You have to say that Universal has done the absolute dog's you-know-what by their 1973 third studio album for its 50th Anniversary Reissue here in 2023. I love these things so much that I've only gone and committed to all three big formats - the 50th Anniversary 2-LP Purple Vinyl set with a fantastically complimentary Extras LP (which I'm reviewing here) and the 50th Anniversary 4-LP Box Set that has a 60-page book to drool over with the album on LP1 and LPs 2, 3 and 4 being the 'Radio One In Concert/John Peel Sessions' from 1972 and 1973 that first appeared on "At The BBC" 6CD Box Set in 2011. Those BBC Sessions are first-issue on vinyl in the 4LP Box which I've reviewed elsewhere. The 4-Disc 50th Anniversary Super Deluxe variant will also be a thing of '3CD/1BLU RAY/DOLBY ATMOS MIXES' lust - but it's been delayed and is due 1 Dec 2023 with the ATMOS Mixes being first-time-ever for a Lizzy release. At this point in time there appears to be no 2023 single LP, single CD or 2CD sets - just the above 3 variants in 50th Anniversary Issues.
Back to LPs - I've bought great reissue vinyl before - David Sylvian on Virgin, Peter Gabriel on Real World and the stunning Paul Blackmore-Mastered expanded 2LP reissue of Terry Callier's 1968 Debut "The New Folk Sound Of..." on Craft Recordings in 2018 - all these sets have tickled the funny bones, touched the heart and are fabulous owns. But this 2LP set and the 4LP Box Set (reviewed elsewhere) are the business. Details for then and now...
Originally released as an album 21 September 1973 in the UK on Decca Records SKL 5170 (May 1974 in the USA on London XPS 636 with a slightly edited version of "Little Girl In Bloom") – the LP "Vagabonds Of The Western World" had huge tunes like the manic guitar-fest of "The Rocker", the slide guitar meets environmental statement song "Mama Nature Said" and the deeply touching and melodious "Little Girl In Bloom" - it was a huge song-writing step forward after "Thin Lizzy" of 1971 and "Shades Of A Blue Orphanage" in 1972. Hip British DJ of the moment (1973) - David Kid Jensen narrates "The Hero And The Madman". It was also the first to feature their trademark look via Jim Fitzpatrick artwork and pointed towards a commercial Rock future that would take three more albums to arrive at "Jailbreak" and "Johnny The Fox" - both in 1976. Back to the first of the November 2023 "Vagabonds..." VINYL reissues - here are the heroes and the madmen...
Tracks 1 and 2 are the A & B-sides of their second UK 7" single released 3 November 1972 on Decca F 13355. "Whisky In The Jar" (spelt with an 'e' only on American issues) was the real starting point for Thin Lizzy's global success. "Whisky" is a traditional Irish air dating as far back as 1729 and was originally only meant to be a jokey B-side dashed off in the studio to accompany "Black Boys On The Corner" on the A (far more representative of their rocking sound). But British DJ's flipped the single and "Whisky" became the hit. It finally charted January 1973 and eventually rose to number 6.
[Note: the version used here is commonly known as the 'Full Single Version' at 5:44 minutes. However a 7" 'edit' of the track was quickly pressed up for BBC Radio play and the US 7" single on London - this 'edit' version at 3:44 minutes is on the October 2010 UK 2CD Deluxe Edition of "Vagabonds Of The Western World" and on the December 2023 '50th Anniversary' Super Deluxe CD Edition
Tracks 3 and 4 are their 2nd UK 7" single released May 1973, both tracks on Decca F 13402 were non-album at the time.
[Note: the version of "Randolph's Tango" that is used here is known as the 'Full Version' at 3:49 minutes - the promo-only 7" edit at 2:25 minutes is Track 17 on the 2CD DE version of "Vagabonds..." from October 2010)
Track 5 on Side 1 and Track 1 on Side 2 is their 3rd UK 7" single and the first to feature a track off the album. "The Rocker" (A-side) was issued as a 7" single in the UK in November 1973 on Decca F 13467 and is an edited version (2:41 as opposed to the album's 5:12 minutes). It was backed with another non-album Phil Lynott track, the jaunty "Here I Go Again".
LP2 Side 2
1. Here I Go Again (Single, B-side)
2. A Ride In The Lizzy Mobile (Single, B-side)
3. Whiskey In The Jar (Alternate Mix, Extended Version)
4. Black Boys On The Corner (Alternate Mix)
5. Gonna Creep Up On You (Alternate Mix)
NOTES:
Track 5 on Side 1 and Track 1 on Side 2 is their 3rd UK 7" single and the first to feature a track off the album. "The Rocker" (A-side) was issued as a 7" single in the UK in November 1973 on Decca F 13467 and is an edited version (2:41 as opposed to the album's 5:12 minutes). It was backed with another non-album Phil Lynott track, the jaunty "Here I Go Again".
Track 2 is non-album also. Often called "Cruising In The Lizzymobile" - its correct title "A Ride In The Lizzy Mobile" is used here. It is also a genuine Thin Lizzy vinyl rarity as it was only ever issued on the B-side of the 7" GERMAN release of "The Rocker". Its CD debut first came on the "Vagabonds Kings Warriors Angels" 4CD Box Set in 2001. Its rare picture sleeve is reproduced on the right flap of the inner gatefold (along with three other Euro Pic Sleeves) of this double-album.
Tracks 3, 4 and 5 are PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED 'Alternate Mixes'
The inner gatefold has the original album artwork from 1973 on the left side (counters the new 'outtake' Jim Fitzpatrick artwork on the front cover of this double) while the right-side flap has a Picture Sleeve Montage of four rare Euro 45s - "The Rocker" from Japan, Germany and Denmark with "Whisky In The Jar" from Denmark. Both dedicated inner sleeves feature promotional material from Decca in 1973 - a full page advert for the LP with quotes from British DJs and Fans John Peel and Kid Jensen along with cartoon adverts for "Whisky In The Jar" and "Randolph's Tango".
It's all beautifully done and the mastering is by two fave Audio Engineers - ANDY PEARCE and MATT WORTHAM - who have handled huge swathes of Universal's Rock and Pop catalogue - Rory Gallagher, Budgie, Free, Spooky Tooth, ELP, Uriah Heep and Thin Lizzy too. The new Remasters are fabulous - loving too the Alternate Mixes. I can see why they were left in the can, but for a diehard like me - they're absolutely fascinating stuff. Apart from not listing playing times on the labels - I'd have to say that this 2LP VINYL reissue is not only a fabulous listen - that 2ND LP plays like the big-ball-brother little-brother "Vagabonds..." has always wanted. I'm going to be canning this on my turntable for months on end.
A gorgeous reissue then and apart from not listing playing times on the labels - I'd have to say that this 2LP VINYL reissue is not only a fabulous listen - that 2ND LP plays like the big-balls-brother little-brother "Vagabonds Of The Western World" has always wanted as a room mate. I'm going to be canning this on my turntable for months on end.
The Black Vinyl '50th Anniversary 4-LP Box Set' edition of "Vagabonds Of The Western World" (Issued 17 Nov 2023 on Universal/Decca 5587518 - Barcode 602455875181) are all different too. LP1 is the album remastered with no less than three BBC Sessions (two with John Peel) on the other three LPs (unreleased stuff too). The £110 Box Set is accompanied by a gorgeous 60-Page Book with Rare Memorabilia Pictured and New Notes by Mark Blake.
But back to what we've got - at just under forty-quid, this Double Album 2023 Reissue of "Vagabonds..." is not exactly cheap - but it is the business. But then, as this is Thin Lizzy and as an Irishman and Dubliner who once saw Phil Lynott busking on Grafton Street when I was a kid before the first LP was even out – I am a goner. A truly superb combo set that works - buy and treasure...
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