Bootlegs & other Rare Recordings

. Thin Lizzy - Remembering, Part 1 (CDR)
Tracks 1-5 Live radio broadcast from Augora Theater, Cleveland, May 1976
Tracks 6-11 Live King Biscuit radio broadcast from Tower Theater, Philadelphia, Oct 1977

1. "Emerald" (4:08)
2. "The Boys Are Back In Town" (5:27)
3. "Romeo And The Lonely Girl" (6:05)
4. "Suicide" (5:21)
5. "Sha-la-la" (6:32)
6. "Jailbreak" (4:46)
7. "Don't Believe A Word" (2:22)
8. "Dancing In The Moonlight" (4:50)
9. "Massacre" (3:04)
10. "Cowboy Song" (5:06)
11. "The Boys Are Back In Town" (4:49)

Of the three 'Remembering' bootlegs, this one has the best sound, although it is nowhere near perfect either. The inclusion of a rare live version of "Romeo And The Lonely Girl" was quite nice. Several tracks sound like raw versions of what appeared on the officially released "Live and Dangerous" disc. As with many live platters, "Live and Dangerous" had many overdubs and fixes. So regardless if some of these tracks are the same, they are not exactly the same. It may also just have been that these were all recorded on the same tour, which they were.

My original copy of this disc was one of those eBay nightmares. I saw it being sold for $30 but the seller did not say whether it was an original or a CDR copy so I emailed the seller and asked him. He confirmed that it was an original disc that he picked up from somewhere in NYC. So, I win the bid and what do you think I get? CDR copies! Argh!!! I wouldn't really have minded so much but the dang things were not even recorded properly and have spaces between each song, which is quite annoying on a live CD. Hey CDR recorders, us DISC AT ONCE! So now I am dealing with a fraud claim on eBay. Isn't that just great!

Ahhh, but thanks to another wonderful Thin Lizzy fan, I now have a perfect copy of this recording without the gaps and that new sweet black cover pictured above! (Thanks Paul) The original cover is to the smaller image to the right.

Thin Lizzy - Remembering, Part II (CDR)
Recorded live, 2/5/77, Madison Square Gardens, New York City, USA.

1. "Jailbreak" (5:00)
2. "Massacre" (3:33)
3. "Emerald" (4:10)
4. "Still In Love With You" (7:45)
5. "Johnny the Fox Meets Jimmy the Weed" (4:28)
6. "The Boys Are Back In Town" (5:17)
7. "Cowboy Song" (5:57)
8. "Warriors" (4:29)
9. "Sha La La" (7:14)
10. "Baby Drives Me Crazy" (5:50)

The worst sound of the three "Remembering" bootlegs. Unlike disc one, however, this disc is made up of only one show recorded at New York's Madison Square Gardens. To bad the sound quality is so poor.

Thin Lizzy - Soldiers of Fortune (CDR)
Live at the Reading Festival, England 8/27/77

Not a terrible recording, considering this sounds to be an audience recording. The show itself is excellent. 1977 was a prime year for Thin Lizzy, when they were at the top of the heap, and this show certainly testifies to that. Thin Lizzy were regular guests to the Reading Festival up until 1983 when the band made their final appearance before the death of Phil Lynott.

Thin Lizzy - Storming the Tower
Recorded live at The Tower Theater, Philadelphia, PA, 10/21/77

1. "Soldier of Fortune/Jailbreak" (9:35)
2. "Johnny" (4:11)
3. "Warriors" (4:18)
4. "Dancing in the Moonlight/Massacre" (7:35)
5. "Sill In Love with You" (8:00)
6. "Cowboy Song/The Boys Are Back in Town" (9:48)
7. "Opium Trail" (4:56)
8. "Don't Believe A Word" (2:29)
9. "Emerald" (4:17)
10. "Bad Reputation/drum solo" (6:20)
11. "Baby Drives Me Crazy" (7:02)
12. "Me & the Boys" (6:04)
13. "Are You Ready" (4:06)

Outstanding live show from the classic Thin Lizzy line-up who were on tour supporting the Bad Reputation album. The sound quality here is album quality. This show was partially featured on "Remembering Part 1". (Thanks Paul)

Thin Lizzy - Should Have Been in By 10 (CDR)
Live at the Rainbow, 3/29/1978

Thin Lizzy - Out on Bail (CDR)
Live in Preston , Europe 1980

Recorded live in Preston, Europe and released on Big Music (KTS/BIG 006) in Italy. Unfortunately for know I only have a CDR copy of this disc with color printouts of the cover art.

Thin Lizzy - Final Lightning (CDR)
Recorded live at Hitchin, January 26, 1983

1. "Jailbreak" (4:00)
2. "This Is The One" (3:54)
2. "Cold Sweat" (3:41)
3. "The Sun Goes Down" (7:43)
4. "Holy War" (5:05)
5. "The Boys Are Back in Town" (5:17)
6. "Rosalie" (7:00)
7. "Baby Please Don't Go" (6:22)
8. "Still in Love With You" (7:01)
9. "Dancing in the Moonlight" (4:47)

Yet another killer Lizzy boot. This one was recorded during the last days of Thin Lizzy. However, according to Phil's between song chatter, this was the first liver performance for John Sykes with Thin Lizzy. The soundboard recording is quite good, sounding almost album quality. Apparently this show was broadcast on the BBC. The selection of tracks is short, but still features some choice songs, including "The Sun Goes Down," "Cold Sweat", "This Is The One" and "Holy War", all excellent songs from the band's final studio output "Thunder & Lightning."

Thin Lizzy - Remembering, Part III (CDR)
Recorded live, March 12th, 1983 at the Hammersmith Odean, London, England.

1. "Thunder And Lightning" (5:17)
2. "Baby Please Don't Go" (5:34)
3. "This Is The One" (4:13)
4. "The Holy War" (5:17)
5. "The Sun Goes Down" (6:38)
6. "Cold Sweat" (3:12)
7. "Emerald" (4:39)
8. "Rosalie" (4:35)
9. "Baby Drives Me Crazy" (6:19)
10. "Still In Love With Me" (9:09)
11. "Black Rose" (7:46)
12. "Whisky In The Jar" (6:51)
13. "The Rocker" (4:%4)

The best show overall of the three Remembering bootlegs. The sound quality is not great, but not nearly as bad as disc two. The material here is what makes this disc so good. Part III features a smattering of material from almost every era of the band's career. John Sykes is a great guitarist as well and really adds to the sound here.

Thin Lizzy - BBC Radio One Live in Concert (Winsong/BBC) 1994
Live at the 1983 Reading Rock Festival

1. "Jailbreak" (4:53) 2. "Thunder & Lightning" (5:00) 3. "Waitin' For An Alibi" (3:29) 4. "Are You Ready" (2:57) 5. "Baby Please Don't Go" (5:04) 6. "A Night in the Life of a Blues Singer" (6:58) 7. "The Holy War" (5:06) 8. "The Sun Goes Down" (5:57) 9. "Emerald" (4:10) 10. "The Cowboy Song" (6:09) 11. "The Boys are Back in Town" (4:44) 12. "Suicide" (5:06) 13. "Rosalie-Medley" (8:09) ......(Rosalie, Dancing in the Moonlight, The Cowgirl Song) 14. "Still In Love With You" (9:10)

Thin Lizzy are one of the few bands whose live albums are better than their studio albums. Somehow they manage to capture that live, raw energy that just makes the songs that much better. This live broadcast was recorded from the last night of the 1983 Reading Rock Festival and was the last time that Thin Lizzy performed in Britain before the tragic death of Phil Lynott. A great performance by a great band. This disc is a bit hard to find but I got lucky and found this one new at a chain store for $3.99.

Thin Lizzy - Peel Sessions (Strange Fruit) 1994

1. "Whisky in the Jar" (5:52)
2. "Rosalie" (3:18)
3. "Suicide" (5:20)
4. "Emerald" (3:59)
5. "Cowboy Song" (5:13)
6. "Jailbreak" (4:06)
7. "Don't Believe a Word" (2:48)
8. "Little Darling" (3:07)
9. "Still in Love With You" (5:37)
10. "Vagabonds of the Western World" (4:27)
11. "Little Girl in Bloom" (4:42)
12. "Killer Without a Cause" (3;41)
13. "Bad Reputation" (2:50)
14. "That Woman's Gonna Break Your Heart" (3:30)
15. "Dancing in the Moonlight" (3:22)

Every review I have ever read of this disc rates it as tip notch; one of the best Thin Lizzy compilations to ever be released. The only problem with this is that it is also one of the rarest Thin Lizzy discs. Occasionally I see copies on eBay and they always sell for well above $30. I myself have bid on it several times, only to be outbid by someone willing to pay much more than I am. Well, I finally won a copy for the bargain price of $21.03 plus $4 shipping. Before I get any more emails, however, NO I am not willing to part with this CD. I didn't even get the disc in the mail yet and I was already getting requests from people to trade or sell it. In any case, "The Peel Sessions" features live in the studio versions of great Lizzy tunes recorded between 1972 and 1977 for John Peel's 70's BBC radio show. According to AMG, this is the only "Peel Sessions" release to include liner notes written by John Peel himself. I suppose this fact alone makes the disc collectible. However, tat is the music contained herein that I am most interested in. Despite being recorded live, the musicianship is tight and the band sounds excellent on each and every track. As with most BBC releases, the production is a bit more raw than the studio versions. This actually enhances the Thin Lizzy cuts, especially the older material. The packaging isn't bad, but isn't great either. One nice thing about it is that the recording dates were included for each song. The liner notes are an interesting read as well. John Peel mentions that Thin Lizzy recorded over 43 individual songs for the show. He also mentions that they recorded two versions of "Black Boys in the Corner." To bad this didn't also appear on the disc. Hmmm, perhaps in the future another Peel Sessions will be issued.

One question for all the Thin Lizzy maniacs who might happen to read this. Does anyone have any idea who is singing with Phil Lynott on "Still in Love With You?" The song is sung as a duet, but there is no listing of who sang on the track other than Phil Lynott. I'd be interested to know. Some have suggested it might be either Gary Moore, or Frankie Miller. The lyrics to 'Still In Love With You' are also completely different from the version found on the 'Night Life' disc.

Ask and ye shall receive:
Frankie Miller is singing with Phil on "Still in Love With You?" on the Peel Sessions. Thanks Fred T.

Thin Lizzy - Wild One (Vertigo) Japanese 2-disc version 1996

For the 10th anniversary of Phil Lynott's death, this new "best of" collection was issued in most parts of the world except for America. (That figures!) The Euro-version was a single disc that contained 19 tracks but nothing that had not already been released, so it was really nonessential, with the possible exception of the two Gary Moore tracks. ("Out in the Fields" &. "Parisienne Walkways") The Japanese version, however, contains this awesome bonus disc comprised of 10 rare live performances.

"Bad Reputation", "Opium Trail", "Are You Ready", "Dear Miss Lonely Hearts" were originally released on 'Live Killers' EP (UK 1981). Two of these live tracks ("Bad Reputation" and "Opium Trail") were originally to appear on "Live and Dangerous," but were dropped due to the time constraints of vinyl. These two songs alone are worth the $9.99 I paid for this used disc."Opium Trail" and "Dear Miss Lonely Hearts" feature Snowy White on guitar, who replaced Brian Robertson. "Chinatown" and "Got To Give It Up" were originally released as a promotional single in Australia in 1980. "Emerald", "Killer On The Loose", "The Boys Are Back In Town" & "Hollywood" were originally released on the vinyl release bonus EP for 'Thunder And Lightning' (UK 1983).

A quick check on eBay proved that the disc is ultra rare, selling for $50+. One odd thing about this disc, however, is that the very song in which the compilation was named is not included on either disc.

Thin Lizzy - Deluxe BBC Files (Five Dollar Records) 2000

A budget repackaging of "One Night Only," live in Germany 1999, with new artwork and the songs switched in order. A disc for the Lizzy collector like myself, who must own everything with their name on it, or for those who are just wanting to check out some of the band's material. This disc was given to me as a birthday gift from a friend. (thanks Arttie) For a more complete review, check out the review of "One Night Only" in the Thin Lizzy CD. Collection.

Thin Lizzy ‎– Classic Airwaves (American Legends Ltd) 2005

1     The Boys Are Back In Town (4:42)
2     Emerald (3:48)
3     Wild One (3:27)
4     Massacre (2:50)
5     Are You Ready (2:25)
6     Sun Goes Down (7:41)
7     Dancing In The Moonlight (3:49)
8     Sha-la-la (5:19)
9     Whiskey In The Jar (3:25)
10     The Boys Are Back In Town (Alternate Version) (4:09)
Video Enhanced Bonus Tracks
1     The Boys Are Back In Town (4:46)
2     Wild One (3:28)
3     Dancing In The Moonlight (3:49)
4     Whiskey In The Jar (3:27)

UK compilation of live Thin Lizzy material, said to be from radio broadcasts. This is an unofficial, bootleg release. The songs, of course, are all awesome but the sound quality really wavers from track to track. There are also four bonus video cuts. Not the greatest Lizzy boot I've ever heard, but it's Lizzy, so it's a must have.

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