GARY MOORE - STILL GOT THE BLUES (FOR YOU)

 STILL GOT THE BLUES (FOR YOU)

GARY MOORE

SONGWRITER: GARY MOORE

COUNTRY: NORTHERN IRISH

ALBUM: STILL GOT THE BLUES

LABEL: VIRGIN RECORDS

GENRE: BLUES

YEAR: 1990

 

          Robert William Gary Moore (4 April 1952 – 6 February 2011) was a Northern Irish musician and songwriter. Over the course of his career he played in various groups and performed an eclectic range of music including blues, hard rock, heavy metal, and jazz fusion.

           Influenced by Peter Green and Eric Clapton, Moore began his career in the late 1960s when he joined Skid Row, with whom he released two albums. After Moore left the group he joined Thin Lizzy, featuring his former Skid Row bandmate and frequent collaborator Phil Lynott. Moore began his solo career in the 1970s and achieved major success with 1978's "Parisienne Walkways", which is considered his signature song. During the 1980s, Moore transitioned into playing hard rock and heavy metal with varying degrees of international success. In 1990, he returnd to his roots with Still Got the Blues, which became the most successful album of his career. Moore continued to release new music throughout his later career, collaborating with other artists from time to time. Moore died on 6 February 2011 from a heart attack while on holiday in Spain.

          Moore was often described as a virtuoso and has been cited as an influence by many other guitar players. He was voted one of the greatest guitarists of all time on respective lists by Total Guitar and Louder. Irish singer-songwriter Bob Geldof said that "without question, [Moore] was one of the great Irish bluesmen". For most of his career, Moore was heavily associated with Peter Green's famed 1959 Gibson Les Paul guitar. Later he was honoured by Gibson and Fender with several signature model guitars.

          Still Got the Blues is the eighth solo studio album by Northern Irish guitarist Gary Moore, released in 1990. It marked a substantial change in style for Moore, who, prior to this album, was predominantly known for rock and hard rock music with Skid Row, Thin Lizzy, G-Force, Greg Lake and during his own extensive solo career, as well as his jazz-fusion work with Colosseum II. As evidenced by its title, Still Got the Blues saw him delve into an electric blues style.

           The album features guest contributions from Albert King, Albert Collins and George Harrison.

         The title track was released as a single and reached Nº. 97 on the Billboard Hot 100 on 16 February 1991. To date, it is the only single of Moore's to chart on the Billboard Hot 100.

          The album reached Nº. 83 on the Billboard 200 on 16 February 1991, then was certified gold by the RIAA on November 1995. This was the most successful album both in sales and chart positions from Gary Moore in the US.

Used to be so easy to give my heart away
But I found out the hard way
There's a price you have to pay
I found out that love was no friend of mine
I should have known time after time
 
So long, it was so long ago
But I've still got the blues for you
 
Used to be so easy to fall in love again
But I found out the hard way
It's a road that leads to pain
I found that love was more than just a game
You're playin' to win
But you lose just the same
 
So long, it was so long ago
But I've still got the blues for you
 
So many years since I've seen your face
Here in my heart, there's an empty space
Where you used to be
 
So long, it was so long ago
But I've still got the blues for you
 
Though the days come and go
There is one thing I know
I've still got the blues for you.