In a week when we’re adding some much needed color to the swath of pale faces in the Presidential lineup, I thought it a fine time to recall Dublin’s Thin Lizzy and in particular, Phil Lynott who crashed the proverbial party in a similar vein and left an indelible mark of change in his own right along the way.
Some backgroud via Wiki: “Thin Lizzy were founded one night in December 1969 in Dublin, Ireland, when Belfast guitarist Eric Bell met up with organist Eric Wrixon in a pub and found that they shared an ambition to form a group. Both musicians had previously played with Them, fronted by Van Morrison. The same night, they went to see the band Orphanage, which featured vocalist Phil Lynott and drummer Brian Downey. Bell and Wrixon introduced themselves after the gig and suggested the four of them form a band together. Lynott and Downey were aware of Bell’s good musical reputation, and agreed with the condition that Lynott play bass guitar as well as sing, and that they perform some of his own compositions.
In the summer of 1970, Thin Lizzy released a single, “The Farmer” / “I Need You”, on EMI with the B-side written by John D’ardis, who owned Trend Studios where the single was recorded. The single only sold 283 copies and is now a collectors’ item. Wrixon left the band before the single’s release, meaning there was a greater share of income for the three remaining members. He moved to Europe before returning to Belfast, rejoining his old band, Them.
By the end of 1970, Thin Lizzy were signed to Decca Records, and they travelled to London in January 1971 to record their debut album, Thin Lizzy. The album sold moderately well but did not chart in the UK despite airplay and support from influential DJs John Peel and Kid Jensen.”
This week we’re going to delve the early incarnation of Thin Lizzy–the days of the group as a trio whose material was immersed in the country and culture of Ireland– long before the superheroics exhibited in the latter years. And if you’re just familiar with Lizzy’s latter years and the success borne by ‘The Boys Are Back In Town’ and ‘Jailbreak’ and you’ll be for a few surprises from what was a very different band indeed at its inception:
Thin Lizzy – Honesty Is No Excuse (Mp3)
Thin Lizzy – Diddy Levine (Mp3)
Thin Lizzy – Eire (Mp3)
Thin Lizzy – Dublin (Mp3)
Thin Lizzy – Remembering Part 2 (New Day) (Mp3)
