I don't need to tell you a goddamn thing about Thin Lizzy. Suffice to say that this their second full-length album, released in 1972 while they were still a three-piece. The title comes from the former bands of Lizzy's members -- guitarist Eric Bell played in Shades of Blue while drummer Brian Downey and Phil Lynott played in Orphanage.Although the trademark dual-guitar riffage that TL is known for might be conspicuously absent on this one, I defy anyone to tell me that "Buffalo Gal", "Baby Face", or any of the other epic jams on this album are anything short of perfection.
Fuck. I haven't been able to stop listening to this one lately. Phil Lynott at his Lucite bass-playing, bell-bottom-and-platform-shoe-wearing, massive fro-having, chicken-legged best. Rest in peace, dude.
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Excellent post. Lizzy's first few albums tend to get dismissed because ... well, because they aren't "Jailbreak", but damned if some of the early songs aren't some of Philip's most poignant AND bad-ass.
ReplyDeleteMammal toe.
ReplyDeleteThe title track on "Shades" is a work of ethereal genius, the kind of thing my bud-loving friends would really enjoy. (I don't partake, but have nothing against those who do.) "Brought Down" is a 3/4 rocker that sounds to my ears like a distant ancestor of "Renegade." "Call the Police" and "Baby Face" should have been covered by Lenny Kravitz.
ReplyDeleteShades is a great album. "Vagabonds" was the best of the early Lizzy records, even though some of the best tracks ("Little Darlin'," "Sitamoia," "Old Moon Madness," and even "Whisky") originally weren't released on LP.
Thanx a lot!
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