Wild Frontier is a strange one. Just about every track on it seems to get considerably louder as it goes along. It's definitely most noticeable on "Thunder Rising" but every track suffers from it to some extent. I have the 10 Records CD issue like slipkid and the remaster, and they both suffer from this issue. That aside, as for which is preferable, the original CD sounds a tad better to me. But if nothing else, it's the one to get simply because it doesn't have that egregious tape-slip in the extended version of "Wild Frontier" that briefly puts it all out of tune, just after the first chorus.
Thanks a ton! But what a shame. I really hope that someone does a proper remaster of WF, because I think it stands head and shoulders above his other solo albums from a songwriting perspective (and I don't mind the drum machine). I think that Virgin was the original US version by the way, 10 Records was the UK release. I don't know if they're the same mastering, but I think I'll try to get the US version and report my findings. That's right. I always heard it on "Strangers in the Darkness" as well, but I always attributed it to the way the song intensifies toward the end as more and more overdubs start piling on. But for the other tracks the increase in volume seems to make no musical sense. That's great news, I prefer that version of Wild Frontier. The way Gary manages to make an obviously improvised solo sound so structured during the outro is absolutely brilliant!
Frontier's always been my favourite of Moore's albums, too. Love the Celtic flair it has. I remember when they did that expanded edition of Back on the Streets a few years back, I was really hoping it was a sign they'd be doing his entire back catalogue, but sadly it never happened. A while back I spent a bit of time tweaking the levels of each track in WavePad to try and even the songs out. I'm sure proper audiophiles would balk But the results were better than I expected. Compare my edited version of "Thunder Rising" with slipkid's originals on the previous page:
I've asked about it and there are legal problems. It seems any Virgin material is blocked or something.
That's a shame. I remember someone mentioning around the time the Back on the Streets reissue came out that that was originally planned to be more expansive, with some more unreleased stuff, but legal red tape likewise put paid to that.
The best Gary Moore is Corridors of Power. Next one is Run for Covers.... The others are hit & miss. One of the worst is After The War, a copy cat album, where Moore try to play every style. Can't recommend this one.
Can't agree with your recommendation, After the War has some weak spots but it doesn't disappoint me the same way Run for Cover (as an album) does. "The Messiah Will Come Again" and "Blood of Emeralds" are excellent.
We Want Moore! is a great live album from his eighties hard rock period. There was a film made of that tour called Emerald Aisles, which I have on vhs somewhere but it really should be put out on DVD/blu ray because it is brilliant. Here's hoping!
Yeah, I totally agree. After the War overall is not as good as some of the other hard rock Gazza albums like Corridors or Victims, but it has some extraordinary gems like the two that you mentioned. I need to listen to it again to refresh my memory for 100% but I think I also dig the title track quite a bit - plus at the time he released a mini-CD single (which I still have, came in a cool tin) with a cover of Thin Lizzy's Emerald that is absolutely killer (it is one of the bonus tracks on the CD reissue btw). I hate the Ozzy sung Led Clones though. Maybe I'd like it more if Gary sang it. Thx for the rekindle of this thread - gives me an excuse to listen to some more Moore lately, been awhile. Think I will give After the War a spin tonight....
I hazily recall that being in the cards at one point (or maybe it was the Wild Frontier tour live one that I also had on VHS) but then after he died everything got shelved I believe, due to legal complications (?).
After the War is one of Gary's weaker 80s albums, but Blood of Emeralds and The Messiah Will Come Again are a couple of Gary's absolute best songs of his entire career. Blood I would classify as his most epic song.
After the War is definitely the weakest of Gary's 80s rock albums (the slightly confused G-Force notwithstanding), but it's still got some absolute gems on it. It just suffers from containing way too much filler in a way the preceding albums didn't. If pushed, I'd say his best would probably be either Victims of the Future or Run for Cover (more commercial, but some excellent songs nonetheless, especially when the B-sides are thrown in). My favourite though is still Wild Frontier. It was the Stockholm show from the Wild Frontier tour that was allegedly gearing up for a DVD release, but yeah, it got canned.
Gary does sing half of Led Clones though. But as we know from "Law of the Jungle" Gary can sound very Ozzyish if he wants to
Wow. I listened to the album last night, and did not even notice Gary was singing any of that song! Sheesh. I do absolutely detest that song though. I think my mind must shutdown while it is playing and tries not to hear it I found the album to be about what we've been saying, mostly blech, with the exception of just 3 songs. The remaster has some great bonus stuff on it though, the live tracks, plus his cover of Emerald.
Anyone familiar with Henrik Freischlader? To me a great blues guitarist from Germany who admits his influence by Gary. He did a tribute album last year, Blues For Gary, that I enjoy.
It's on my list... Henrik was turned on to the blues by Gary (the song "Cold Day in Hell", actually), so it's a very personal thing. I love it! In fact, I like it more than most Led Zeppelin songs. Gary's imitation of a Page solo is better than Page himself. And those drums before the final chorus: BLAMDADABLAMDADABLAM!!! Cozy Powell
I have the remasters, and t hey do sound good! ALL of them in fact ! There is not a Gary Moore album which is not good. each in their own way, i have spun each record a minimum of 20X and then some, they all please me. I will not speak Ill of one of rocks greatest guitar players. He was a genius, innovator, shredder before it was cool, his musical taste was amazing, from his humble beginnings. skid row / colosseum / solo / his work with Lynott, even the andrew lloyd weber collaboration is descent ! there is not a seriously poor song in his repertoire. I enjoy about %98 of his songs, melodies, etc etc. now, a different beat is a totally different animal, still play it from time to time, but really can't wrap my head around it.....YET... !!!!! but, I will ! you can not go wrong with ANY of his albums, the man was a musical genius. two of my mainstay car bands are Moore & Travers. Miss you Gary, "more than you'll ever know"
Most people I know consider the remasters to be real ear bleeders. Like you though, it doesn't bother me. Would I like to see his back catalog get some kind of audiophile respected high resolution treatment like SACD? Sure. But I can live with what I've got? Yes (unfortunately I sold all the LPs, but still have the original CDs and the remasters too, including some like the book format "Axe Killer" which is Corridors + Run For Cover).
Really? I'm no audiophile at all, but even to me, most of his remasters sound crap. Wild Frontier in particular is terrible.
This bodes well for me, then, as far as future discovering. I am only familiar with ATW and I like that album a lot!