It's Thin Lizzy Thursday! Episode 9: Black Rose: A Rock Legend

[@marhill77]

Nobody talks about Toughest Street in Town from this album. Gary is awesome, the solo is just ferocious!

[@ericrobertson2024]

One of the bright spots.The original lyrics are found on the deluxe/expanded edition,although that version doesn't have that well produced punch.

[@JohntheMusicNut]

Thanks Marlon! No doubt about that. Cheers!

[@TimsVinylConfessions]

I'm still very much a Thin Lizzy newbie, and I only heard this album this year. I can definitely understand why it's so loved in their catalogue. Aside from "S&M," which still has some cool musical parts, this is a fantastic album. Great show John.

[@JohntheMusicNut]

Thanks Tim! Yes, this is a fantastic album and not a bad place to start if you want to explore the catalog. Cheers!

[@ericrobertson2024]

Lizzy has something in common with Hagar in that it took both acts a while to establish a focused style of sound. 2 of my least favorite debut albums from acts I really like.

[@DCToonTime]

Another in a series of top shelf albums from Lizzy. You get a little bit of everything which is where I’m at!

[@JohntheMusicNut]

Thanks DC! Yes, you certainly do. Cheers!

[@ZRATAN69]

This album represents New beginnings, and dark emotions that's what the black rose is about.. great songs, and gary moore playing..😎🖤🪻🎼🎸🎸🎙️

[@JohntheMusicNut]

That's right Ernesto! Great call! Cheers! 🎸🖤😎

[@ericrobertson2024]

My favorite guitarist on Black Rose + China Town as well as the 1978-80 live shows I've heard is Scott , whom was obviously having some issues (maybe similar to Phil's ) by 1981 but Snowy + then Sykes do a great job on the 81,82,83 shows..We know Sykes is awesome, but Snowy also deserves credit for atleast being focused + sober when 3, possibly 4 other members were clearly not on some of the Renegade era shows. Phil's voice being shot "I have a cold tonight" and Scott's botches on later concerts are very noticable.

[@bmboldt]

Gary was playing the Black Rose solo for years prior to this album. They also recorded the Back on the Streets album around the same time so there was a lot going on. The Deluxe Edition has a lot of bonus tracks including some that were never released. Just the Two of Us and A Night in the Life of a Blues Singer are very good.

[@ericrobertson2024]

Today is the first time I ever heard these bonus tracks,Just The 2 Of Us could've been added to the LP, since it's very short.

[@JohntheMusicNut]

Thanks Byron! And thanks for the tip on the Deluxe Edition since I've never heard these. I also didn't know that Gary was playing the Black Rose solo this before the album. Cheers!

[@thomaswery3087]

One of my favorites Waiting For An Alabi should of been a huge hit.Still like the albums after this also

[@ericrobertson2024]

I liked Do Anything but tbh I don't like the other singles and the track I liked most = Give It Up just doesn't sound like it would've hit in the U.K. , U.S. , etc.

[@JohntheMusicNut]

Thanks Thomas! I agree completely on "Waiting for an Alibi". I look forward to hearing your thoughts on the next few albums. Cheers!

[@parishofrock2963]

Great show. John. Probably my favourite Lizzy album, only let down by the lyrics on S&M 🤣

[@JohntheMusicNut]

Thanks Parish! Yes, definitely Prince territory on those lyrics. Cheers!

[@Thunderstruckzzz]

Hi John. Great stuff ! Another fantastic album ! Side One is killer but those deep cuts on side 2 are amazing. I love Got To Give Up, With Love and yes the epic closer Black Rose. Thank you John. Happy Thanksgiving ! Chez

[@JohntheMusicNut]

Thanks Chez! And Happy Very Belated Thanksgiving (October) to you as well! Yes, so much to love on here. So I forgot to give my Def Leppard reference in the video here so here it is. I saw Thin Lizzy in 2011 when Scott Gorham and Brian Downey resurrected the band that would later become Black Star Riders. On this tour, in the co-lead guitar slot was none other than Vivian Campbell! I believe this was the only tour he would do with them and it meant a great deal to him growing up in Ireland during the '70s. Well, they were excellent that night and the last encore was "Black Rose" and Vivian nailed that Gary Moore solo! It was amazing! What a fantastic night that was! Cheers Chez!

[@thomaswery3087]

Happy Thanksgiving John

[@JohntheMusicNut]

Thank you Thomas! It went very well and I hope your Thanksgiving did also! Cheers!

[@ericrobertson2024]

I'm listening to the bonus tracks on the deluxe edition now. This one starts out strong with the 2 initial tracks but then gets spotty. There's a great 1980 live version of Give It Up recorded for King Biscuit in Dublin. The last track is a nice homage to Ireland..Up to this point my favorite to least favorite are Jailbreak / Fighting /Johnny / Reputation / Rose / Nightlife / Vagabonds / Debut / Shades.

[@JohntheMusicNut]

Thanks Eric! Yeah, I've never heard the deluxe edition so I'm happy that you and Byron are adding what tracks are strong here. Thank you again for your updated album ranking. This isn't going to be easy when I do mine at the end of the series although I know how the bottom half of it will look. Cheers!

[@JakesMusicState]

This album goes back to a more classic TL sound I think. After the last album kind of wandered a bit. Not that I didn’t love Bad Reputation. I feel like this album is less diverse musically than its predecessor. It’s got a lot of rockers on here. I loved the groove on S&M, it had a frantic vibe to it. Waiting for an Alibi was amazing with heavy bass. I loved the intro to Get Out of Here. Cover Art is awesome. Simple but amazing.

[@JohntheMusicNut]

Thanks Jake! Yes this is interesting and that there is some diversity but it rocks harder overall than Bad Reputation. That cover art really stands out, doesn't it? Cheers!

[@ericrobertson2024]

This album is kinda like their Rocks or Houses Of The Holy to me, an album majority of fans love, although I don't. I do like live versions of some tracks..My Top 10 TL tracks from 1971-79 >> 1. Emerald / 2. Fighting My Way Back / 3. Cowboy Song / 4. Opium Trail / 5. Johnny / 6. Got To Give It Up / 7. Warriors / 8. Borderline / 9. Philomena / 10. Do Anything You Wanna Do ///

[@JohntheMusicNut]

Thank you, Eric, for your continued ongoing top 10 list! As for Aerosmith and Led Zeppelin respectively, oh yeah Rocks is my #1 and Houses of the Holy is my favorite next to III. My favorite Led Zeppelin has bounced between those first five albums throughout the years. Cheers!

[@ericrobertson2024]

@@JohntheMusicNut I guess those would be my "don't quite get it" albums for those 3, and i referred to Painkiller as the Priest album in that vein. Not to say I don't love selected tracks on all those. 4 tracks from Black Rose would probably make my top 20 TL tracks.

[@GrabAStackofRocK]

The worst song about S&M ever written was written by Phil Lynott. Sigh. Helix did it better with the Ballad of Sam & Mary.

[@JohntheMusicNut]

Thanks Mike! I just checked this out. It's alright. Really low-fi. Cheers!

[@GrabAStackofRocK]

@@JohntheMusicNut Yeah indi recording, low budget, but fabulous comeback album. I'm talking to the drummer again tonight.

[@JohntheMusicNut]

@@GrabAStackofRocK Sweet!

[@thomaswery3087]

Happy Thanksgiving John