Emerald (Thin Lizzy) (LP 4637 - 4640)

Thin Lizzy  Jailbreak (CD, Vertigo Records, 1976) *****  

Thin Lizzy  Live and Dangerous (Vinyl and CD, Vertigo Records, 1978) *****  

Thin Lizzy  Black Rose: A Rock Legend (CD, Vertigo Records, 1979) ****  

Thin Lizzy  Life (Vinyl, Vertigo Records, 1983) **  

Genre: Rock

Places I remember: JB Hi Fi, Marbecks Records, Chaldon Books and Records (Life)

Fab, and all the other pimply hyperboles: Don't Believe A Word (Live and Dangerous)

Gear costume: Jailbreak (Live and Dangerous)

They loom large in his legend (The Album Collection playlists): Part 1; Part 2; Part 3; Part 4; Part 5; Part 6; Part 7

Active compensatory factors: Jailbreak was the big breakout album (sorry) for Thin Lizzy. At that time Phil Lynott was part of a classic fabulous four with Scott Gorham/ Brian Robertson on guitars and Brian Downey on drums. Together they made a fearsome racket, but it's the songs that stand out.

Five of the nine songs from Jailbreak would enter the set list for the double live Live and Dangerous - that's how good the Jailbreak album was. Even the songs that didn't make the setlist are great. There are no duds on Jailbreak.

If I could only have one Thin Lizzy album it would be Live and Dangerous from 1978. The live album comes from the Hammersmith in London 1976 and shows in Toronto and Philadelphia in 1977. The whole record is presented as a complete gig and for once a double album is warranted to capture all the excitement.

It is Brian Robertson's last album before he left the band, so Live and Dangerous becomes a fitting tribute to him and his twin guitar foil, Scott Gorham.  

The road-tested songs are delivered with complete confidence, and the performance of each song is superb. It's still all about the songs. The band and Phil strut imperiously throughout the set, knowing that each song is a peak, definitive performance.

Where to go from there? Black Rose is where. Guitar hero Gary Moore replaces Brian Robertson on this album and he and Scott weave more magic as a dual axe attack. The songs are effective again - more varied than the older version of Thin Lizzy. Indeed AllMusic called it 'one of the '70s lost rock classics'.  

Life is another double live album - this time from 1983. It was recorded during the band's farewell tour. As it was a farewell some previous members were invited to appear - former Thin Lizzy guitarists Eric Bell (1969–73), Brian Robertson (1974–76 and 1977-78) and Gary Moore (1974, 1977 and 1978–79). 

Given all that and the fact that Live and Dangerous is one of the greatest double live albums of all time, I had high hopes for Life. Sadly, it's a shocker in comparison. Sound and playing - everything is muddy and shoddy. It's going into the for-sale pile.

Where do they all belong? At their best, Thin Lizzy is a massive hard rock band and Phl Lynott at his best is a brilliant writer, singer, bass player and band leader. Remember him that way!