Tag: thin lizzy

How do you follow up a masterpiece that is Jailbreak? It’s surprising they even did anything after it, with all the issues they were having at the time. Phil being hospitalized with hepatitis, and the ongoing confrontation with Brian Robertson. In fact, this would be Robbo’s last album as part of the band. He only co-wrote one song (Borderline) on this album so he wasn’t bringing too much to the table anyway, but the solo on Borderline is beautiful.

The big hit on the album and one of my all time favourite tunes is Don’t Believe A Word. It’s a perfect rock tune. Killer main riff and groove with Phil’s vocals just superb and the solos… oh my! It’s a true goosebumps tune! The other big track was the title song Johnny The Fox. A great funky under groove that was so different from anything else they were doing at the time. Let’s not forget Massacre, which was a return to the Jailbreak feel with the Celtic overtones.

I think you can call this a treading water album with flashes of Lizzy brilliance spread around, but it is still better than what most bands were putting out in ’77.

8/10 from The Grooveman.

In the tradition of great live albums that came out in the seventies, Live And Dangerous is a close runner-up to Made In Japan for the best. Recorded at various venues over a few tours, the Hammersmith Odeon and Seneca College in Toronto to name two, this is Lizzy at their supreme best. I saw them live around this time, and believe me they were a killer live band.

Heavily loaded with Jailbreak tunes which let’s face it, was their best album; this album just smokes. Side 3 with Cowboy Song, The Boys Are Back In Town, Don’t Believe A Word, Warrior, and Are You Ready has to be one of the best sides ever. The version of Warrior on this set is just killer, and for today is my favourite track on the album. Phil was such a great frontman. I miss Lizzy and that twin guitar attack a lot.

10/10 from The Grooveman.

This was album number six for the band, but this was the one that really broke them open to a wider audience. There is not a bad moment on this album, it’s a bonafide classic and every song is a gem. The music, the composition, and the brilliance of Phil’s lyrics all come together on this album. It’s the best Lizzy album by a mile. I know there were some great songs done after this, but for me this is the one.

I would have paid my money just for the opening track of Jailbreak alone, but add to that The Boys Are Back In Town, The Cowboy Song, Emerald, and Warriors, bands would kill family members just to have written one of those. My favourite track on the album is Warriors – such a killer track, and the riff and groove alone get me every time. The twin lead guitars on this album were ground breaking and would lead to lots of bands copying this style. I know Gary Moore was in the band, but this line up was the best. Brain Robertson’s tone and playing on this album is just sublime. Luther demon drink and drugs would be the downfall for this band, and Phil died way to soon.

10/10 from The Grooveman.