Thin Lizzy - Blackmail

This song was written by Phil Lynott and recorded on 2/1/1978 at Goodearth Studio. This song was never used on any Lizzy release and turned up on Wild Horses' debut album in 1980. Oddly enough, Robertson, who played in Wild Horses, did NOT play on this version of "Blackmail".
Lineup:
Phil Lynott (bass/vocals)
Gary Moore (guitar)
Scott Gorham (guitar)
Brian Downey (drums)
Enjoy!

[@beastwishes]

Blackmail was written by Robertson and is credited as such on the Wild Horses album. Phil Lynott is credited solely with writing Flyaway on the Wild Horses album

[@harryp6609]

Great Song...Love Robbos Vocals on the Wild Horses Debut too..

[@ludurigan]

this recording is top-class evidence of why lizzy and phil were so fuckin great. this demo version souns like at least 18 times better than the wild horses version. same songs but the arrangements and phil vocals make all the difference!

[@killerontheloose80]

God damn these guys are awesome

[@seamieodowd]

Thanks for posting Blacksabafan. This is Robbo playing and that's a cert. Robbo was still with Lizzy in 1978, or at least part of it. Wild Horses' version of this was great of course but Lynott's voice gives this version a whole other vibe. . Thanks again for posting.

[@blacksabfan]

Welcome. Thanks for commenting.

[@ludurigan]

what a brilliant track

[@arleneyackamovich7831]

Ultimate thin lizzy song !!! Joe jr

[@AspiringSanta]

Ahaha love it and have ever since I first found it!

[@Kowasi]

Regarding the credits for this song on the Wild Horses album not mentioning Mr. Lynott, one idea is that he gave the song to Mr. Robertson as a gift. The latter has been known to say he felt he didn't get enough credit while he was in Thin Lizzy. Sitamoia, credited to 'Downey', is said by some to have been a gift to the drummer. It could also be that the song is a genuine 'Robertson' original. Mr. Lynott may have demoed it and then decided not to put it on an album because in any case Mr. Robertson had left the band, and enough 'Lynott' material was available. The profits at the time were gleaned by song credits more than by touring, which is one reason why very few songs in the Lizzy repertoire are solely credited to band members other than Mr. L himself.

[@LONELION17]

Both versions are unique. Robbo sings great with a lot of attitude on the Horses cut.

[@Boiled-Egg-254]

Was that robbo or jimmy Bain?????

[@joachimhock674]

"I've done something wrong of course!" 🎉

[@blacksabfan]

@UliJones That's true. There's at least two recordings with Robertson when he was still in Lizzy playing S&M and Alibi live.

[@blacksabfan]

@UliJones "ThinLizzyFanpage" posted S&M from one of the two shows. Neither show is very good quality. I have both in my collection. The dates are Newcastle 20 Jun 1978 and Wembley, London 22 Jun 1978. These are also the last two recordings to feature Brian Robertson before he left Lizzy.

[@alanfletcher9698]

Went to Number 1 in Iran and Zkas

[@RSBurgener]

I think this song is completely badass. Maybe Phil didn't like it, maybe because Robbo wrote it, idk? However, they sound *great* on this track, so heavy and aggressive and COOL. I love it. They should've put it out. It's better than Trouble Boys! 😅

[@blacksabfan]

@UliJones I never knew that. I'll have to see if I can track that down.

[@blacksabfan]

According to Peter Neilsen's Thin Lizzy Guide, this song is credited solely to Lynott and the Black Rose lineup is playing on it. His information is correct 99% of the time, but I do know of at least 1 mistake on his site, so it's possible that he messed up. I find it hard to believe that Lynott wrote this song on his own and just gave it to Bain/Robertson to play, however I find it hard to believe that Lynott would sing a demo of a song that he had no hand in writing either.

[@leighburne4098]

The recent Rock Legends box set includes this recording (albeit mastered at a faster tempo), and the liner notes credit the song to Robbo. Personally, I feel like it might be similar to songs like "Sitamoia" and "Ballad of the Hard Man", which were credited exclusively to Downey and Gorham, respectively, but the lyrics to which were almost certainly written by Phil. Phil gifted them the credit. I assume he did the same here, leaving Robbo free to record it with Wild Horses. As for who's playing, it's definitely Robertson, not Moore. They did a handful of studio tracks with Robbo in 1978 just before he left, including the studio version of "Are You Ready" that's also in the Rock Legends box.

[@Renegade8652]

Yeah, I'd imagine that Phil at least wrote the vocals or something.

[@MichaelJordan-sw1fw]

Guys, i have been a Lizzy fan since 1974, loved Robbo's playing style, but on this track it is Gary Moore doing the honours.

[@lonegroover]

Wow, I had no idea this old Wild Horses tune was originally a Lizzy song.

[@Duojett]

Sounds to me like the end solo is Roberstson. The phrasing and the tone sound alot like Robbo, so would not be surprised if this was from one of the last studio album sessions Brian was on. Maybe the 'Bad Reputation' sessions which he did come in on in the end.

[@MichaelJordan-sw1fw]

Guys, i have been a Lizzy fan since 1974, I am certain that it is Gary Moore playing lead guitar on this demo. Listen carefully to it, it has his style all over it

[@blacksabfan]

I personally think it's either a Lynott/Bain composition, or a Lynott/Robertson composition. Could be a mistake or it could be intentional...perhaps Lynott, for some reason or another, couldn't be credited on that particular song. I don't exactly know.

[@lynchie137]

Is this a demo?

[@RichardCzaicka]

moi aussi

[@gruenerApfel666]

fuckin' awesome :))

[@ludurigan]

SO does anyone know ehen those 700 phil recordings will finally make into that box set?

[@craigpriceguitarist]

ludurigan record company rep on fb a few months ago said that the recordings are still in legal mire but they were hoping for a breakthrough soon and apparently there is a lot of quality stuff can't wait to hear it

[@barrycollins7919]

Craig Price any update on this?

[@Peter-vd9wi]

Please update

[@leighburne4098]

The set finally came out last year. It's called Rock Legends, and it's pretty excellent. This track's in it.

[@ludurigan]

@@leighburne4098 yeah man it is excellent indeed. some raw stuff in there, thanks for the tip!

[@ludurigan]

0:36

[@barbarbar767]

Nuthin weird with no Robbo; he prolly slept or had a feckin hangover?