Blues for Greeny --- 1995 (Charisma)
A huge influence on his early career, and one of his idols from his youth, it's not at all surprising that Gary should have released a whole album of Peter Green covers, dedicated to the man himself. Gary always knew how to give back, and he never forgot his roots. Founder and driving force behind the early version of Fleetwood Mac, Peter Greenbaum, better known as Peter Green, is a well-respected and revered figure among guitarists, particularly blues ones, and here Gary pays tribute to one of the old guitar gods.
It opens with “If you be my baby”, a song in the traditional Chicago blues style, great piano from Tommy Eyre and twin sax attack from the two Nicks, Pentelow and Payn. Of course, the song rides along on great guitar from Gary, and is a fun opener with lots of lazy energy. “Long grey mare” is another fast blues rocker, while “Merry go round”, paradoxically perhaps, slows everything down with a moody blues ballad, then a very Santana-esque (though I'm reliably informed it was Carlos who copied Peter's style) “I loved another woman” is a mid-paced ballad with definite shades of “Black magic woman” --- though again, that should be reversed. The only song on the album then not written by Green is one that gave his Fleetwood Mac a hit single, Mertis John Jr.'s blues ballad “Need your love so bad”. With what sounds like a lovely strings arrangement, but is probably just indicative of Tommy Eyre's skill on the keyboards, it's a powerful treatment of the old standard, with of course a beautifully tender guitar solo from Gary.
After that blues masterpiece epic, the next two tracks are short: “The same way” is a striding, boogie slow rocker, while “The supernatural” is more evidence of where Green had a profound influence on the playing style of Carlos Santana. “Driftin'” is another slow blues cruncher, in fact the longest on the album at just over eight and a half minutes, and featuring some powerful and searing guitar from Gary. “Showbiz blues” has a certain bluegrass feel to it, with some stripped-down guitar sound, reminds me of the best of that other fine servant of the blues, the late and lamented Rory Gallagher. “Love that burns” is a slow ballad in the style of much of Gary's work, though again this only show what an effect Peter Green had on the young guitarist, and how he carried that influence over into his own songwriting and playing.
The album then closes on “Looking for somebody”, with a very early Fleetwood Mac style, deep bass from Andy Pyle keeping the beat, slow but not a ballad, laidback but not without its power; moody, broody and dark. It's maybe a lower-key ending to the album than I would have preferred, but a decent closer nevertheless.
I'm no huge Peter Green fan, but Gary has produced a fine tribute to his mentor here, and you have to applaud that. It's just a pity the man couldn't have guested on even one of the tracks: I wonder if Gary ever made any overtures towards that end? But it's a powerful homage to the man who in many ways put him on the road to success and helped him along that road, until he could walk on his own. I have no doubt Peter Green was very proud of what Gary Moore achieved in his life, and the respect and admiration Gary had for Green shines through in this very special and personal album.
TRACKLISTING
1. If you be my baby
2. Long grey mare
3. Merry go round
4. I loved another woman
5. Need your love so bad
6. The same way
7. The supernatural
8. Driftin'
9. Showbiz blues
10. Love that burns
11. Looking for somebody