🎸 Gary Moore – Dirty Fingers (1983)
Dirty Fingers is a solo studio album by Northern Irish guitarist Gary Moore, originally recorded in 1980 but released in 1983 by Jet Records. The album showcases Moore’s hard rock and heavy metal leanings from the early ’80s, blending blistering guitar riffs, melodic hooks, and high-energy rock anthems.
Although recorded before Corridors of Power (1982), the album was delayed due to label decisions. Its eventual release provides insight into Moore’s evolution from fusion-infused rock toward a heavier, more aggressive solo sound.
📀 Album Credits
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Artist: Gary Moore
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Title: Dirty Fingers
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Type: Studio album
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Recorded: 1980
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Released: 1983 (UK & Europe), 1984 (US)
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Label: Jet Records
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Producer: Chris Tsangarides
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Genre: Hard rock, heavy metal, blues-rock
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Length: 37:20
Personnel:
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Gary Moore: guitars, lead vocals
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Neil Carter: keyboards, backing vocals
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Mo Foster: bass
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Ian Paice: drums (Deep Purple)
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Chris Tsangarides: producer, engineer
The album features a tight, professional lineup and highlights Moore’s guitar virtuosity and hard rock songwriting.
🎶 Tracklist
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Love Can Make a Fool of You – 4:20
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I Can’t Wait Until Tomorrow – 4:05
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Dancin’ – 4:12
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Run to Your Mama – 4:32
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Don’t Let Me Be Misunderstood – 3:45 (cover of Nina Simone / Animals classic)
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Dirty Fingers – 4:00
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Spanish Guitar – 5:30
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Nuclear Attack – 4:56
The album blends original compositions with reinterpretations of classics, while emphasizing Moore’s high-energy guitar work.
🎸 Notable Songs
🔥 “Spanish Guitar”
A melodic instrumental highlighting Moore’s bluesy, expressive lead guitar, foreshadowing his later work on ballads like Parisienne Walkways.
🎶 “Dirty Fingers”
The title track is a hard rock showcase, with aggressive riffs, soaring solos, and a driving rhythm section — epitomizing early 1980s guitar-driven rock.
🎵 “Run to Your Mama”
A rock track with tight hooks and energetic guitar riffs, combining Moore’s melodic sensibility with commercial hard rock appeal.
💖 “Don’t Let Me Be Misunderstood”
Moore’s cover brings hard rock grit to the classic song, featuring distorted guitar lines and dynamic vocal delivery.
🎉 Fun Facts & Trivia
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🎸 Delayed Release: Although recorded in 1980, Dirty Fingers was shelved for a few years because the record label wanted Moore to focus on other solo projects and harder rock-oriented releases.
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🔁 Heavy Rock Influence: The album is often cited as a bridge between Moore’s fusion-influenced projects (G-Force, Corridors of Power) and his mid-1980s hard rock and metal work.
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📀 Ian Paice Contribution: Deep Purple’s drummer Ian Paice plays on several tracks, lending hard-hitting rock credibility.
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🎵 Rare Tracks: “Spanish Guitar” and “Dirty Fingers” are considered hidden gems in Moore’s catalog, often overlooked compared to his commercial hits.
💡 Did You Know?
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“Love Can Make a Fool of You” first appeared on Corridors of Power (1982), but the version on Dirty Fingers is a slightly different mix, reflecting the original sessions.
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Dirty Fingers is sometimes viewed as a lost transitional album, illustrating Moore’s shift from jazz-rock/fusion to hard rock/heavy metal in the early ’80s.
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The album was never released in the US until 1984, making original pressings highly collectible among fans.
📊 Legacy & Impact
While not a commercial blockbuster, Dirty Fingers is highly regarded by guitar enthusiasts for Moore’s technical skill and expressive playing. The album captures a period where Moore was exploring aggressive rock styles, refining his sound in preparation for 1980s hard rock and blues-rock masterpieces.
Tracks like “Spanish Guitar” and “Dirty Fingers” foreshadowed Moore’s later ability to balance melody and technical virtuosity, making the album an essential listen for fans interested in the evolution of his guitar career.
