Gary Moore
How Blue Can You Get

The question is how blue you can get, and if the answer is quite blue then it is a good likelihood that this album is for you. Mascot and their sub-label Provogue Records are releasing this collection of unreleased songs by Gary Moore, perhaps to honour his memory as a decade has now passed since he passed away. They have found for original songs and four covers, they didn’t give any info on the recording or people involved, and I only have one source for the people involved so there is a chance that it might be somewhat incorrect. However, it is the music that matters and not really who was involved in recording it, so what about How Blue Can You Get?

No surprise that it is blues or blues rock, anyone who know the music of Gary Moore will find this one very familiar. You clearly hear his signature sound and voice. In a way it can be considered to be a surprisingly coherent album considering that recording could have been collected from many different occasions. I do think, however that the tracks were recorded at only a few occasions, at least if the info I found about the people involved is correct. Still, it is not quite as well constructed as an album that was actually made by Gary would have been – don’t expect marvels, but I think Mascot has done a well-rounded album in Gary’s memory.

I find this one to be a good album, and a positive surprise. Though, I did expect something akin to when labels just try to capitalise on dead artist’s name with some crap they have dug up. These songs are fairly good, but you shouldn’t expect the album to beat the albums he made while he was still alive and kicking. After all there is usually a reason why artists don’t release some recordings or songs, and that is usually not because they save them for posthumous release – artists use the best songs for their albums, these were left over. So, no one should expect this one to beat any previous album, but it could still be something nice for the fans who long for something unheard by Gary Moore.

I can probably not get particularly blue, but it can still be worthwhile to check out this album as it has its moments. Quite an enjoyable little treasure that was dug up and unleashed, a nice addition to the Gary Moore collection. So, check it and enjoy it but don’t expect marvels, after all these songs were rejected by Gary at least once.

HHHHHHH