Album Reviews by EDF
After his lacklustre 1989 album, very few people would have guessed what Gary Moore’s next move was going to be. Leaving the rock / metal arena behind, Moore turned to the blues and released the excellent STILL GOT THE BLUES in 1990. Not by coincidence, the opening track is called MOVING ON and explains precisely what his feelings were about this new venture. Moore sounds fresher and happier here and on this reissue are five extra tracks not included on the original release.
Two years later saw the follow up, AFTER HOURS basically revisiting more of the same themes. Out of the singles released from those two albums, COLD DAY IN HELL from AFTER HOURS was the biggest single here, reaching No. 24 in 1992. This reissue includes an extra five tracks.
Moore then attempted a new project that unfortunately did not spark the general record buying public’s imagination. B.B.M. featured Moore with Cream’s Jack Bruce and Ginger Baker attempting to relive the blues on the 1994 release AROUND THE NEXT DREAM. It’s unfortunate that while most people were gearing up for Brit pop, this trio worked hard on there project for which a couple of live tracks are included on this reissue, giving those who missed them a chance to catch their live performances. Needless to say. B.B.M. did not last long and that meant that Moore got an even heavier dose of the blues and then some.
The following year saw Moore’s next solo project BLUES FOR GREENY catching some people off guard, as no one would have suspected an album full of legendary Peter Green songs. Moore seemed to really sink his teeth into this album, as failure would only harm his reputation. This is not a bad covers album at all. If anything, it reminded people how good Peter Green was and luckily for blues fans, Peter Green returned from his self-imposed exile a few years later.
Where to next for Moore? Only one thing left to do and that is to go full circle and go out rocking. The 1997 DARK DAYS IN PARADISE has a different feel compared to his earlier 1980’s rock album. At times sounding restrained, his guitar solos are now part of the songs instead of being merely the highlight of the track. The songs are atmospheric, the lyrics thought provoking and vocals more certain than ever.
This collection of mid-priced remastered, reissues from Virgin is a timely reminder how good Gary Moore is and while a lot of pop rock acts seem to follow a set formula but end up having no real substance. While some of Moore’s rock output is questionable, he sounds more complete when he’s dealing with the blues. If I were to pick two albums then it would have to be WILD FRONTIER and STILL GOT THE BLUES.
STILL GOT THE BLUES 
AFTER HOURS 
B.B.M AROUND THE NEXT DREAM 
BLUES FOR GREENY
DARK DAYS IN PARADISE
