Gary Moore - Back On The Streets (1978) [Vinyl Rip 16/44 & mp3-320 + DVD] Re-up

1979 was a busy year for Irish guitarist Gary Moore, who after years of seemingly aimless wandering across the musical landscape (including a flirtation with jazz-rock fusion while fronting G-Force) simultaneously re-launched his long-dormant solo career and became a full-time member of Thin Lizzy. Moore had originally agreed to help his old partner in crime Phil Lynott only temporarily, while longtime Lizzy guitarist Brian Robertson recovered from a broken hand incurred in a barroom brawl. But due to Robbo's increasing unreliability, Moore was persuaded to stay on and record Lizzy's Black Rose album in exchange for Lynott's help in shaping his own solo effort, Back on the Streets. And a good trade it was, too, as with the exception of the title track's gutsy hard rock, Lynott's singing and songwriting contributions wound up providing the album with its most coherent and satisfying moments. These included the highly amusing "Fanatical Fascists," a mellow reworking of Lizzy's "Don't Believe a Word," a whimsical acoustic ballad called "Spanish Guitar," and the simply exquisite Moore tour de force "Parisienne Walkways." Unfortunately, these are rudely interrupted by a number of misplaced instrumental fusion workouts (no doubt G-Force leftovers) and a terribly saccharine ballad called "Song for Donna." Half winner, half dud, the album would at least serve notice of Moore's rebirth as a solo artist, and he would show marked improvement on his next album, Corridors of Power.

by Eduardo Rivadavia, allmusic

Tracklist:

Side 1

A1 - Back On The Streets
Backing Vocals, Handclaps [And Things] - Gary Moore, Phil Lynott
Drums - Simon Phillips / Keyboards - Don Airey
Lead Vocals, Bass, Guitar - Gary Moore / Written-By - Campbell, Moore
A2 - Don't Believe A Word
Drums - Brian Downey / Lead Vocals, Bass - Phil Lynott
Lead Vocals, Guitar - Gary Moore / Written-By - Lynott
A3 - Fanatical Fascists
Acoustic Guitar, Bass, Backing Vocals - Phil Lynott / Drums - Brian Downey
Guitar, Lead Vocals, Backing Vocals - Gary Moore / Written-By - Lynott
A4 - Flight Of The Snow Moose
Bass - John Mole / Drums - Simon Phillips / Guitar - Gary Moore
Keyboards - Don Airey / Written-By - Campbell, Moore

Side 2

B1 - Hurricane
Bass - John Mole / Drums - Simon Phillips / Guitar - Gary Moore
Keyboards - Don Airey / Written-By - Campbell, Moore
B2 - Song For Donna
Bass - John Mole / Drums - Simon Phillips / Keyboards - Don Airey
Lead Vocals, Guitar - Gary Moore / Written-By - Campbell, Moore
B3 - What Would You Rather Bee Or A Wasp
Bass - John Mole / Drums - Simon Phillips / Guitar - Gary Moore
Keyboards - Don Airey / Written-By - Campbell, Moore
B4 - Parisienne Walkways
Double Bass, Bass, Lead Vocals - Phil Lynott / Drums - Brian Downey
Guitar, Guitar Synthesizer, Mandolin, Accordion, Backing Vocals - Gary Moore
Written-By - Lynott