The Platinum Collection - Gary Moore Album Review

Gary Moore Photo: link

Album Review

Gary Moore is real rock royalty. From his time with Skid Row, Gary Moore Band to Thin Lizzy, Moore was regarded as a finger-busting rock guitarist. These CDs will dispel that myth. Along with luminaries Eric Clapton, Albert Collins, BBKing, Peter Green, Carlos Santana, Paul Kossoff and Jimmy Page, he possesses an immaculate 'touch'. In 1993, ex- Cream bassist Jack Bruce said," Gary Moore should be regarded as a national treasure." Albert King said of him in 1990, "My new favourite guitar player, the best in Europe." Former Thin Lizzy band mate Phil Lynott went a step further in 1978, "Gary Moore is the best rock guitarist in the world." Yes, of course he can turn an axe into flames, but he, unlike like many of his contemporaries, has discipline. At no time, does Moore display gratuitous exhibitionism. Everything he does is measured, even during his more frenetic moments, which have been many in the studio and on stage. Thrown - in, is style and great technique.

Singles stopped charting in 1995, the last one being a cover of Fleetwood Mac's classic Need Your Love So Bad . Despite his reputation, commercially, it was the 80's and 90's's that sealed his status. 1979's debut single Parisienne Walkways , opens CD 1, eventually leading to the head-banging ear-splitting solo on Free's Wishing Well.

Spread over 3 discs and 45 tracks, there's a huge wealth of his expansive repertoire, whether they're covers, collaborations or originals.

Effectively divided into three parts, Rock, Blues and Live - we get rasping singles Over The Hills And Far Away, Empty Rooms, Wild Frontier (CD1). For the remainder, we're left with CD 2, the Blues catalogue featuring the spellbinding addition of Albert King on Oh Pretty Woman, and BBKing on a brassed-up Since I Met You Baby, with the gentle I Loved Another Woman providing the highlight. Finally, Live, (presumably an entire concert from Detroit) is 1 hour 16 minutes of Moore at his inimitable best, proving he's not just a studio-based technician. It closes where it began, with an extraordinary Parisienne Walkways - check the hanging note in the mid -section: mind-blowing!

Switching Rock-Blues codes comes effortlessly, though at heart, he remains a Bluesman: the evidence is all here on his most comprehensive compilation to date.

Feast yourself on 3 hours of class.

This collection is also available as a download.

Elly Roberts