Wild Frontier
Encyclopedia
Wild Frontier is a 1987 album
by Gary Moore
. His first studio album after a trip back to his native Belfast
, Northern Ireland
in 1985, this album has several songs about Ireland and even the music itself is steeped in Celtic
roots. The title track was intended to be sung by Phil Lynott
, however Lynott's death in January 1986 prevented that. The album is dedicated to Lynott's memory, with the words "For Philip" on the rear cover. This album contains the hit "Over the Hills and Far Away", which reached #20 in the UK as well as a cover of the Australian band The Easybeats
' hit of the middle of the 1960s, "Friday on My Mind
". Former Kiss
/Black Sabbath
drummer Eric Singer
would join Moore on the Wild Frontier tour.
"Over the Hills and Far Away" was covered by the Finnish
symphonic power metal band Nightwish
on their 2001 EP of the same title
, and Swedish
viking metal
band Thyrfing
on their album Urkraft
.
All songs by Gary Moore except as noted.
On 28 April 2003 Virgin Records
released a remastered version including these additional tracks:
The drums are sequenced with a drum machine
, but the programming is uncredited in the liner notes of the album.
Album
An album is a collection of recordings, released as a single package on gramophone record, cassette, compact disc, or via digital distribution. The word derives from the Latin word for list .Vinyl LP records have two sides, each comprising one half of the album...
by Gary Moore
Gary Moore
Robert William Gary Moore , better known simply as Gary Moore, was a Northern Irish musician from Belfast, best recognised as a blues rock guitarist and singer....
. His first studio album after a trip back to his native Belfast
Belfast
Belfast is the capital of and largest city in Northern Ireland. By population, it is the 14th biggest city in the United Kingdom and second biggest on the island of Ireland . It is the seat of the devolved government and legislative Northern Ireland Assembly...
, Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland is one of the four countries of the United Kingdom. Situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland, it shares a border with the Republic of Ireland to the south and west...
in 1985, this album has several songs about Ireland and even the music itself is steeped in Celtic
Celtic music
Celtic music is a term utilised by artists, record companies, music stores and music magazines to describe a broad grouping of musical genres that evolved out of the folk musical traditions of the Celtic people of Western Europe...
roots. The title track was intended to be sung by Phil Lynott
Phil Lynott
Philip Parris "Phil" Lynott was an Irish musician who first came to prominence as a founding member, principal songwriter, and frontman of the Irish rock band Thin Lizzy....
, however Lynott's death in January 1986 prevented that. The album is dedicated to Lynott's memory, with the words "For Philip" on the rear cover. This album contains the hit "Over the Hills and Far Away", which reached #20 in the UK as well as a cover of the Australian band The Easybeats
The Easybeats
The Easybeats were an Australian rock and roll band. They formed in Sydney in late 1964 and broke up at the end of 1969. They are regarded as the greatest Australian pop band of the 1960s, and were the first Australian rock and roll act to score an international pop hit with their 1966 single...
' hit of the middle of the 1960s, "Friday on My Mind
Friday on My Mind
"Friday on My Mind" is a 1966 song by Australian rock group The Easybeats. Written by band members George Young and Harry Vanda, the track became a worldwide hit, reaching #16 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in May 1967 in the US, #1 in Australia and #6 in the UK, as well as charting in several...
". Former Kiss
KISS (band)
Kiss is an American rock band formed in New York City in January 1973. Well-known for its members' face paint and flamboyant stage outfits, the group rose to prominence in the mid to late 1970s on the basis of their elaborate live performances, which featured fire breathing, blood spitting,...
/Black Sabbath
Black Sabbath
Black Sabbath are an English heavy metal band, formed in Aston, Birmingham in 1969 by Ozzy Osbourne , Tony Iommi , Geezer Butler , and Bill Ward . The band has since experienced multiple line-up changes, with Tony Iommi the only constant presence in the band through the years. A total of 22...
drummer Eric Singer
Eric Singer
Eric Doyle Mensinger , better known as Eric Singer, is a hard rock and heavy metal drummer for the rock band Kiss and formerly for singer Alice Cooper...
would join Moore on the Wild Frontier tour.
"Over the Hills and Far Away" was covered by the Finnish
Finland
Finland , officially the Republic of Finland, is a Nordic country situated in the Fennoscandian region of Northern Europe. It is bordered by Sweden in the west, Norway in the north and Russia in the east, while Estonia lies to its south across the Gulf of Finland.Around 5.4 million people reside...
symphonic power metal band Nightwish
Nightwish
Nightwish is a Finnish symphonic metal band from Kitee, Finland. Formed in 1996 by songwriter and keyboardist Tuomas Holopainen, guitarist Emppu Vuorinen, and former vocalist Tarja Turunen, Nightwish's current line-up has five members, although Tarja has been replaced by Anette Olzon and the...
on their 2001 EP of the same title
Over the Hills and Far Away (album)
Over the Hills and Far Away is the first EP by Finnish symphonic metal band Nightwish, released in 2001 by both Spinefarm Records and Drakkar Records...
, and Swedish
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
viking metal
Viking metal
Viking metal is a subgenre of heavy metal music characterized by its galloping pace, keyboard-rich anthemic sound, bleakness and dramatic emphasis on lyrical themes of Norse mythology, Norse paganism, and the Viking Age...
band Thyrfing
Thyrfing
Thyrfing is a viking metal band from Sweden. The band is named after the royal sword Tyrfing from Norse mythology.-History:Thyrfing was formed in 1995 by Patrik Lindgren , Jocke Kristensson , Peter Löf and Kimmy Sjölund...
on their album Urkraft
Urkraft
Urkraft is the third album by Swedish viking metal band Thyrfing. It was released in 2000.On some editions of the album, there is a bonus cover of "Over the Hills and Far Away" by rock artist Gary Moore.-Track listing:...
.
Track listing
Tracks 1 - 8 are the original vinyl release, tracks 9 - 11 are the original CD bonus tracks.All songs by Gary Moore except as noted.
- "Over the Hills and Far Away" – 5:20
- "Wild Frontier" – 4:14
- "Take a Little Time" – 4:05
- "The Loner" (Instrumental) (Max MiddletonMax MiddletonDavid Maxwell "Max" Middleton . He is an English composer and keyboardist and was originally a docker on the Liverpool docks. Middleton is known for his work on the Fender Rhodes Electric piano, the Minimoog synthesiser and his percussive playing style of the Hohner Clavinet...
) – 5:54 - "Friday on My MindFriday on My Mind"Friday on My Mind" is a 1966 song by Australian rock group The Easybeats. Written by band members George Young and Harry Vanda, the track became a worldwide hit, reaching #16 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in May 1967 in the US, #1 in Australia and #6 in the UK, as well as charting in several...
" (George Young/Harry VandaHarry VandaHarry Vanda , is a Dutch-born Australian popular music singer, guitarist, songwriter and record producer.-Career:...
) – 4:11 - "Strangers in the Darkness" (Moore/Neil Carter) – 4:38
- "Thunder Rising" (Moore/Carter) – 5:43
- "Johnny Boy" – 3:15
- "Over the Hills and Far Away" (12" Version) – 7:26
- "Wild Frontier" (12" Version) – 6:38
- "Crying in the Shadows" – 5:01
On 28 April 2003 Virgin Records
Virgin Records
Virgin Records is a British record label founded by English entrepreneur Richard Branson, Simon Draper, and Nik Powell in 1972. The company grew to be a worldwide music phenomenon, with platinum performers such as Roy Orbison, Devo, Genesis, Keith Richards, Janet Jackson, Culture Club, Lenny...
released a remastered version including these additional tracks:
- "The Loner" (Extended mix/Bonus track) - 7:16
- "Friday on My Mind" (12" version/Bonus track) (Young/Vanda) - 6:15
- "Out in the FieldsOut in the Fields (song)"Out in the Fields" is a single by former Thin Lizzy band members Gary Moore and Phil Lynott, released in 1985. The song is about the religious turmoil in their native Ireland....
" (Live/Bonus track) - 5:28
Singles
- "Take a Little Time" (November 1987)
- "The Loner"
- "Friday on My Mind"
- "Wild Frontier" (February 1987)
- "Over the Hills and Far Away" (December 1986)
Musicians
- Gary MooreGary MooreRobert William Gary Moore , better known simply as Gary Moore, was a Northern Irish musician from Belfast, best recognised as a blues rock guitarist and singer....
- guitar, vocals - Neil CarterNeil Carter (musician)Neil Carter is a musician who has worked in diverse genres throughout his 35 year career. Classically trained, he became a professional rock musician at the age of 17 and initally had his first 'mainstream' experience with singer-songwriter Gilbert O'Sullivan. He subsequently played guitar and...
- keyboards, vocals - Bob DaisleyBob DaisleyRobert John "Bob" Daisley is an Australian musician, bassist and lyricist who has performed in genres of rock, blues, R&B, hard rock and metal.-Early career:...
- bass
The drums are sequenced with a drum machine
Drum machine
A drum machine is an electronic musical instrument designed to imitate the sound of drums or other percussion instruments. They are used in a variety of musical genres, not just purely electronic music...
, but the programming is uncredited in the liner notes of the album.