Various Artists
Give Us Moore: A Gary Moore Tribute

February 2005
Released: 2004, Lion
Rating: 3.0/5
Reviewer: JP

Lion Music has decided, like many labels, to provide a low cost CD with a representative sampling of the bands on the label. While most labels simply do a compilation (because it cheap and easy way to introduce bands) Lion goes the added step and does tribute CD’s. This is a clever move because it can get a potential fan of these new aspiring acts to buy the CD because they might already be familiar with the songs being covered, in this case those by Gary Moore. Lion has also done this with another guitarist Ritchie Blackmore.



In my case I’m almost the opposite of the fan the label might be targeting. Why? I’m familiar with most of the bands on the label but not Gary Moore! In a sense this CD worked in a reverse capacity for me. I already liked all the bands on the Lion roster and now being introduced to Gary Moore I like him even more too!



I’m not completely ignorant of Mr. Moore and his place in history. The familiar and expected hits are covered here, ‘Over The Hills and Far Away’, ‘Out In The Fields’ and of course ‘Parisienne Walkways’. I especially enjoyed the lead off cut ‘Led Clones’ a humourous jab at the band Kingdom Come. I like Kingdom Come a lot and I don’t get why so many still hate them for one CD they recorded over 16 years ago but still, it is a fun song.



I was quite pleased at the selection of artists included on this tribute. Lion has (or had) some big names in the guitar realm (Stump, MacAlpine, Masi, Kotzen) but decided to go with some lesser known acts. The result is that this is certainly NOT the shredders paradise it could have been. Even Petrossi’s ‘Out In The Fields’ was subdued (by his standards!) The bands like Star Queen and Arabesque add nice, sophisticated flair to the proceedings.



A great intro to a great label and if you are a Gary Moore fan you should add a whole mark for these versions. As for me it sits at a three out of five only because of my lack of familiarity and/or emotional attachment to the original compositions.