“He always wanted to be able to write with other people – especially the guys in the band.” “Right off the bat, Phil encouraged everybody to write, he didn’t want to be the lone ranger,” Gorham told American Songwriter in 2013. The album’s consummate opening cut, “She Knows,” captures the group at their most poppy and accessible, but it’s also significant for being the first of many songs co-written by Phil Lynott and guitarist Scott Gorham. Though it may have lacked some of the firepower of future classics such as Jailbreak, Thin Lizzy’s fourth album, 1974’s Nightlife, is something of an under-appreciated gem. They retained their songwriting chops, however indeed, Renegade’s best moments, the driving “Hollywood (Down On Your Luck),” the Latin-flavored “Mexican Girl” and the record’s melancholic title track are capable of duking it out with the best of the Dublin stars’ work. Released in 1981, Thin Lizzy’s penultimate album, Renegade, saw the group trying to find their feet among the era’s rapidly changing trends. The romance’n’roguery-fueled lyric appealed to Phil Lynott, and while the song was hardly representative of Thin Lizzy’s overall sound, their potent recording rewarded the band with their first UK Top 10 hit (and first Irish chart-topper) in February 1973. 18: Whiskey In The JarĪ classic folk song concerning a highwayman who is betrayed by his sweetheart after robbing a government official, “Whiskey In The Jar” was first popularized by traditional Irish folk outfit The Dubliners during the 60s. The most controversial song in Thin Lizzy’s canon, edgy rocker “Killer On The Loose” was released as a single in the middle of the lengthy manhunt for the notorious British serial killer Peter Sutcliffe, better known by his tabloid nickname, “The Yorkshire Ripper.” Sutcliffe wasn’t the inspiration for the song, but that didn’t prevent the press from accusing Phil Lynott of exploiting his murderous spree for artistic gain when “Killer On The Loose” peaked at No.10 in the UK Top 40 during the autumn of 1980. One of the few early songs that remained in the band’s live set after their lead guitar duo of Brian Robertson and Scott Gorham replaced original six-string incumbent Eric Bell in 1974, “The Rocker” drew up the template for the stylish, swaggering anthems that defined Thin Lizzy’s oeuvre during the mid-to-late 70s. 20: The RockerĪrguably Thin Lizzy’s first truly stellar song, the aptly titled “The Rocker” was the stand-out cut from their third album, 1973’s Vagabonds Of The Western World. Listen to the best Thin Lizzy songs on Apple Music and Spotify. They’ve been nominated for the Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame in 2020, so we raise a glass to this truly singular Dublin group and pick the 20 Best Thin Lizzy songs of all time. While Thin Lizzy recorded plenty for the punk and metal crews to enjoy, they also crafted glorious ballads and put their inimitable stamp on everything from funk to traditional Irish standards. Led by the charismatic Phil Lynott, this flamboyant group was responsible for some of the 70s’ most enduring hard rock classics and – as their peerless Live And Dangerous album proves – they were a force of nature on stage. After hearing the great tracks on Dedication, you'll be reminded that there was so much more to this legendary band.When it comes to groundbreaking rock’n’roll outfits, few are more deserving of kudos than Thin Lizzy. Elsewhere, often-overlooked tracks like "She Knows," "Fighting My Way Back," and "Cowboy Song" get to share the spotlight with such familiar faves as "The Boys Are Back in Town," "Bad Reputation," "Jailbreak," "Waiting for an Alibi," "Dancing in the Moonlight," and "Don't Believe a Word." Also included is an essay in which Lynott is quoted as saying that he'd like Lizzy to be remembered as a great guitar band (in the tradition of the Yardbirds, etc.). But the real attraction for Lizzy buffs is the inclusion of the previously unreleased title track, which was completed by the other members years after Lynott's passing in 1986. While not as extensive as Wild One (only one track is featured from their '80s work), Dedication contains more early selections than the other mentioned titles. Several Thin Lizzy best-of collections have surfaced over the years (such as 1981's Adventures of Thin Lizzy and 1984's Lizzy Lives!), but the best two are undeniably 1996's Wild One and 1991's Dedication.
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