GARY MOORE — Back On The Streets: The Rock Collection (review)

GARY MOORE — Back On The Streets: The Rock Collection album cover

Boxset / Compilation · 2003 · Hard Rock

4/5 · 2011-12-17
1967/ 1976

Gary Moore has been one of my first listen, when I was a child. Song as "Don't Take Me For A Loser" or "Always Gonna Love You" was the best Metal song, for my Rock song conception when I was a child. Today remain in me the belief that they are still good songs. But Gary Moore was also other magical heavy metal song and magical Blues songs. But in 80's Gary Moore was a great Metal axeman. In this "Back On The Streets, The Rock Collection" These two songs are not included. But not for this fact I think that this compilation are not good. Because for me "Back On The Streets, The Rock Collection" is a good compilation if You do not know the Metal side of Gary Moore.

The first song is "Out In The Fields" with Phil Lynott at the vocals. This song is a pure Classic Rock/ Hard Rock song with all the ingredients of a pure hit, also if it is too close to a Thin Lizzy song. A good start song for all Classic Heavy Metal compilation and obviously great start song for this compilation. "Run For Cover" present a savago piano intro butI must say that it is one of the heaviest songs by Gary Moore, though very melodic. The sound of the guitar has a very compressed and distorted, in addition, the mix is all about explosive power that the writing of the song features. And then the chorus enters your brain (like the melody) and is imprinted forever! More bluesy is "All Messed Up," which is deliberately rougher and less bastard. But I like to do just that! "Shapes Of Things" is the cover of the Yardbirds hit. In this version this song remain similar to Jeff Beck Group version but with more power and technique, because with less Blues arrangement and with too Metal guitar sound (compressed and distorted guitar sound) and vocal interpretation. "Murder In The Sky" is a direct and powerful song and it must be said, also one of heavy metal songs by Gary Moore. Written to being a protest against the Soviet Union's shooting down of Korean Air Flight 007, "Murder In The Sky" is also an excellent song released from this motivation. "Cold Hearted" is a Slow Rock from "Corridors Of Power" but it is aged badly and today is only a Gary Moore song with a great guitar solo section. Vice versa "Rockin' Every Night" is a immortal Rock'n'roll song, without claims, but to recover the initial spirit of the Rock music. "Wishing Well" is the cover of the Free Hit. The live version from "Rockin Every Night- Live In Japan" is great too Heavy Metal as the studio version (also if this live version is more Heavy Metal for sound and interpretation). Remain a great version of a great and immortal song. "After The War" is a beautiful song, a little too POP for structure and use of instruments. However, "After The Wall" is an excellent example of 80's Hard Rock / Heavy Metal with (obviously) a great guiar solo. "Led Clones" (with Ozzy Osbourne) is a song that I can not swallow: Black Sabbath for structure and rhythm, Ozzy Osbourne for style andsound, Gary Moore for style guitar and Led Zeppelin in string instruments. A mix that can not digest. But the song is interesting. "Wild Frontier" is presented here in "After The War" 2002 live bonus track version. Great song, A great Irish Hard Rock Folk Rock song in Heavy Metal field, a great moment of music. "Back On The Steets" (here in "We Want Moore!" live version) is a perfect mix between Closseum II and Thin Lizzy and for this fact I classify this song as Fusion Heavy Metal.

In definitive vision "Back On The Streets, The Rock Collection" is a great compilation if you do not have nothing of 80's Hard Rock/ Heavy Metal production of Gary Moore. Vice versa this compilation does not present anything new.