Band Profile: Thin Lizzy

My all time favourite band is Thin Lizzy. No debate. Everything they do speaks to me in some way.


“Thin Lizzy?!?!?! That’s the band that had the hits “Jailbreak” and “The Boys are Back in Town” right?”

Yes

“That’s crazy..they only have, like 1 or 2 albums!”

No, they have 12 studio albums, and a couple of killer live lps!



I was like the majority of you at first. I knew of the songs “Jailbreak” and “The Boys are Back in Town” and thought they were good songs, but what else? Well, the Bass player in the band I was in at the time, wanted us to play “The Cowboy Song”, so he played it for us. It’s on the same album as the other two.

I asked for more. He played the lp Bad Reputation, and that was pretty much it. I did my research and snapped up all the Thin Lizzy vinyl I could find.

What is it about Thin Lizzy that I love? Many things…the dual lead guitar work of Scott Gorham and Brian Robertson. The passionate voice of Phil Lynott, and just song, after song of straight up hard rock and roll!!!!!

My purpose here is to give you my opinions on their albums and songs, and perhaps stir some interest in you to go out and acquire some Thin Lizzy!!!

The First Period: “Irish Cream”

Thin Lizzy was a power trio on their first three albums. I call them an Irish “Cream” because they had a totally different sound that what we would come to recognize later. Very Irish, and very psychedelic, and still very good! The lineup here was Phil Lynott-Bass/Vocals, Brian Downey-Drums, Eric Bell-Guitar.

-Sidebar-…”The Door”
I believe that when you are starting to get into a band for the first time, or are checking out a band to see if you like them, you need to go in the right “door”, meaning , you need to pick the right album to listen to first. If you pick the wrong one, you might get the wrong idea and go no further. For example, if you wanted to check out Tom Waits, you need to listen to Closing Time first, then you can proceed. If you listen to Rain Dogs first, you may never listen to him again!- End Sidebar-

That all being said. These three Thin Lizzy albums are ones you would go back and get after you envelop yourself in some of the others first. The first three albums are as follows:

1. Thin Lizzy-A good first effort, kinda like an unfocused Disreli Gears, but with plenty to chew on. Rating: 7/10
Song highlights:
A. Honesty is no excuse- a lovely ballad showing the beauty of Phil’s voice
B. Ray Gun-somebody had his Hendrix records out!!
C. Return of the Farmer’s Son- pure rock jam..Eric Bell wails here!
D. Remembering Part 1- Classic Phil songwriting here! One of my favorites. Slow then jam, then slow, then jam!

2. Shades of a Blue Orphanage-More of the same. If they combined the best songs off this and the first album, you would have a dynamite lp!
Rating: 6/10
Song highlights”
A. Baby Face- a little rock ditty with the classic Phil scowl
B. Call the Police- another short little rocker, nice riff!

3. Vagabonds of the Western World- The best of this period, hands down! Many good jams to be had on here!
Rating: 9/10
Song highlights:
A. Mama Nature Said- Eric Bell slides his way through this tune with a boogie-down prowess!
B. The Hero and the Madman- So weird, it’s good. Part spoken word, part wacked out wah-wah jam, part blistering solo!!!! Crank up the volume at the end of this tune, then buy a neck brace!!!
C. The Rocker-Ultimate Classic!!!! This song makes you want to buy a Harley and ride it down the open road after making out with a tough chick!
D. Little Girl in Bloom- Phil sings about a daughter telling her parents about her pregnancy!!! No subject goes untouched!!!!
E. Whiskey in the Jar- THE definitive version. Their first real hit in England/Ireland

The Second Period: The Classic Lineup

This is where they defined their sound. Gone was Eric Bell and in were American Scott Gorham and Brit Brian Robertson..the dual lead attack takes shape!!!!
4. Nightlife- A transitional album, rather soft, but some good tunes and a few bona fide rockers as well
Rating: 7/10
Song highlights:
A. She Knows- The start of the dual leads, mixed with some good acoustic and naturally Phil’s passionate voice!
B. It’s Only Money- One of the only true rockers on this album, but a good one. Play it loud
C. Philomena- My favourite. Period. Irish. Guitar-y.

5. Fighting-This is where it really happens. The true Thin Lizzy sound starts here! Go out and get this album NOW!!
Rating: 10/10
Song highlights:
EVERY CUT!!!! But in the interest of giving examples..
A. For Those Who Love to Live-listen to this once, then again listening only to the rhythm section..flawless!
B. Suicide- 100% pure jams!!! Grade A!!
C. Fighting My Way Back- The true definition of a Table Busting Jam…hide the furniture!
D. King’s Vengeance- I love the way he switches the dynamics around here…a treat!

6. Jailbreak- The classic, the one you know. If you don’t have it. Turn the computer off, and go get it..I don’t care how…
Rating 10/10
Song highlights:
A. Jailbreak- Please. You know this.
B. Running Back- Phil can write a pop tune. This should have been a #1 hit!
C. The Boys are Back in Town- Need I explain?
D. The Cowboy Song- Simply put, a perfectly crafted rock song. Perfect solos. I defy you to find a better song…TOO LATE!!!!
E. Emerald- When you hear this tune, you want to stand on a mountain in gale force winds…especially towards the end,

7. Johnny the Fox- Supposedly Phil was messed up with Hepatitis during the writing and recording of this album, so it is considered “soft”……no. It is considered “jams”..by me.
Rating 10/10
Song highlights:
A. Johnny-Gritty, wah-wah-y…play it too loud!
B. Rocky- Love Brian Downey’s drums here!
C. Don’t Believe a Word- Another tune that should have been a #1 hit!
D. Fool’s Gold- This song has my favourite guitar solo ever. I can’t explain it, but there it is.

8. Bad Reputation- Yet another fantastic album. Any album from Fighting to this one is a proper door in which to enter Thin Lizzy.
Rating: 10/10
Song highlights:
A. Bad Reputation- More dual lead amazement!
B. Southbound- Just a pleasant tune. I can say no more
C. Dancin’ in the Moonlight- Feel Phil’s whimsy here! Great solo!

The Third Period: Revolving Guitarists

At this point Brian Robertson left due to drug problems and other issues, so it seemed like they had a different second guitarist on each album almost! Some of their most metal-like stuff appears here.
9. Black Rose: A Rock Legend- Gary Moore joins them for this dynamite lp!!! Some of my favourite songs ever are on this one!
Rating: 10/10
Song highlights:
A. Toughest Street in Town- This song rocks so much, that you must wear protective gear when you listen to this. Gary Moore’s solo here can knock you down.
B. Waiting for an Alibi- A classic. The outro is the best in Rock! One of my favourite songs ever to be recorded!
C. Sarah- Probably Phil’s best ballad,
D. Rosin Dubin- Irish guitar wizardry…where’s the Guiness?

10. Chinatown- Snowy White joins them for the next two albums. He was a guitarist who played for Pink Floyd in the mid 70s. This album is standard issue hard rock, the Thin Lizzy way!
Rating: 7/10
Song highlights:
A. Chinatown- Solid rocker from Phil and the boys here.
B. Killer on the Loose-Another really hard and heavy one from them here.

11. Renegade- Still with Snowy White and still a very solid album of rockers here.
Rating: 8/10
Song highlights:
A. Renegade-Kind of an epic tune here, but really good. I like the dynamics between verse and chorus here.
B. Hollywood(Down on your luck)- Yet another pop rocker that should have been a hit!
C. Fats- A semi –jazzy departure here, but I love it. Check this one out!

12. Thunder and Lightning- John Sykes joins up here along with keyboardist Darren Wharton. This is my favourite album, I just keep coming back to it. This was a little ahead of its time because it predates the 80s hair metal by a few years, but it would sound right at home in it. (yeah, I know that might not be a good thing, but fuck it!!!)
Rating: 10/10
Song highlights:
All of it!!!!!! I can’t single any out. Call your boss, tell him you have to leave, go to the nearest Tower records and buy this, then thank me!!!! Any song from the title cut, to “Holy War” to “Cold Sweat” to “Baby Please Don’t Go” is a winner!!!!

OK! There you go! Hopefully I gave you some info on what you may or may not be interested in, but if I were to list the “door opening order” of albums, it would go like this….
1. Fighting
2. Jailbreak
3. Johnny the Fox
4. Bad Reputation
5. Black Rose: a Rock Legend
6. Thunder and Lightning
7. Renegade
8. Vagabonds of the Western World
9. Chinatown
10. Nightlife
11. Thin Lizzy
12. Shades of a Blue Orphanage