Thin Lizzy--The Best in Guitar Driven Rock 'N Roll

Jailbreak, released by the Irish band Thin Lizzy in 1976, typified everything that was good about 1970's rock n' roll. This was the decade of the guitar, and this band used their two talented lead guitarists to great advantage with double guitar parts providing the centerpiece for a great many of their songs. Until Phill Lynott's untimely demise, this band churned out good, high-quality rock n' roll music, and this album is very representative of their style.

The personnel of Thin Lizzy and their contributions are as follows:

Phil Lynott, bass guitar, acoustic guitar, vocals
Scott Gorham, lead guitar
Brian Robertson, lead guitar
Brian Downey, drums, percussion

The track list, and a few comments about each, is as follows:

1. Jailbreak--A driving guitar line provides the impetus for this song, adequately complimented by a snare-heavy drum rhythm, and some very tasteful little lead guitar fills. Lynott's vocals are particularly effective, at times sounding insinuating and threatening. The instrumental buildup is decorated with police sirens and a syncopated bass and electric guitar riff. Lynott's vocal style is just as much a Thin Lizzy signature as the double guitars that are prevalent in their music.

2. Angel From The Coast--This song is somewhat confusing rhythmically, but is drenched with good guitar riffs and that good double guitar work that I have referred to earlier. The tempo is somewhat frantic, and Brian Downey really has a workout on the drums.

3. Running Back--This is about as tame and commercial as Thin Lizzy would ever get. The chord progression is the good, old fashioned "1--4--5" formula that we musicians are all very familiar with. Phil Lynott's vocals and his overdubbed harmonies are exquisite, and this song works well as a temporary respite from the otherwise "rock n' roll with an edge" feel of this album.

4. Romeo And The Lonely Girl--A choppy rhythm guitar moves this song along and Phil Lynott's vocals and overdubbed harmonies are delivered in his distinctive style. The lead guitar solo tracks the melody, and there is another taste of the patented double guitars.

5. Warriors--This song is referred to in the album notes. I'm not sure what it all means, but it appears to be a Thin Lizzy fantasy creation. It may also have an underlying political message, but I don't know much about Irish politics, so I won't offer any opinion about that. The tune starts off with an extended instrumental jam, and has a pretty catchy guitar hook, along with a wicked guitar solo. Lynott manages to sound a little bit like Jimi Hendrix with his lead vocal.

6. The Boys Are Back In Town--This is one of their most famous songs. The lyrics tell a good story about a group of friends returning to their old haunts. Lynott really plays some great bass guitar fills in this tune that I describe as "loose" but not in a bad way. The form has some jazz roots, and the double guitars really ornament the song, particularly in the second solo. This tune represents some of their best work, and if you had to choose one song to typify Thin Lizzy, this would be the one.

7. Fight Or Fall--This song is "quiet" and the most melodic song on the album. Lynott proves that he can sing a ballad (well, almost a ballad). This tune is probably overtly political, but again I don't know enough about the politics to intelligently comment. The lead guitar parts are haunting, and aren't typical of anything else on this album.

8. Cowboy Song--Another Thin Lizzy song that we have all played "air guitar" to at one time or another. It starts slowly with an electric guitar and some rather reflective vocals by Lynott, but business picks up quickly. This song is all about the guitar, with one of the most recognizable lead guitar lines in rock music. Lynott's vocals pick up steam, and this is one of his best performances. The double guitars are stunning, and the single solo is attack guitar at its best.

9. Emerald--A bass drum and guitar start this rather confusing song that sounds almost like metal. I think they could have chosen a better album closer, but this is what we wound up with. The guitar riff pushes the song and strong performances by all members of this band redeem the song.

I don't know how influential Thin Lizzy was, but their double guitars, combined with Phil Lynott's distinct vocal style, gave this band a distinctive sound. This album provides the listener with a pretty good idea of what this band was all about. I highly recommend the album for good, fun listening.