VINNIE MOORE – It was 1988, I was in college and I listened to Vinnie Moore’s Time Odyssey more times than I could count. Already a seasoned listener to Vinnie’s debut instrumental album – Minds Eye, (released in 1986 on Shrapnel Records), there was in 1988 and still is something about his guitar tone that shoots right through me like a bolt of Metal energy. Listening to Vinnie Moore seems to inspire me to go that extra mile… to actually become more emboldened.
I may have mentioned one time before, in a past post about something to do with… Metal, that I used to listen to Vinnie Moore’s music while doing many (if not all) of my college art projects. Be it drawing, painting or slapping together some weird modern art creation… Vinnie Moore’s guitar was heard in the air. The speed, melodies and pure Metal language that Vinnie’s guitar spoke to me while I labored away on those art and graphic design assignments… somehow made me a better graphics and fine arts student! Metal be thy name.
As with any of Vinnie Moore’s solo instrumental albums, no vocalist is heard, nor is one necessary… the guitar of Vinnie Moore sings… for my ears.
My favorite track from Time Odyssey? It’s not as cut and dry as it may seem. Pieces Of A Picture, Morning Star and the instrumental cover of While My Guitar Gently Weeps stand out amongst the rest, only I honestly love every song on Time Odyssey. The emotion that Vinnie Moore captures on guitar is beyond what my own Metal words can express here. Vinnie Moore is that incredible of a guitarist to my ears and Metal soul.
My admiration for the Beatles and especially George Harrison is incredibly personal. I cried aloud upon hearing the news that George Harrison passed away. It was November 29, 2001, I was alone, driving to work that lousy morning and the radio DJ gave the somber news to my ears. Listening to Vinnie Moore play George Harrison’s unreal legendary song –While My Guitar Gently Weeps brings back memories of being an art student, college life, falling in love with my wife and of course… George Harrison. Whoa… does this Vinnie Moore instrumental version of this song make my head swirl in thoughts and memories!!
There are so many unique and unearthly gifted guitarists that have played in Rock, Hard Rock, Punk and Metal. So many of these guitarists that I embrace… Yngwie J. Malmsteen, Michael Schenker, Jimi Hendrix, Tim Armstrong, Brian Setzer, Jeff Beck, Dez Cadena, George Harrison, Randy Rhoads, Jake E. Lee… these are some of my lifetime top favorites. Then there is Vinnie Moore. I guess if I was forced to choose my top three favorite guitarists of my Metal lifetime… Vinnie Moore, Yngwie and Michael Schenker are the ones.
There was a period of time in my life, where I did not realize what I was doing in trading away and selling away my vinyl albums… this was back in the mid 1990’s. Time Odyssey fell victim to my blundering display of vinyl album unloading…. ahhhhhhhhhhhh!!! Well, as the old saying goes… time heals wounds. Just last week, I was making a trip to pay some (gasp) bills, when there it was in the distance… an antiques mall! This antiques mall contains a used record dealer who always seems to have that record or two, that I so desperately need to bring back into my Metal life.
I found Vinnie Moore – Time Odyssey on that trip into the antiques mall last week! I felt like I was floating on air… I wanted to tell the cashier how ecstatic I was, only I bit my Metal lip. I paid a ridiculous low price of 3 dollars U.S. as well for this Vinnie Moore marvel! The album is in unreal excellent condition too… it plays on my turntable without a single crackle or pop. The album jacket is in excellent shape as well. (See my album pics below). This time in my Metal life… I’m not parting with Vinnie Moore – Time Odyssey again. No way. Someone would have to offer me the Metal moon for it… and even then, I would not consider the offer. What would I possibly do with a Metal moon anyways?
* As a bonus, the prior owner of this Vinnie Moore album had inserted an 8 page article on Vinnie Moore, in the album jacket. This article was ripped out of an Issue of Guitar World, dated July 1987. I’m keeping it with this album… as it was meant to be.
* The band behind Vinnie Moore on Time Odyssey:
Jordan Rudes – keyboards
Joe Franco – drums
Michael Bean – bass
* Vinnie Moore – Time Odyssey was released on Squawk/Mercury/Polygram Records.
Track Listing For Vinnie Moore – Time Odyssey:
Side One:
Morning Star
Prelude/Intro The Future
Beyond The Door
Message In A Dream
As Time Slips By
Side Two:
Race With Destiny
While My Guitar Gently Weeps
The Tempest
Pieces Of A Picture
April Sky
Here is what the front cover of my Time Odyssey album looks like, note there is some minor wear on the top left corner… whoopee Metal doo is what I say!
Here is what the back cover of my Time Odyssey album looks like:
Here is what the 8 page Guitar World article looks like, that I found inside the album jacket:
LONG LIVE VINNIE MOORE!
* “Whoopee Metal doo” was stated for the very first time on Metal Odyssey, courtesy of this post.
Stone.
Metal Odyssey > Heavy Metal Music Blog 
You must be logged in to post a comment.