"Good Old Boys" by RANDY NEWMAN - September 1974 US Fourth Album on Reprise Records (October 1974 in the UK) – Guest Musicians Includes Ry Cooder, John Platania, Ron Elliott, Dennis Budimir and Al Perkins on Guitars with Glenn Frey, Don Henley and Bernie Leadon of Eagles on Backing Vocals (May 2002 UK Reprise/Rhino Expanded Edition 2CD Reissue and Remaster with 14 Bonus Tracks) - A Review by Mark Barry...

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RATING: *****  

"…Smart Ass…"

Randy Newman's follow-up to the acidic and brilliant "Sail Away" album of 1972 was another ball-buster equal to its predecessor's fame – "Good Old Boys" provided shell-shocked '74 listeners with more deeply uncomfortable subject matters that even here in 2024 (its 50th Anniversary year) raise a "You-wot!" eyebrow response.

Having done the Reissue and Remaster business by "Sail Away" – time for our hero to get the same nod towards door number four. Rhino have found an entire album of February 1973 piano demos with spoken intros between every song (see CD2). "Everyone is so friendly on this album…", Newman snarks sarcastically before his moving and sad "Louisiana 1927" demo version – not really. To the details…

UK released 27 May 2002 (21 May 2002 in the USA) - "Good Old Boys" by RANDY NEWMAN on Reprise/Rhino 8122-78243-2 (Barcode 081227824327) is a 2CD Expanded Edition reissue of his fourth studio album with Previously Unreleased Demos on Disc Two (reissued in 2003 in the UK on Reprise/Rhino 8122-73839-2 (Barcode 081227383923) as a single CD - essentially CD1 of the double). It plays out as follows:

CD1 "Good Old Boys" (36:55 minutes):

1. Rednecks [Side 1]

2. Birmingham

3. Marie

4. Mr. President (Have Pity On The Working Man)

5. Guilty 

6. Louisiana 1927 [Side 2]

7. Every Man A King

8. Kingfish

9. Naked Man

10. A Wedding In Cherokee County

11. Back On My Feet Again

12. Rollin' 

Tracks 1 to 12 are his fourth studio album "Good Old Boys" - released 10 September 1974 in the USA on Reprise MS 2193 and October 1974 in the UK on Reprise K 54022. Produced by LARRY WARONKER and RUSS TITELMAN - it peaked at No. 36 in the US Rock LP Charts (didn't chart UK).

BONUS TRACK:

13. Marie (Demo) - PREVIOUSLY UNISSUED

Musicians On The Album Included: 

RANDY NEWMAN - Piano, Electric Piano, Synth and All Lead Vocals

RY COODER and JOHN PLATANIA - Electric Guitars

RON ELLIOTT and DENNIS BUDIMIR - Acoustic Guitars

AL PERKINS - Pedal Steel Guitar

RUSS TITELMAN, WILLIE WEEKS and RED CALLENDER - Bass

ANDY NEWMARK, JIM KELTNER and MILT HOLLAND - Drums

BOBBYE HALL and MILT HOLLAND - Percussion

DON HENLEY, GLENN FREY and BERNIE LEADON of EAGLES - Backing Vocals

  

CD2 "Johnny Cutler's Birthday" (41:44 minutes):

1. Rednecks

2. If We Didn't Have Jesus

3. Birmingham

4. The Joke

5. Louisiana

6. My Daddy Knew Dixie Howell

7. Shining

8. Marie

9. Good Morning

10. Birmingham Redux

11. Doctor, Doctor

12. Albanian Anthem

13. Rolling

Recorded 2 January 1973 at Amigo Studios, Hollywood, CA with Randy Newman on Piano only - Produced by Russ Titelman

Remasters are by DAN HERSCH at Digiprep and with new Liner Notes by DAVID WILD - the '2CD Expanded Edition' set offers 14 Previously Unreleased Demo Versions and a pleasingly comprehensive 20-page booklet complete with reminiscences from the great man himself. The David Wild essay 'Randy Newman's Southern Discomfort' tells it like it was and unfortunately still is - Newman rightly proud of his stance on important issues. There are promo photos, gig posters (World Premier of "Good Old Boys" with the Atlanta Symphony, 5 October 1974) and those acidic lyrics alongside original recording/reissue credits - it's a tasty job done and sounds so good. This is not an audiophile album, but the Hersch Remaster has given enough oomph to the piano-led songs to make them even more powerful and haunting and that's what I wanted. 

The album opens with an incendiary piece of social observation songmanship written as if sung by a Southern Good Old Boy who clearly favours keeping the coloured folk down and most definitely out (as the lyrics literally say). Ever the news junkie – Newman had been watching TV in December 1970 when he witnessed the 75th Governor of Georgia – the deeply bigoted and white racist Lester Maddox (who had been instrumental in enforcing segregation in his town and restaurants in the Sixties) sat beside the legendary Georgia American Football Full Back and Black Civil Rights Activist Jim Brown on The Dick Cavett Show. Placing these politically polar-opposite men beside each other saw Brown unable to contain himself (as Cavett knew) and he remarked about racism towards negroes. It was fractious to say the least, but Newman felt that Brown had never been given a chance to counter the whoops and hollers he felt went the wrong way. So he wrote "Rednecks" where the song is peopled with references to smart-assed Jews, no-neck oilmen from Texas, rednecks who don’t know their ass from a hole in the ground. The smug singer (johnny Cutler) goes on to suggest how black people should be put in cages in Chicago and San Francisco and Cleveland. As you can imagine, "Rednecks" is grating-funny - but it’s also deeply uncomfortable as you hear the glee the singer employs in his sickening lists of hate. 

The following two melodies soften things - "Birmingham" and "Marie" filled with the sadness of working people struggling to live let alone love – characters drunk and pleading. The audio on those two is good – clean – but they are suddenly trampled by fantastic audio on "Mr. President (Have Pity On The Working Man)" which employs a jolly brass section that give heft to lyrics about folks running out of money while cold winds blow onto porches, kitchen tables with scraps on them. Side 1 ends with what I think is one of his most understated masterpieces - "Guilty" - a whiskey-sodden cocaine-laden lover pleading to his lady to take his sorry ass back in her arms again. Others have seen its ache and covered it - I particularly love the Bonnie Raitt and Joe Cocker versions from the Seventies.

Speaking of exceptional covers, they don't in my book come much better than Aaron Neville taking the sad and moving dustbowl feel of "Louisiana 1927" and making it a highlight on his 1991 album "Warm Your Heart" (A&M Records). Randy's version has strings that elevates the 'trying to wash us away' lyrics about floods - people's homes and livelihoods destroyed by an act of a heartless God and a conveniently absent government. Reprise used "Louisiana 1927" with "Marie" on its flipside as a belated US 45-single on Reprise RPS 1387. They also tried plugging the "Good Old Boys" album by pairing the jaunty and commercially usable "Naked Man" from Side 2 (I think the Eagles are the backing vocalists) with the slow and melancholy "Guilty" from Side 1 as a US 45-single in January 1975 on Reprise RPS 1324. 

Side 2 highlights also include "A Wedding In Cherokee County" which I recall Ireland's Freddie White used to sing in Dublin's Baggot Inn during the Eighties (recorded it for his "Long Distance Runner" album in 1985) - a smokehouse rocking-chair piano lurch filled with fabulous lyrics about no-goods and slimy old bastards.  The album rolls home with tales about machinists and a Polish girl with gaps in her teeth - the Eagles distinctive against the slide guitar on "Back On My Feet Again". Even with Nick DeCaro arranged strings - "Rollin'" feels like an Eagles B-side - is slight - anti-climax after the brilliance that went before it. But there's no doubt about the feeling that "Good Old Boys" is an album seeing a brilliant songwriter flourish - it isn't going to be everyone's favourite Friends episode - all cuddly and warm - but it is genius.

Stripped of all instrumentation except his grand piano - the 'demo' of "Marie" drips of pain and loneliness - the lyrics almost identical to the finished album version. It may end abruptly and have the airy feel of a 'demo' - but "Marie" in this form is loaded with that rarest of things - raw emotion that is almost unbearable to hear. Brilliant. Speaking of rough cuts – the fascinating back inlay shows the Stereo Tape Box for the 2/1/73 US session – 'Birthday Party' crossed out to read "The Joke". Each of the CD2 demos features a spoken lead-in – the lyrics almost all razor-close to the finished cuts – already honed and set to shock. The character (and suggested album title) Johnny Cutler and his Birthday is supposed to be the theme throughout – Newman suggesting sound effects that might preamble each song. You can also hear him working out the storylines as he speaks too. The remastered quality is by and large superb. 

Newman is undecided about including "If We Didn't Have Jesus" – one of the new titles – and while it is good his gut instinct that it was bordering on cliché was right. A rabbit is being chased by a big black dog in "The Joke" – a song that did not make the final cut and you can hear it is thematically out of place. "My Daddy Knew Dixie Howell" could have made the album – Cutler singing of his 29th birthday fading into the manhood of 30 – suddenly singing about how Daddy had a shop in Tuscaloosa where he cut hair (the famous Dixie Howell included). It slowly dawns on the listener that the drunken Johnny Cutler is none too enamouring with dead Daddy and his insufferable magnolias (he puts Vaseline and Razors in the coffin). And on it goes to Cutler's wife being the "Marie" we've known as someone else all these years – the sinister "Shining" probably just that – too sinister. 

For sure Randy Newman's 1974 album "Good Old Boys" will not be everybody's idea of 'Airplane' type laughter - 'Family Guy' gags-a-plenty some of which might actually make you gag - or at least double-take. But this Reprise/Rhino 2CD Reissue/Remaster hammers home its on-the-money brilliance and musical bravery with real style...

"We Have Met Together" by MICK MALONEY – February 1973 UK Debut Solo Album [ex The Johnstons] on Transatlantic Records (August 2023 UK Beat Goes On (BGO) Records Reissue onto CD with Andrew Thompson Remasters) - A Review by Mark Barry...

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"…Molloy's Favourite And The Earl's Chair…"

Limerickman, Banjo and Mandolin playing Folky Mick Maloney had already done his Irish Traditional Music time with The Johnstons between 1966 and 1972 – a very fondly remembered Folk/Folk Rock act on Transatlantic Records. Apart from lead vocalist Adrienne Johnston, Mick Maloney and the American Chris McCloud - The Johnstons were also the six-album home to one of Ireland's truly great songwriters - Paul Brady. 

Time to go solo - and for his Transatlantic Records debut in early 1973 - Maloney ditched that old crew and roped in a six-piece outfit of International players – Friedemann Witecka from Germany on Guitar, Dave O'Docherty from Dublin on Flute and Whistles, Dave Moses and Mal White from England on Bass Guitar, Recorder and Bodhran respectively with Ian (Jan) Inge Rasmussen from Norway on Guitar and Second Vocals and Scotsman Aly Bain from the Shetland Islands on Fiddle. Maloney played Tenor Banjo, Mandolin and Guitar and sang Lead Vocals on eight of its seventeen tunes. Adam Skeaping (one of the Engineers on the album) plays Synthesiser on the final lament to eerie effect on Side 2. Beat Goes On Records of England (commonly known as BGO Records) has also managed a first time on CD for this forgotten rarity with both beautiful Presentation and clear Audio. Here are the heady traditional details…

UK released Friday, 4 August 2023 (18 August 2023 in the USA) - "We Have Met Together" by MICK MALONEY on Beat Goes On Records BGOCD1498 (Barcode 5017261214980) Remasters his 1973 debut solo album onto CD and plays out as follows (45:51 minutes):

1. Two Jigs [Side 1]

2. The Invisible Man

3. The Pipe On The Hob

4. Belfast Town

5. Bodhrán Solo

6. Don't Cry In Your Sleep

7. Reel On Mandolin

8. Farewell To The Rhondda

9. Vi Skal Ikkje Sova Burt Sumar Natta

10. Bean Pháidín [Side 2]

11. Bodhrán Solo

12. Molloy's Favourite And The Earl's Chair

13. Avondale

14. The Leitrim Fancy

15. An Gaoth Andheas

16. Flute Solo

17. The Fields Of Vietnam

Tracks 1 to 17 are his debut solo LP "We Have Met Together" – released February 1973 in the UK on Transatlantic Records TRA 263. Produced by MICK MALONEY – it is first time on CD

NOTES: 

"The Invisible Man" is a Leon Rosselson song and features Friedemann Witecka on Second Guitar with Dave Moses on Bass

"Belfast Town" features Ian Inge Rasmussen on Second Guitar

Mal White plays the Bodhran on "Bodhrán Solo"

"Bean Pháidín" is Irish for Paddy's Wife

"Don't Cry In Your Sleep" features Ian Inge Rasmussen on Second Guitar and Vocal with Dave O'Docherty on Flute

"Reel On Mandolin" features Ian Inge Rasmussen duetting on Guitar

"Farewell To Rhondda" is a Frank Hennessy song about the Welsh mining strikes in 1972 and features Friedemann Witecka and Ian Inge Rasmussen on Guitars with Dave Moses on Bass

"Vi Skal Ikkje Sova Burt Sumar Natta" is a 1960s Norwegian Song (and not Traditional Folk as misdescribed in the original LP liner notes) and features Friedemann Witecka on Second Guitar with Dave Moses on Bass and Recorder

"Molloy's Favourite And The Earl's Chair" features Ian Inge Rasmussen on Guitar with Dave O'Docherty on Flute and Mal White on Bodhrán (the Molloy in the title refers to Irish Flutist legend Matt Malloy of Planxty and The Bothy Band)

"Avondale" is a Dominic Behan song about Charles Stewart Parnell and features Second Guitar by Friedemann Witecka and Dave Moses on Bass

"An Gaoth Andheas" translates as The South Wind and features Aly Bain on Fiddle (Late with The Boys of the Lough)

"Flute Solo" features Dave O'Docherty on Flute only

"The Fields Of Vietnam" is a Ewan MacColl song with Adam Skeaping on Synthesiser

Quite apart from the lovely card slipcase that lends these stand-alone album reissues a real sense of visual class – the 20-page accompanying booklet with new JOHN O'REGAN liner notes goes deep on Maloney’s history with Folk, the album and beyond. Many Net sources are quoted – the original LP's liner notes are reproduced as is its artwork. O'Regan and Musician friends of Maloney note how he made the layout of the album tracks something of a template for future releases – Irish, English, Scottish, Welsh, Euro and American Roots tunes sat alongside instrumentals on the Bodhrán, Flute or Banjo. 

Subject matters included the dread emigration, labour woes once in cheap work, unemployment hunger once out of casual jobs, occupying armies and alienation at home and all roads to and from similar socially aware themes. Maloney sings with his very nasal Tĩr na n'Óg vocals on eight songs (all others are instrumentals) – Tracks 2, 4, 6, 8, 9, 10, 13 and 17. Audio is a New Remaster by ANDREW THOMPSON and it is clean, warm and a lovely listen – the real simple instruments given space to shine.

Some will find the barricades and gelignite lyrics in "Belfast Town" an open-wound – a brave and horribly realistic song about the Northern Ireland troubles – its author wanting to remain anonymous in 1973 no doubt fearing reprisals from both side of the paramilitary divide. The same anchor's away to a better place doom permeates "Don't Cry In Your Sleep" while a jolly-roger lilt fills the colliery pit-men song "Farewell To The Rhondda" – the mines all closing and the population falling – all heading towards the big smoke of London to get work. Side 1 ends with a 60ts Norwegian song sung in the native tongue – it's pretty and features floating recorder, accented Bass and lovely acoustic soloing from guest Guitarist Friedemann Witecka. It's contemporary Folk and not Traditional at all.

A Traditional does open Side 2 – sung in Gaelic, "Bean Pháidín" is Irish for Paddy's Wife and Maloney makes light-work of the speedily sung impenetrable lyrics as the Mandolin and Acoustics strum and pick. After a short Bodhrán solo, the band gets to show its instrumental chops on "Molloy's Favourite And The Earl's Chair" – a Banjo, Whistle and Bodhrán tapping set of reels learned from Flutist Matt Molloy. Things return to plaintive ballad with the lovely "Avondale" – Dominic Behan singing of tall trees and ancient glory in the vales – Maloney sounding completely at home with the lead only to be joined on the second chorus by the other lads (very nicely done, Parnell would have approved). 

Two instrumentals highlight Acoustic Guitars, Banjo, Fiddle and Flute whilst "An Gaoth Andheas" is about a Southern Winter where Aly Bain of Boys of the Lough plays a binder on plaintive fiddle. The album ends of probably its best shot at greatness – a cover of the Ewan MacColl political ballad "The Fields Of Vietnam". It opens with lonesome solo vocals but is soon joined by an ominous synth drone (Adam Skeaping) – the Vietnamese taken on by the invading armies of the French and the Americans – none of them succeeding. "The Fields Of Vietnam" brings to an end a strong debut – not a masterpiece by any means – but superbly presented here for those who have waited decades for it to show on decent digital.

Having toured since the Sixties and been involved in nearly forty albums – Mick Maloney made the USA his home and sadly passed in July 2022 aged 77 – a lifetime given over to all forms of Folk music and its rich history, academia and philanthropy. Although his name may not reverberate around the annals of Music Fame outside of the Traditional genres – inside it – Maloney was beloved and spread the gospel far and wide – some saying he chronicled and championed all forms of Roots Music with a passion and warmth that was infectious. Much like this rather lovely CD Reissue and Remaster…

"Vagabonds Of The Western World: 50th Anniversary 3CD/BLU-RAY Box Set" Edition by THIN LIZZY – Sept 1973 Album Remastered with Seven Bonuses on CD1, Rarities, Outtakes and Live BBC Radio One Sessions and In Concert Shows from 1972 and 1973 on CD2 and CD3 with ATMOS and 5.1 Surrounds Mixes on the BLU RAY – featuring Phil Lynott, Eric Bell and Brian Downey, Jr. (December 2023 UK Universal/Decca '50th Anniversary 3CD/BLU-RAY Box Set' 10" x 10" Reissue with a 60-Page 10" x 10" Hardback Book - 2023 Andy Pearce and Matt Wortham Remasters) - A Review by Mark Barry...

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"... Baby's Been Messin' All Over Town..."

Back in October 2010 - Lizzy's third studio album "Vagabonds Of The Western World" got the Universal '2CD Deluxe Edition' treatment - and I for one raved about its audio, presentation and extras (it was also their final LP with original Lead Guitarist Eric Bell). Time to re-rave frankly.

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 Series of releases here in late 2023. I love these things so much that I've only gone and committed to all three big formats - the 50^th Anniversary 2-LP Purple Vinyl set with a fantastically complimentary Extras LP and the 50^th Anniversary 4-LP Box Set (both reviewed elsewhere). The 4LP Box 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/Bob Harris 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. The 'Extras' LP on the 2-LP Purple Vinyl Set does not duplicate anything on the 4LP Box. Both vinyl sets hits the streets of Blighty on Friday, 17 November 2023.

Door number three (released Friday, 1 December 2023) is the 4-Disc Super Deluxe '50^th Anniversary 3CD/BLU-RAY Box Set' variant - also a thing of digital lust even if it's only ten-by-ten-inches in size. The ATMOS and 5.1 Mixes on the BLU RAY are first-time-ever for any Lizzy release and CD2 and CD3 contain unreleased material some of which is not on either of the VINYL sets. The 60-page Hardback Book is exactly the same as the one in the 4LP Box Set except that instead of 12 x 12 size you get 10 x 10-inches (so for fans who bought that will have unfortunate duplication - but more of the book and its gorgeousness later). At this point in time there appears to be no 2023 single LP, single CD or 2CD sets - just the above 3 variants in the 50th Anniversary Reissues Series.

Some history - 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 narrated the story in "The Hero And The Madman", Jan Schelhass plays Organ on "Mother Nature Said" and Fiachra Trench arranged Strings for "A Song For While I'm Away". 

1973's "Vagabonds Of The Western World" was also the first album to feature their trademark look via Jim Fitzpatrick artwork (more of which is thrillingly used in the book and on the inner sleeves) and the first album that pointed towards a commercial Rock future – a hard-won success that would take them three more albums to arrive at via the worldwide breakthroughs of "Jailbreak" and "Johnny The Fox" - both in 1976 (their sixth and seventh studio albums). The ultimate triumph would come in 1978 with the legendary double "Live And Dangerous" which sold in cartloads – and rightly so. But this is where that road really started and arriving here – 50-years down the line at a 3-Versions 2023 reissue of higher heroes and flaming motorcycles. To the details for the 3CD and BLU RAY variant...

UK released Friday, 1 December 2023 - "Vagabonds Of The Western World" by THIN LIZZY on Universal/Decca 5587532 (Barcode 602455875327) is a Super Deluxe 10" x 10" Limited Edition 50^th Anniversary 3CD/BLU-RAY Box Set with a 60-Page Hardback Book. New Sleeve Notes are by MARK BLAKE (Rare Memorabilia etc) and Unpublished Artwork is by JIM FITZPATRICK – an artist intrinsically linked with the band. It plays out as follows:

CD1 "Vagabonds Of The Western World" (68:21 minutes):

1. Mama Nature Said [Side 1]

2. The Hero And The Madman 

3. Slow Blues

4. The Rocker

5. Vagabond Of Western World [Side 2]

6. Little Girl In Bloom

7. Gonna Creep Up On You

8. A Song For While I'm Away

Tracks 1 to 8 are their third studio album "Vagabonds Of The Western World” - released 21 September 1973 in the UK on Decca SKL-5170 and May 1974 in the USA on London XPS 636 with the track "Little Girl In Bloom" being slightly edited. 

BONUS TRACKS:

9. Whisky In The Jar (Single, A-side)

10. Black Boys On The Corner (Single, B-side)

11. Randolph's Tango (Single, A-side)

12. Broken Dreams (Single, B-side)

13. The Rocker (Single, A-side, Edit)

14. Here I Go Again (Single, B-side)

15. A Ride In The Lizzy Mobile (Single, B-side)

CD1 NOTES:

Tracks 9 and 10 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 - a Lynott original 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. The version used here is commonly known as the 'Full Single Version' at 5:45 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 only on the October 2010 UK 2CD Deluxe Edition of "Vagabonds Of The Western World"

Tracks 11 and 12 are their 2nd UK 7" single released May 1973, both tracks on Decca F 13402 were non-album at the time. 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

Tracks 13 and 14 are 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 15 is Non-LP 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 three-way foldout CD gatefold card sleeve (along with two other Euro Pic Sleeves) 

CD2 "Radio Sessions" (73:18 minutes):

"John Peel Sessions" - Recorded: 14 Nov 1972, Broadcast 28 Nov 1972

1. Whisky In The Jar (5:50 minutes)

2. Suicide (4:00 minutes)

3. Black Boys On The Corner (3:07 minutes)

Produced by TONY WILSON

"RTE Radio Eireann Session" *

4. 1969 Rock (5:40 minutes)

5. Suicide (4:31 minutes)

6. Broken Dreams (5:38 minutes)

7. Eddie's Blues/Blue Shadows (3:55 minutes)

NOTES: No recording dates or Producer name provided - but because of the songs its sometime in 1973. "1969 Rock" is an early more rocking version of "The Hero And The Madman" that eventually turned on the "Vagabonds…" album and here includes a spoken introduction from guitarist Eric Bell. "Suicide" and "Broken Dreams" features a spoken intro by Eric and Phil. "Eddie's Blues/Blue Shadows" sees the band joined by guitarist Eddie Campbell of The Real McCoy

* Tracks 4 to 7 NOT ON EITHER OF THE VINYL SETS 

"John Peel Sessions" - Recorded 31 July 1973, Broadcast 7 Aug 1973

8. Vagabond Of The Western World (4:23 minutes)

9. Little Girl In Bloom (4:45 minutes)

10. Gonna Creep Up On You (3:13 minutes)

Produced by JOHN WALTERS

"John Peel Session" - Recorded 6 August 1973, Broadcast 16 Aug 1973

11. Randolph's Tango (3:45 minutes)

12. The Rocker (5:10 minutes)

13. Slow Blues (5:31 minutes)

Produced by BERNIE WINTERS

"Bob Harris Session" - Recorded 28 Aug 1973, Broadcast 17 Sep 1973

14. Randolph's Tango (3:40 minutes)

15. Little Girl In Bloom (4:41 minutes)

16. The Rocker (5:12 minutes)

Produced by JEFF GRIFFIN

CD3 "Live, Rarities, Demos & Outtakes" (77:37 minutes):

"Radio One In Concert 1973" - Recorded 26 July 1973, Paris Theatre, London

1. The Rocker (6:00 minutes)

2. Thing's Ain't Working Out Down At The Farm (7:52 minutes)

3. Slow Blues (5:03 minutes)

4. Gonna Creep Up On You (3:47 minutes)

5. Suicide (4:50 minutes)

Produced by JEFF GRIFFIN 

6. The Rocker (Take 1 Instrumental) - 5:17 minutes

7. Little Girl In Bloom (Take 3) - 5:52 minutes)

8. Gonna Creep Up On You (Take 2 Instrumental) - 4:37 minutes

9. Slow Blues (Take 2 Instrumental) - 5:39 minutes

10. Here I Go Again (Extended) - 6:42 minutes

11. Suicide (gtr Needles and Pins Jam) - 1:30 minutes

12. Whiskey In The Jar (Alternate Mix Extended Version) - 5:58 minutes

13. Black Boys On The Corner (Alternate Mix) - 3:44 minutes

14. Gonna Creep Up On You (Acetate Version) - 3:30 minutes

15. Baby's Been Messin' (Acetate Version) - 4:01 minutes

NOTES for CD3: 

The 'BBC Radio 1 In Concert' set that appeared on the October 2010 2CD Deluxe Edition of "Vagabonds Of The Western World" is a different gig. Recorded 31 July 1973 at Golders Green Hippodrome in London - it had the same five songs (and in the same order) - but the 31 July 1973 show instead introduced the two lead guitarists of the new four-piece Thin Lizzy line-up – Scott Gorham and Brian Robertson.

Tracks 6 to 15 NOT ON THE VINYL VERSIONS

BLU-RAY: 

"Vagabonds Of The Western World"

Tracks 1 to 8 are the 1973 Album (as listed above) in an ATMOS MIX, a 5.1 MIX and a STEREO MIX

BONUS ATMOS MIXES:

9. Whisky In The Jar (Single, A-side)

10. Black Boys On The Corner (Single, B-side)

11. Randolph's Tango (Single, A-side)

12. Broken Dreams (Single, B-side)

13. The Rocker (Single, A-side, Edit)

14. Here I Go Again (Single, B-side)

15. A Ride In The Lizzy Mobile (Single, B-side)

For CD1, CD2 and CD3 THIN LIZZY was:

PHILIP LYNOTT – Bass and Vocals

ERIC BELL – Guitars

BRIAN DOWNEY, JR. - Drums

OLDER REISSUES:

First things first – those who own the October 2010 2CD Deluxe Edition of "Vagabonds Of The Western World" will need to keep it as there are extras and unreleased not on the 2 Vinyl Sets or here on the 3CD/BLU RAY variant. 

PRESENTATION:

The 60-Page Hardback Book sits atop an inset drawer inside the 10 x 10 Box with both CD card sleeves underneath in a well. The first houses the three CDs in a threat foldout card sleeve while the gatefold second has the BLU RAY. Photos of rare Euro and Japanese singles make up the photos that dominate all five of the inner flaps - "The Rocker" from Japan, Germany and Denmark alongside "Whisky In The Jar" from Denmark and more. They are lovely to look at, but of course suffer from tightness when trying to get the discs out of each slot without tearing the artwork. But these are minor hassles because once fans clap eyeballs on the 60-page hardback - most Lizzyphiles will be literally weak at the knees. 

Throughout its comprehensive text by MARK BLAKE and memorabilia displays are full-page outtake artwork of the LP cover by JIM FITZPATRICK. Blake begins his seriously in-depth study of Thin Lizzy history from Crumlin schoolyards in 1968 to stints with Gary Moore in Skid Row and a contract with Decca for the 'quite green' Irish Rock Trio to record the self-titled debut in January 1971. It weaves its merry way to Page 31 plastered as it goes with badges, posters, singles, press adverts, Decca letters and all of it given room to shine on big fat glossy black pages. You get promo pictures of the band from Decca (dig the Guinness stage logo behind the band on Page 58) – messages from the band in October 1973 apologising to Irish fans for delays with physical copies of the album arriving in Irish shops due to production hiccups in England - a full page advert for the LP with quotes from British DJs/Fans John Peel and Kid Jensen along with cartoon adverts for "Whisky In The Jar" and "Randolph's Tango" and oodles more space-hopping and motorcycle roaring.

The roll call of reissue credits on Page 57 reads like a who's who for Lizzy – Band Managers Ted Carroll of Ace Records and Chris O'Donnell of Morrison O'Donnell Limited (both he and Chris Morrison were closely associated with the band) with contributions from the Belfast Guitarist ERIC BELL and mainman for Lizzy – the Drummer and schoolboy pal of Phil Lynott – BRIAN DOWNEY. Websites are named and the Jim Fitzpatrick artwork outtakes strewn with fantastic punch throughout will make even diehard old farts like me (and many others too) weepy – rekindling our love for this fabulous Rock band. In fact – if this is the 50^th Anniversary effort for 1973 – then we could hope for "Night Life" in 2024, "Fighting" in 2025 and the big boys - "Jailbreak" and "Johnny The Fox" in 2026 - mouth-watering stuff to look forward to.

AUDIO:

It's all beautifully done and if that isn't enough, the whole shebang is mastered from original tapes by two fave Audio Engineers - ANDY PEARCE and MATT WORTHAM. This dynamic duo have handled huge swathes of Universal's Rock and Pop catalogue - Rory Gallagher, Budgie, Free, Spooky Tooth and the DE editions of Thin Lizzy too. If I was to single out one obvious winner - you can so hear the punching Bass on "Slow Blues" - those guitar flicks and especially Downey’s high-hats and drum rolls - so damn clear and yet ballsy. By the time I get to the truly fantastic guitar riffage of "The Rocker" and I’m a goner. Ludicrously great playing, saucy lyrics via the spirit of Bon Scott - the whole thing just screams out of your speakers with the joy of the ladies hitting the town. Even songs I used to slightly dismiss like "A Song For While I'm Away" suddenly feels alive and beautiful - the acoustic strums and those strings are so good. After the 8-track album - CD1 adds on seven Bonuses that arguably make up an even better LP No.2. Drums, guitars, Phil’s treated vocals - "Whiskey In The Jar" sounding fantastically alive (ring dum a doo dah indeed). That symbol intro/riffage intro to one of their very best Non-LP B-sides "Black Boys On The Corner" is huge as is Eric Bell and that electrifying playing. 

MATERIAL:

You’re struck time and time again as to how tight they were and what a stunning axeman Bell was. With Lynott out-front looking and sounding every inch like the Rock Star he always was - this massive haul puts up a good argument in the hearing as to why they were loved - even then. All three were in blistering form and hammering out new/better material that would leave many a band of the time gasping in awe. The original recording work of great BBC names like Jeff Griffin, Tony Wilson, Bernie Andrews and John Walters ensured that storming singles "Black Boys On The Corner" and "The Rocker" allow stunning warbling guitar solos from Eric Bell while Phil and his Bass sound precise on "Little Girl In Bloom" and confidant on the massively extended EP track "Thing's Ain't Working Out Down At The Farm" stretched out in a live environment to nearly eight minutes. For sure, there is repetition, but bluntly – if the Trio of Thin Lizzy is playing any of this stuff fresh and new – I want it all - again and again. 

One truly astounding discovery has the be the RTE Radio Eireann Session that features the Trio sometime in 1973 in emerging brilliance - Eric Bell and Phil introducing embryonic versions of songs we love. The Remaster is great - Eric Bell and his echoed guitar turning "Broken Dreams" into a sort of 1969 Fleetwood Mac and Peter Green "Then Play On" period feel - fantastic stuff. The 'Gtr Needles and Pins Jam' has the riff from "Suicide" possibly altered via the Searchers 60ts hit "Needles and Pins" while the Acetate Recording at the end of CD3 (very well restored frankly) turns out to be an earlier version of "Suicide" entitled "Baby's Been Messin'" with less than enlightened lyrics that Phil probably knew had to be ditched (and were). The song turned up years later with the riffage and hooks worked out which only goes to show how smart he was working out the kinks on Demos and Live Sessions. But one of the unreleased that will surely turn heads and maybe even make fans laugh out loud is the extended mix of "Here I Go Again" stretched to nearly seven minutes. Lynott starts saying the f-word and rhyming 'pissed' with 'kissed' in verses that were left out for obvious reasons. And Eric Bell shows in an early Instrumental of "The Rocker" that he had most of its wild soloing already in the can - brilliant. And on it goes (I do not have an ATMOS playback facility so I cannot review that - but from what I have heard from other punters - they are revelatory). 

SUM UP:

A gorgeous reissue then – cool artwork, toppermost Audio remasters from men who care and that book finally affording our heroes the respect and affection they have always warranted and engendered. I know it could have had more (couple of those American single edits on CD1) and after getting the 4LP box in Nov 2023 with full LP-sized packaging, the ten-inch sized CD/BR variant feels like a wee bit of an anti-climax - but for me at least its still something I love and will love owning.  

The single "Whisky In The Jar" from 1972 (that charted 1973) and the third LP "Vagabonds Of The Western World" from 1973 started the Lizzy success story for real – and this 50^th Anniversary Series (2LPs, 4LP Box Set and this 3CD/BLU RAY Box) is surely one the best for 2023. I'm going to be canning these brutes for months on end.

A beautiful thing – buy it, treasure it and miss our hero/heroes one more time…scratch plates shining into the audience…whooping and hollering…bippin' and boppin' and tellin' a dirty joke or two...