Miles Collins

A new recording from the classic Thin Lizzy Line-Up

If, like me you are a fan of Messers Phil Lynott and varying band members who helped make up the brilliant Thin Lizzy then you’ll be glad to know that a new live album is to be released.

‘UK Tour ‘75′ as it will be called is a recording of their final show of the ‘Fighting’ album promo tour at the Derby college on the 21st November 1975. Fighting is one of my favourite albums, this was the classic Thin Lizzy line-up of Lynott, Brian Downey, Brian Robertson and Scott Gorham. All of the tracks have been remastered, here’s the set list:

Fighting My Way Back/It’s Only Money/Wild One/For those who Love to Live/Still in Love with You/showdown/Suicide/Rosalie/The Rocker/Sha La La/Baby Drives Me Crazy/Me and the Boys/Cowboy Song/Little Darling/Sound Check Jam

Unlike the legendary ‘Live and Dangerous’ album this hasn’t been mixed to death, there are some nice touches showing Phil’s status as one of rock’s greatest ever frontmen. For those who are unfamiliar with the music don’t think it’s all loud rock stuff, quite the opposite.

For those who have never heard anything other than the ‘Boys are Back in Town’ check out ‘Wild One’ and ‘Still in Love with You’, pure rock poetry from one of the most underrated singer/songwriters of all time, Phil Lynott.
Here’s an old clip of a classic Lizzy track, ‘Don’t Believe a Word’ which has two versions, this is the slow one. You’ll have to forgive the sound quality in places and an unfortunate choice of finger from Gary Moore though in fairness the raising of the middle finger is more rooted in American tradition than British, we favour the reverse peace sign!

The late and very great Cozy Powell replaces Brian Downey on drums for this one off, he was killed whilst driving his Saab 9000 and talking to his girlfriend on his mobile at the same time. According to the coroners report his last words were “Oh, S**t” and the phone went dead. The end of a man who played with Rainbow, Black Sabbath, Jeff Beck, Whitesnake, Jimmy Page, Yngwie Malmsteen, Brian May and a thousand others.

This song displays Lynott’s ability to write songs with seemingly simple lyrics but upon further listening have far deeper connotations. His death was a real loss because his sort really don’t come around all too often…