Gerry Rafferty RIP

When Gerry Rafferty passed away at the beginning January this year (4th), it was only then that I realised the impact that he had had on me throughout the years.

Although his early years with the Humblebums had meant little to me, the other famous member of that eclectic group had an enourmous impact on my sense of humour. Without Gerry Raffertty there would have been no Humblebums, and without them, Billy Connolly would never have stepped up to the mike to reveal his unique brain to the world! It was only later whilst watching an interview with Connolly that I realised this.

Later in the 70s, again without realising, Rafferty had also had a landmark influence on my music taste as well!

In 1973, I wandered into my local branch of Rumbelows looking to buy my first single. I had heard 'Standing on The Inside' by Neil Sedaka, and was determined that my pocket money would go towards the purchase of that 7" piece of vinyl. However, as fate would have it, my nerves got the better of me, and once inside the shop, standing at the counter, with my handful of shiny new pence sweaty in my palms, I went into a panic and couldn't think of the single I wanted to buy! Looking frantically at the Top Singles chart pinned to the wall, I went for the similar sounding "Stuck In The Middle" by Stealer's Wheel.

In hindsight, that was the best mistake I ever made. Instead of the naff Neil Sedaka single that no-one now can remember, I can proudly claim that the first single I bought was the ultra-cool Stealer's Wheel track. A song that became cool all over again when, the master of cool, Quentin Tarantino used it in 'Pulp Fiction'.

I played that first single to death, and grew to like it very quickly, but failed to recognise the connection when years later, 'Baker Street' was being played everywhere, and driving me insane. It was only when the follow-up single "Days Gone Down" was released (and failed to chart) did I grow to love Gerry's music.

So here's my Memorial 2CD for Gerry Rafferty - better late than never...


CD1

01 - Blood And Glory - Humblebums
02 - Please Sing A Song For Us - Humblebums
03 - Shoeshine Boy (0) - Humblebums
04 - Steamboat Row - Humblebums
05 - Can I Have My Money Back (0)
06 - Mary Skeffington
07 - New Street Blues
08 - Sign On The Dotted Line
09 - Late Again (0) - Stealer's Wheel
10 - Who Cares - Stealer's Wheel
11 - Stuck In The Middle With You (8) - Stealer's Wheel
12 - Everyone's Agreed That Everything Will Turn Out Fine (33) - Stealer's Wheel
13 - Star (25) - Stealer's Wheel
14 - Right Or Wrong (0) - Stealer's Wheel
15 - Home And Dry
16 - Right Down The Line (0)
17 - Baker Street (3)
18 - Days Gone Down (0)
19 - Family Tree
20 - The Way That You Do It

CD2

1 - Why Won't You Talk To Me
2 - Night Owl (5)
3 - Get It Right Next Time (30)
4 - Garden Of England
5 - Bring It All Home (54)
6 - Royal Mile (67)
7 - As Wise As A Serpent
8 - Sleepwalking
9 - The Right Moment
10 - Letter From America (3) - Proclaimers
11 - A Dangerous Age
12 - Shipyard Town
13 - Tired Of Talking
14 - Don't Speak Of My Heart
15 - Over My Head
16 - Keep It To yourself (0)

Gary Moore RIP

Gary Moore passed away on Sunday 6th of February 2011 in his sleep of a heart attack while on holiday in Spain. Moore, who was 58, started out in Irish band Skid Row (not to be confused with the later named HM band) before collaborating with Thin Lizzy and forming a strong friendship with frontman Phil Lynott (who died in 1986 after battling alcohol and drug addiction).

Belfast-born Moore started learning the guitar at eight and went on to forge a prolific solo career after his stints with Thin Lizzy, pairing up with some of the greatest names in blues and rock music. He helped create several bands (Colloseum II, G-Force and BBM) but inevitably always returned to his solo career.

Never a compulsary purchase, his albums were nonetheless always diverse and interesting, and he bacame like an old friend that you didn't see so often, but when you did, he provided a comforting and enjoyable familiarity.

Here's my 2CD compilation for Gary

CD 1

1. Skid Row - Mad Dog Woman (1970)
2. The Energy Dance (1973)
3. Thin Lizzy - Still In Love With You (1974)
4. Colloseum II - Secret Places (1976)
5. Greg Lake - C'est la Vie (1977)
6. Thin Lizzy - Waiting For An Alibi (9 in 1979)
7. Parisienne Walkways (8 in 1979) with Phil Lynott
8. Thin Lizzy - Do Anything You Want To Do (14 in 1979)
9. Thin Lizzy - Sarah (24 in 1979)
10. Greedies - A Merry Jingle (28 in 1979)
11. G Force - You (1980)
12. Hold On To Love (65 in 1984)
13. Empty Rooms (23 in 1984)
14. Out In The Fields (5 in 1985) with Phil Lynott
15. Over The Hills And Far Away (20 in 1986)
16. Wild Frontier (35 in 1987)
17. Friday On My Mind (26 in 1987)

CD 2

1. Loner (53 in 1987)
2. Don Airey - Song For Al (1988)
3. After The War (37 in 1989)
4. Ready For Love (56 in 1989)
5. Oh Pretty Woman (48 in 1990) with Albert King
6. Still Got The Blues (For You) (31 in 1990)
7. Walking By Myself (48 in 1990)
8. Too Tired (71 in 1990)
9. Cold Day In Hell (24 in 1992)
10. Story Of The Blues (40 in 1992)
11. Since I Met You Baby (59 in 1992) with BB King
12. Seperate Ways (59 in 1992)
13. Parisienne Walkways (Live) (32 in 1993)
14. BBM - Where In The World (57 in 1994)
15. Need Your Love So Bad (48 in 1995)
16. When The Sun Goes Down (2002)
17. Power Of The Blues (2004)