T H E C o l l e c t i o n O f f i c i a l .CD .R e l e a s e s |
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Official CD Releases | Rare / Live Releases & Bootlegs
Thin Lizzy (Deram) 1971 1. "Friendly Ranger
at Clontarf Castle" (2:57)
2. "Honestly Is No Excuse" (3:34)
3. "Diddy Levine" (3:52)
4. "Ray-Gun" (2:58)
5. "Look What the Wind Blew In" (3:16)
6. "Eire" (2:04)
7. "Return of the Farmer's Son" (4:05)
8. "Clifton Grange Hotel" (2:22)
9. "Saga of the Aging Orphan" (3:39)
10. "Remembering, Pt. 1" (5:57)
BONUS TRACKS
11. "Dublin" (2:27)
12. "Remembering, Pt. 2 (New Day)" (5:06)
13. "Old Moon Madness" (3:56)
14. "Things Ain't Working out Down at the Farm" (4:32)
Thin Lizzy were originally a power trio in the image of Cream and the Jimi Hendrix Experience, which is in stark contrast to the lethal twin guitar attack that they would soon make famous. Phil Lynott was only beginning to develop as a lyricist and a songwriter, and the band was still a bit unfocused trying to decide if they were to play Irish folk-infused music or hard rock. There are tons of quiet ballads like "Honesty is No Excuse," "Eire," and "Saga of the Aging Orphan" but as usual with Lynott, his ballads are always powerful. The rockers "Look What the Wind Blew In," and "Return of the Farmer's Son," while nothing compared to mid 70's Lizzy are still quite enjoyable. I actually like this album quite a bit, it's a cool late night listen.
Tracks 1-10 formed the original album and were recorded Jan 4-9, 1971 Tracks 11-14 were recorded June 14, 15 & 17, 1971 and are bonus tracks which did not appear on the original version of the album. They are taken from the Decca EP (F-13208) entitled 'NEW DAY,' released August 20,1971
Thin Lizzy - New Day (bootleg) 1971
1. "Dublin" (2:28)
2. "Remembering Part 2 (New Day)" (5:06)
3. "Old Moon Madness" (3:54)
4. "Things Ain't Working Out Down At The Farm" (4:30)
Originally recorded in June of 1971 and released on Decca Records in England on August 20th, 1971, this four song EP is quite the collector's item on vinyl. What I have here is a bootleg CD. "New Day" has never officially been released on CD as single disc. However, the songs were released as bonus tracks on the remastered version of Thin Lizzy's first, self-titled CD as well as on several different compilation CDs. All of these songs pre-date Thin Lizzy's jump into hard rock and heavy metal and have that classic Irish folk rock sound from the first few Thin Lizzy platters.
Thin Lizzy - Shades of a Blue Orphanage (Deram) 1972
Thin Lizzy - Vagabonds of the Western World (Decca) 1973
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"Mama Nature Said" (4:52) 2. "Hero and the Madman" (6:08) 3. "Slow Blues" (5:14) 4. "The Rocker" (5:12) 5. "Vagabond of the Western World" (4:44) 6. "Little Girl in Bloom" (5:12) 7. "Gonna Creep up on You" (3:27) 8. "Song for While I'm Away" (5:10) BONUS TRACKS 9. "Whiskey in the Jar" (5:44) 10. "Black Boys on the Corner" (3:21) 11. "Randolph's Tango" (3:49) 12. "Broken Dreams" (4:26) |
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Thin Lizzy were still caught between being a hard rock/heavy metal band and an Irish folk-rock band on their third album. While there are some great rockers on this one, there are still a few that are not up to typical Thin Lizzy standards. I think the band was still a bit undecided about what direction the band should actually take. Of course the awesome "The Rocker" is one of my favorite Thin Lizzy songs of all time. "Vagabond of the Western World" is a cool song as well but it's even better on the "Peel Sessions" recordings. The title track and "Gonna Creep Up on You" are also classic tracks and have that Irish influence running throughout. "Little Girl in Bloom" with it's double tracked guitars also gave a glimpse into what would soon become the trademark "Thin Lizzy" sound. Of the three Eric Bell-era albums, this one is actually my favorite.
The Decca reissue also includes four non-LP tracks, including their first hit single "Whiskey in the Jar," and the awesome heavy metal track "Black Boys in the Corner." Tracks 9 and 12 are the two singles issued after "Shades of a Blue Orphanage," with the A sides ('Whisky In The Jar' and 'Randolph's Tango') being the full length versions.
Raven covered "The Rocker" on "Glow" and Metallica covered "Whiskey in the Jar" on their "Garage, Inc."
Thin Lizzy - Remembering Part 1 (Rebound) 1976
1. "Black Boys On
The Corner" (3:22)
2. "Song For While I'm Away" (5:08)
3. "Randolph's Tango" (3:45)
4. "Little Girl In Bloom" (3:46)
5. "Sitamoia" (3:15)
6. "Honesty Is No Excuse" (3:38)
7. "Little Darling" (2:55)
8. "Remembering" (4:00)
9. "Gonna Creep Up On You" (3:25)
10. "Whiskey In The Jar" (5:40)
11. "The Rocker" (5:12)
A collection of early rockers and some rare singles from Thin Lizzy's early days before Scott Gorham and Brian Robertson. Some of the material features guitarist Gary Moore. Much of this stuff was not available on CD but when Decca re-released the first three albums, they included much of this material as bonus tracks. Still, this is a good listen every once and a while as it includes some of the best material from the first years of Thin Lizzy. "The Rocker" and "Little Darling" are among my favorites. This disc is out of print. I picked it up for $5.99 new many years ago.
Pretty Maids covered 'Little Darling' on their "Red, Hot & Heavy" album.
Thin Lizzy - Night Life (Vertigo) 1974
1. "She Knows"
(5:12)
2. "Night Life" (3:57)
3. "It's Only Money" (2:47)
4. "Still In Love With You" (5:38)
5. "Frankie Carroll" (2:02)
6. "Showdown" (4:31)
7. "Banshee" (3:42)
8. "Philomena" (3:42)
9. "Sha-La-La" (3:25)
10. "Dear Heart" (4:31)
"Nightlife" is the first album to feature the 'classic' Thin Lizzy line-up and introduces new guitatists Scott Gorham and Brian "Robbo" Robertson. It is also the first album where Lizzy began to really let loose and become the song oriented, guitar-led, hard rock band they are remembered as.
"Sha-la-la," while having a rather silly name, is a fantastic song with extraordinary drummer leading the charge. The song became a concert favorite with Brian Downey ripping out a fantastic drum solo. "Still In Love With You" was a concert favorite for years to come as well. "Slowdown" and "Night Life" are excellent heavy R&B songs. Overall, not yet pure brilliance, but they were heading in the right direction.
"Nightlife" was the official debut of the classic line-up of Thin Lizzy consisting of founding members Philip Lynott and Brian Robertson along with new guitar tag-team Brian Robertson and Scott Gorham. With that album the band also debuted a tougher sound from their trilogy of albums as a Cream-insipired power trio. However, with "Fighting" Thin Lizzy's tough-as-nails hard rock/heavy metal sound was solidified. It is also the first in a long line of brilliant albums by one of the first and best dual guitar heavy metal bands. The twin guitar harmonies and dual leads that became Lizzy's unmistakable trademark are evidence throughout. This sound inspired countless bands that followed, especially many coming out of the New Wave of British Heavy Metal movement in the late 1970's including Iron Maiden. (Thin Lizzy weren't British and thus weren't part of the first wave of British heavy metal, but they certainly were one of the bigger outside influences.)
Though "Fighting" never achieved the commercial success and popularity of albums like "Jailbeak" and "Johnny the Fox", it still contains some of the band's finest songs. Their cover of Bob Segar's "Rosalie" would be concert favorites for years to come. Thin Lizzy just owned this song and made it their own. Songs like "Fighting", "Ballad of a Hard Man" and "Suicide" are pure 1970's heavy metal. "Suicide" in particular has long been one of my favorites. The song, which includes some kick-ass duel lead breaks, is about the suspicious circumstances of the death of Peter Brent. As in all Thin Lizzy's recordings, Phil Lynott's soulful vocals and story-telling lyrics tie everything together. Whether the song be blues based, a ballad or biting heavy metal, it all fit together under the Thin Lizzy banner. Thin Lizzy are simply brilliant! Did I mention that this was just the start of even better things to come?
2012 DELUXE EDITION
The 2012 Deluxe Edition of "Fighting" features two CDs. Disc one is the remastered original European edition of the album. The remastering is nicely done. The volume has been raised but not the the point of distortion. There seems to be some debate among fans about the remastering, some claiming that these are the exact same remasters that were released in Japan in over a decade ago. There's really no way to know this for sure, but suffice to know that this CD version sounds better than the original CD version.
However, the real reason for purchasing this classic once again is the bonus disc. Disc two features alternative versions, BBC recordings and b-sides of tracks from this era of Thin Lizzy. It's an entire album of tracks all on it's own. Unlike the 2011 "Jailbreak" Deluxe Edition there are no newly remixed or recorded tracks. This one is all vintage Thin Lizzy.
This new version is wrapped in an 8-panel digi-pack and includes a a 16 page booklet with notes once written by Malcolm Dome and interview snippets with drummer Brian Downey and Brian Robertson. Tons of era specific photos peppered throughout the book. A very nice release and well-worth purchasing again.
"King's Vengeance" was covered by Scott Gorham's post Lizzy band 21 Guns.
This was Thin Lizzy's biggest studio record in the US, due to the singles "Boys Are Back in Town" and "Jailbreak." I could care less about hits, but Thin Lizzy's "Jailbreak" is a great early heavy metal record. I still get chills when I hear the guitar lead break in "Warrior" or the heavy rhythm of "Emerald." "Cowboy Song" was a concert favorite right up until the time Thin Lizzy broke up. (Anthrax did a cool cover of this song on their "Black Lodge" EP) "Jailbreak," like many of Lizzy's studio albums after this one, is a concept record. Instead of explaining the story, I thought I would just reprint the liner notes instead:
THE JAILBREAK The Warrior locked himself into his video scanner and gazed throughout the Universe... until he came upon Dimension 5, DIMENSION 5 was now in the hands of the Overmaster, whose lust for ultimate power had become an obsession. Religion and the media were all under his control and computer files were kept on all known living persons within the city zones. Many were arrested and jailed. It was therefore significant that The Jailbreak represented a freedom for so many yet to those involved at the time it was a series of events, the outcome of which no-one could have foreseen. The plan was simple. By knocking out the alarm systems in a riot, they then would cause an explosion which would blow half the cell blocks away. Outside help came from an organization known as Phono-Graphics, who if the plan was successful would eventually capitalize on the whole project. The night of The Jailbreak all hell broke loose. A Red Alert was issued by the Overmaster himself. Robot trackers, military police. dogs and all available vehicles were on the hunt. All were caught, except four. who made it to the Rampic Buildings on the south side of the city. It was in these buildings that they broadcast and recorded selected material, some of which still survives today. Through these recordings they built up a follow ing who eventually took to the streets in what was to become the Final War. The Warrior had become weary and disillusioned with war, but seeing how the people struggled to be free he knew once again he must raise up his sword... The music sailed out into the night then upward towards the skies. travel ling on that thin border between reality and imagination |
It goes without saying that "Jailbreak" is one of my all time favorite CDs. Of course the liner notes are printed without permission from anyone. (-:
2011 DELUXE EDITION
Thin Lizzy's "Jailbreak" is a timeless classic and one of the greatest rock and roll records ever to be recorded. I've purchased and re-purchased this album more times than I care to admit. Currently I own two different vinyl copies as well as my original CD version of "Jailbreak". So why would I need to purchase it again? Well, the dreaded bonus CD! The Deluxe Edition of "Jailbreak" includes and eleven song bonus disc that included four remixed versions of Lizzy classics, four BBC Session recordings and three non-album tracks. The BBC recordings are fantastic. Lizzy were a touring machine and were constantly polishing and perfecting their songs. "Cowboy Song" and "The Warrior" from the '76 BBC Session are extraordinary and stunningly capture the band in their prime. The BBC Sessions were all recorded on Feb. 12, 1976.
The remixed tracks were mixed and in some cases, partially re-recorded by Joe Elliot (Def Leppard), guitarist Scott Groham, drummer Brian Downey and Ron McHugh. Purists may sneer in disagreement about these songs be changed at all, but in light of the fact that they are "bonus tracks" released as alternate versions, this isn't really a problem for me. In fact, disc two is a fantastic listen for the Lizzy fanatic. Someone who is not intimately familiar with these songs may not even notice the subtle changes in some songs, but other songs such as the alternate vocal, remixed version of "The Boys Are Back in Town" are different enough that anyone vaguely familiar with the original would notice. The song features features completely different verses/lyrics in the latter half of the song. As well, "Jailbreak" features a new intro that sounds like Phil Lynott, and I assume it is. The song also has some added guitar solos. As for the rest of the changes, they are well laid out by Joe Elliot in the liner notes of album. Joe is a well-known Lizzy fanatic himself and his liner notes make it clear that his affection for the band deemed that these remixes were handled with affection and strict attention. Those who "download" will miss out on those notes as well as a very detailed 20-page booklet chock full of era relative photos of the band and a lengthy essay.
As for the remastering of the original nine tracks, there seems to be much debate about these tracks on the internet. Some claim that these are the exact same masters that were released in Japan in '96. If that be true or not, I do not know. I do know that the songs sound fantastic pumping out of the speakers of my car and sound equally good in the earbuds of my iPod. The overall sound is crisper and the drums seem to be more pronounced than my original CD version.
The two disc set comes packaged in an 8-panel digi-pack. I've read that some version include Phil Lynott and Jim Fitzpatricks' concept story titled "Overmaster" on the inner flap of the digi. My copy does not include that essay.
Six Feet Under recorded a death metal version of "Jailbreak". Grave Digger also recorded a cover of "Jailbreak". Overkill recorded a cover of "Emerald".
Thin Lizzy - Johnny the Fox (Vertigo) 1976
1. "Johnny" (4:26)
2. "Rocky" (3:42)
3. "Borderline" (4:35)
4. "Don't Believe A Word" (2:18)
5. "Fools Gold" (3:51)
6. "Johnny the Fox Meets Jimmy the Weed" (3:43)
7. "Old Flame" (3:10)
8. "Massacre" (3:01)
9. "Sweet Marie" (3:58)
10. "Boogie Woogie Dance" (3:07)
And yet another brilliant Thin Lizzy record. This one is also a concept record, although the songs stand alone one their own. I never really paid much attention to the storylines, but this story is about an unlikely hero, "Johnny," who saves a young damsel in distress. "Massacre" is an intense dual guitar attack. "Don't Believe A Word" is a hard rocker that sounds even better on "Live & Dangerous." "Boogie Woogie Dance" is a heavy song with a groove. "Old Flame" and "Sweet Marie" are tender ballads. The thing about Lizzy ballads is that they always fit into the record, as opposed to being an annoying song stuck on the record just to get radio airplay or to fill a space. Like many of their 1970s releases, "Johnny the Fox" is a good listen from beginning to end. Phil Collins is listed in the thank you list as having played some percussion, although what and were is unknown. I own this on vinyl and CD.
Iron Maiden did an excellent cover of "Massacre." John Norum has covered "Don't Believe A Word". Sinner covered "Don't Believe A Word" and released a video for the song. The Southern Rock Allstars (featuring Dave Hlubeck ex-Molly Hatchet and Jackson Spires ex-Blackfoot) also recorded "Don't Believe a Word" on their Crazy Again CD (Record Heaven Music) 2001. Def Leppard recorded a cover of "Don't Believe a Word" on their Yeah! CD.
1. "Soldier
of Fortune" (5:18) |
 Thin Lizzy 1977 |
Always wondered why the front cover featured only three of the four Lizzy dudes. Found out later that Brian Robertson was forced to back away from the band due to breaking his hand in a bar fight. Robertson, however, is still listed as a member and is still pictured on the back cover. Guitarist Scott Gorham handled all guitar duties and did so in a fine manner as "Bad Reputation" is another brilliant, 100% filler-free Thin Lizzy album. Every song possessing it's own emotion and splendor. Of course, much of this is helped by Phil Lynott's soulful vocals and poetic lyrics. Favorites are the title track, "Dancing in the Moonlight," "Opium Trail," the underrated "Dear Lord"...oh heck, the whole disc is good.
I own the remastered version of this on CD as well as the original vinyl pressing.
"Bad Reputation" has been covered by Phantom Blue as well as John Norum and Tesla. Norum also recorded a cover of "Opium Trail".
1.
"Jailbreak" (4:31) This is one of the greatest
live albums of all time! Thin Lizzy's songs have always been excellent, but
in this live atmosphere, they have more power, more punch and more energy. "Live and Dangerous" is one of my all time
favorite albums of all time! |
 Scott Gorham |
Thin Lizzy - Live & Dangerous (Warner Bros.) 1978
Thin Lizzy - Black Rose/A Rock Legend (Warner Bros./Metal Blade) 1979
1.
"Do Anything You Want To" (3:53) Thin Lizzy returns with another strong album. Sadly Thin Lizzy's albums had begun selling less and less from their biggest seller "Jailbreak" and the band was beginning to become discouraged. New guitarist Gary Moore, however, brought new life to the band. (Actually Gary Moore had been with Thin Lizzy before in an earlier stage of the band.) Everything is in place from the metallic "Toughest Street in Town," to the ballad "Sarah," to the commercial rocker "Waiting for an Alibi." It seemed that Lizzy were set for a major comeback but alas, it did not happen and from what I understand, Phil Lynott became frustrated. Why this album wasn't a huge success is a mystery, because this album is just so darn good. Finally found a copy of this on CD through Metal Blade's web site for a mere $12. I own this on vinyl and CD. |
 Gary Moore & Scott Gorham |
Thin Lizzy - China Town (Warner Bros./Metal Blade) 1980
In my opinion, this is the most stagnant Lizzy album. I'm not sure why, but the songs just didn't have the power or hooks that kept me coming back for more like almost all their past releases. Some highlights are the funky "Sugar Blues" with those awesome Brian Downey drum fills and the heavy metal rockers "Killer on the Loose," "Genocide" and "China Town." Cool oriental cover art. "Genocide" has been covered by Running Wild. |
 Brian Downey, Snowy White, Phil Lynott, & Scott Gorham |
1. "Angel of
Death" (6:18) |
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Thin Lizzy - Renegade (Warner Bros./Metal Blade) 1981Despite the fact that every review of this disc I have ever read slams it as the worst thing Thin Lizzy has ever done, I like it. Perhaps there are some keyboard-pop attempts here, as was popular in 1982, but songs like "The Pressure Will Blow," "Hollywood," and the epic "Angel of Death" still sound like the metallic machine that Thin Lizzy was. New guy (former Pink Floyd tour guitarist) Snowy White never really fit the bill, either in look or in sound, but as long as Scott Gorham and Brian Downey were doing their part and Phil Lynott was still writing the material, it sounded like Thin Lizzy. Of course, at this point in their career, the band was plagued with heavy drug use, so the majority of the songs are not quite as focused as past efforts. Also, the overly clean production hampers how heavy this disc could have been. Still, no where near the tragedy that most people say it is. Perhaps "Renegade" is one of the worst Thin Lizzy studio albums, but with a line of masterworks under their belt, their worst is still better than many others best. My CD copy is the Metal Blade reissue. A good friend gave it to me because he didn't like it. One man's garbage is another man's treasure. I own this on vinyl and CD.
Gamma Ray recorded a metallic version of "Angel of Death" on their 'Heaven & Hell' single. Shotgun Messiah recorded a cover of "Hollywood".
1. "Thunder
and Lightning" (4:54) |
 John Sykes & Phil Lynott |
What can I say, if your going to go out, go out with a bang and at the top of your game. "Thunder and Lighting" was Thin Lizzy's final studio release. A "Farewell Tour" was scheduled to coincide with the release of the album. "Thunder and Lightning," was a fitting farewell as it is an AWESOME album and probably my favorite of their 80's releases. Tygers of Pan Tang guitarist John Sykes (who is still with the resurrected "tribute" band in 1999) replaced Snowy White and/or Gary Moore, and the new talent must have kicked Phil Lynott and Co. into high gear. "This Is the One" and "Cold Sweat," are pure Lynott magic. "The Sun Goes Down" is an excellent, emotion packed ballad. "The Holy Wars" is also one of Lynott's finest. There are a few weak spots, like the synthesizer solo in the middle of the title track that weakens this other wise heavy studio version. A Gorham or Sykes guitar solo would have been cool. Live versions of this song, like on "Life" and "BBC Radio One," prove that the song was suppose to be an all-out rocker. Overall, however, this is a great album and a frequent player on my CD player. I own this on vinyl and CD.
Just a couple of bands that have covered songs from this album:
Megadeth recorded a cover of "Cold Sweat" on their Super Collider album (Universal Music) 2013
Helloween "Cold Sweat" Perfect Gentleman EP (Raw Power) 1994
Re-Animator "Cold Sweat" That Was Then...This Is Now (Under One Flag) 1992
Sodom "Cold Sweat" Better Off Dead (Steamhammer/SPV) 1990
Gothic Slam "Thunder and Lightning" Just a Face in the Crowd (Epic) 1989
Sinner "The Nature of Evil" (Nuclear Blast) 1998
Heathen "The Holy War" Recovered (independent) 2004
DISC ONE |
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Thin Lizzy - Life Live (Metal Blade) 1983
What is cool about this disc is that it features every guitar player from Thin Lizzy's incredible lineups, all the way back to original guitarist Eric Bell. "Black Rose," features guitarist Gary Moore who pulls off an unbelievable extended solo. Also on hand was Snowy White, Scott Gorham, John Sykes (ex-Tygers of Pan Tang, Whitesnake), and the incredible Brian "Robbo" Robertson. The only downfall of this disc is that there was extensive studio "fixes" done, so the album is not a raw as "Live and Dangerous" or even the "BBC Radio One" disc. The quantity and the quality of material is great, despite reviews claiming that the newer material was not up to the standards of the older material. I personally think "Thunder & Lightning" is one of Phil Lynott's best songs. Lizzy Live! I can't get enough of it. This disc is now out of print, including the Metal Blade reissue. From what I read, Metal Blade licensed the disc from Warner Bros. but were only allowed to print so-many copies.
Thin Lizzy - Dedication EP (Phonogram/UK) 1991
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"Dedication" (4:00)
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"Cold Sweat" (3:09)
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"Emerald" [live] (4:26)
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"Still In Love With You" [live] (7:45)
An import CD single to help promote the "Dedication" compilation. This single features the 'new' track from which the single is named. 'Dedication' is a song that was probably started by Philip with his band Grand Slam but through modern recording techniques it was completed by Brian Downey and Scott Gorham after Philip's death for release first on this single, then later on the compilation also titled 'Dedication.' There are two live tracks that are not available on any other official release, as far as I know. I'm not sure of the year of release but I assume it was released just before the release of the compilation in '91.
Thin Lizzy - Dedication (Mercury) 1991
1. "Whiskey in The
Jar" (5:45)
2. "The Rocker" (5:11)
3. "She Knows" (5:15)
4. "Still In Love With You" (5:39)
5. "Showdown" (4:30)
6. "Rosalie" (3:14)
7. "Wild One" (4:21)
8. "Fighting My Way Back" (3:15)
9. "Jailbreak" (4:04)
10. "The Boys Are Back in Town" (4:29)
11. "Cowboy Song" (5:18)
12. "Don't Believe a Word" (2:19)
13. "Bad Reputation" (3:08)
14. "Dancing in the Moonlight" (3:26)
15. "Do Anything You Want" (3:54)
16. "Waiting for an Alibi" (4:10)
17. "Chinatown" (4:44)
18. "Dedication" (3:58)
A decent "best of" collection that includes much of the essentials but leaves out all most of the classic 80's material. The only real reason a Thin Lizzy fan would want this single disc collection is for the essential, unreleased title track "Dedication." No information is given about this song except for a year of release 1990 and a publishing date of 1991. Of course, the vocals and bass tracks must have been recorded before January of 1986 when Phil Lynott died. I couldn't see paying $16.99 for a disc that had one song on it that I wanted so I waited for a long time and finally found a used copy for $6.99.
1.
"Jailbreak" (4:41) Thin Lizzy live in Germany 1999. Of course, without Phil Lynott, it will never be the same. However, at times I have a hard time believing it's John Sykes on vocals as he really does a great job of imitating Phil Lynott. Of course, no one will ever be able to replace him as he was Thin Lizzy. Still it's nice to hear some new live versions of these classic songs. Phil you are missed, but I am glad that Scott Gorham, John Sykes and Tommy Aldridge decided to pay homage to their deceased band mate and friend by doing these live shows. I had tickets in my hand to see this incarnation of Thin Lizzy in August of 2000 in Albuquerque, but they canceled their US tour. Argh!!! I'm still bummed. |
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Thin Lizzy - One Night Only (SPV/Steamhammer) 2000
Phil Lynott - The Lost Recordings (HotPress) 2006
1. "Mama and Papa"
(2:25)
2. "Saga of the Ageing Orphan" (3:00)
3. "It's Really Worthwhile" (3:22)
4. "Dublin" (2:50)
5. "The Friendly Ranger at Clontarf Castle" (2:31)
While labeled as Phil Lynott, this is essentially a Thin Lizzy EP as Eric Bell is the guitarist on these tracks, and this was an early incarnation of Thin Lizzy. "The Lost Recordings" features five songs that were recorded in early 1970.. There are different versions of 'Saga Of The Ageing Orphan' and 'The Friendly Ranger At Clontarf Castle' both of which appeared on the album Thin Lizzy (1971). There is also a different recording of 'Dublin' which appeared on the New Day EP (1971). The remaining two songs - 'Mama And Papa' and 'It's Really Worthwhile' - are effectively 'new' and 'unreleased' as they were never otherwise recorded. Apparently the tapes for these tracks were securly locked up at Trend Studios in Dublin for all these years. All five tracks are far removed from the twin guitar attack that Lizzy would be known for. Rather, these tracks are acoustic based and are more Irish folk than rock. The CD comes out to coinicide with Lynott's birthday on August 20, which is also the first anniversary of the unveiling of his statue, beside Bruxelles in Dublin. The EP was only released through the local music magazine HotPress and will not be reissued in any form making this an instant collector's item. (extra special thanks to my good friend Kieran for hooking me up with this!)
Thin Lizzy - UK Live '75 (Major League Productions) 2008
1. "Fighting My Way
Back" (3:51)
2. "It's Only Money" (3:34)
3. "Wild One" (4:24)
4. "For Those Who Love To Live" (5:05)
5. "Still In Love With You" (9:22)
6. "Showdown" (5:32)
7. "Suicide" (5:07)
8. "Rosalie" (3:59)
9. "The Rocker" (3:55)
10. "Sha La La" ( 7:09)
11. "Baby Drives Me Crazy" (6:24)
12. "Me And The Boys" (6:43)
13. "Cowboy Song (Derby Blues)" (6:49)
14. "Little Darling" (3:13)
15. "Sound Check Jam" (2:47)
I am a Thin Lizzy fanatic. When I found out that this show from 1975 was being released officially on CD, I more than eagerly anticipated it's release! Thin Lizzy live are always outstanding! They had an energy that was never quite captured in the studio like it is one their live recordings.
"UK Live '75" is a complete live show that was originally a BBC radio broadcast. Recorded at Derby College in November 1975, this CD features songs from the band's underrated "Nightlife" and "Fighting" albums. Five songs from "Fighting" show up here. There is also one new song that would show up on the band's next album, "Jailbreak". Phil titles the song "Derby Blues" during the performance, but would eventually be known as "Cowboy Song". The album features some great songs that wouldn't be played on future tours like "It's Only Money" and "Little Darling". Of course, once the band hit their stride with "Jailbreak", songs like "Emerald", "Jailbreak" and "Boys Are Back in Town" would become the concert staples. The CD also features the bonus "Sound Check Jam", which was a nice inclusion.
The sound isn't perfect, but does sound 100% live. Personally, I prefer it that way. Actually the sound here is quite good despite the minor imperfections. The packaging is outstanding featuring a miniature album cover, with an inner picture sleeve and a 20-page booklet. The booklet features a slew of photos from this era of the band as well as a write up from Lizzy drummer Brian Downey. A very cool collector's disc for the Thin Lizzy enthusiast.
Thin Lizzy - Still Dangerous (VH1 Music) 2009Wow! Two new "official" live Lizzy releases in one year. This one comes on the heal of the excellent "UK Tour '75" and features Thin Lizzy recorded live in my old stomping grounds, The Tower Theater in Philadelphia, PA. I saw many killer shows at the old, converted movie theater back in the day. "Still Dangerous" obviously plays off the legacy of "Live & Dangerous", an album many consider to be one of the best live albums of all time, myself included. In 1977 Thin Lizzy were at the top of their game musically, even if they were imploding from excessive drug use and internal torment. Unlike "Live & Dangerous", this recording is supposed to be untouched with overdubs. If that be the case, the band was on their game here. The songs sound alive and full of energy and I don't really hear any huge flubs. Of course, I'm of the opinion that rock and roll was never suppose to be perfect to begin with. Rock and roll should be raw and emotion filled, as opposed to stiff perfection. Thin Lizzy had actually performed two shows at the historic Tower Theater. "Still Dangerous" offers a compilation of ten songs from those two shows. I'm not sure why the powers that be decided to release only ten songs but this is unfortunate. I have a bootleg recording from one of the shows and there are at least six other songs that could have been included here. Perhaps someone felt the performance wasn't up to their standards, but from what I have heard, the entire show was fantastic. Those lucky enough to score the vinyl issue of "Still Dangerous" were given a bonus 7" single that includes two more songs from this song.
Thin Lizzy - Live In London 2011 (Concert Live) 2011
DISC ONE
1. Are You Ready? (3:26)
2. Waiting For An Alibi (3:32)
3. Jailbreak (3:51)
4. Do Anything You Want To (4:24)
5. Don't Believe A Word (2:11)
6. Dancing In The Moonlight (4:16)
7. Massacre (3:01)
8. Angel Of Death (6:36)
9. Still In Love With You (9:25)
10. Whiskey In The Jar (6:39)
11. Emerald (5:23)
DISC TWO
12. Wild One (4:33)
13. Sha La La La (6:18)
14. Cowboy Song (6:37)
15. The Boys Are Back In Town (6:53)
16. Rosalie (6:47)
17. Bad Reputation (6:15)
18. Black Rose (5:35)
19. Black Rose (Reprise) (3:07)
Many things have been written about Thin Lizzy and whether this band should exist at all without the late, great Phil Lynott. Frankly, I was never blessed to see the original incarnation of Thin Lizzy and was thankful to see Thin Lizzy with Scott Gorham and John Sykes a few years ago. Though it can never be the same without Phil, it's great that these guys are keeping the music and legacy of Thin Lizzy alive.
Thin Lizzy "Live in London 2011" captures that band live at the Hammersmith Apollo on January 1, 2011. This incarnation Thin Lizzy features original founding member and drummer Brian Downey, as well as classic-line up guitarist Scott Gorham, longtime keyboard player Darren Wharton, bassist Marco Mendoza (Ted Nugent), guitarist Vivian Campbell (Dio/Def Leppard) and vocalist Ricky Warwick. The band charges through a bunch of fan favorites and even resurrects some fantastic forgotten gems like the metallic "Angel of Death" and the double-bass infused "Bad Reputation". The guitar tandem of Gorham and Campbell nail the twin assault that became Thin Lizzy's calling card. The band is probably tighter here than they ever were during their drug addled classic years. Of course, even though the music is handled with a great deal of respect, Phil's vocals are sorely missed. Warwick keeps it simple and is a good vocalist in his own right. His Irish lilt keeps things reasonably close to how things should be but there is no denying the power and charisma that Phil had.
Being a Lizzy fanatic, I had to own this piece of Lizzy history. I'm not one that completely dismisses this band due to Phil's passing. I am glad that Scott and Brian are keeping the music of Thin Lizzy alive. "Live in London 2011" is a solid live album and a testimony to the timelessness of Phil's music. However, to be completely honest, if I am wanting to Lizzy live, chances are I am going to reach for "Live & Dangerous" or one of the many live releases that have come out over the years featuring the classic line-up.
Back to Main Index | Vinyl Collection | Rare Live Releases & Bootlegs
Related collections:
Philip Lynott (solo) | Gary Moore | 21 Guns | John
Sykes | Blue Murder | Black Star Riders
Also see: The Spirit of the Back Rose-A Tribute to Philip Lynott