumately, it's an excellent drum solo; it's nearly right up there with Ian Paice's solos in Deep Purple.

The band really stretches out on a very uptempo version of "Felicity," and parts of it - especially during the final seven minutes - are incredibly heavy; even through the hazy old tape (or is it an ancient bootleged vinyl source?) you can hear how powerful (and loud) Skid Row must have been in person. The disc ends with a thunderous, stomping (albeit severely edited) live version of "Un Co-Up Showband Blues" which clocks in at a mere 2:51.

Insert features excellent liner notes (increasing my knowledge of the band twofold) and a few delightful rare photos.

If, like me, you own everything else this band released and were wondering if there was anything of merit left in the vaults, this is definitely a treasure. On the other hand, if you're looking for an introduction to the Irish Skid Row, this may not be the best place to start.

Could easily have been a four-star disc if better-quality sources had been available to the compilers, but this is very rare stuff, and it's still great music worth hearing.