Simon Rushworth
Gary Moore (Featuring Albert King) – Oh Pretty Woman (Williams) b/w King Of The Blues (Moore) 1990
At a time when hair metal was at its over-produced and outrageous peak this classic track bucked the trend as one of rock’s greatest guitarists openly displayed his love of the blues.
After the hard rock beast that was previous album After The War, this was Moore mellowing out and Oh Pretty Woman was the lead single from his acclaimed solo album Still Got the Blues. The partnership with legendary blues man Albert King made for an atmospheric sleeve and a spine tingling version of a classic tune.
But it was to be the record’s next single – Still Got The Blues (For You) which brought Moore back to the brink of the UK Top 40 and reminded the world art large that there was a lot more to the former Thin Lizzy star than anthemic blasts like Out In the Fields or After The War.
These days Moore is mostly blues and only occasionally rock but there’s no doubt the understated Ulsterman successfully combines the genres with a refreshing zeal. His trip to Newcastle’s City Hall later this month will be well worth watching and at the time this seven incher hit stores few people imagined the lasting blues legacy this great guitarist would go on to create.