With new albums by U2 and alt-country rocker Neko Case grabbing the lion’s share of media attention the week it was released, the “new” album by the Dublin, Ireland-based classic rock band Thin Lizzy – Still Dangerous: Live at the Tower Theatre Philadelphia 1977 (VH1 Classic Albums) – flew in a bit under the radar.True to its somewhat cumbersome but descriptive title, the ten-song collection was compiled from tapes discovered a few years ago “in the vaults” according to Thin Lizzy guitarist and album co-producer Scott Gorham.
“We pulled all these boxes down, and I didn’t even realize how many we had!” Gorham says in a press release. “One of the engineers was cataloging each reel, and one box came up marked `Philadelphia 2.’”
It turns out that the show was recorded for broadcast as part of the “King Biscuit Flower Hour” syndicated radio show. Thin Lizzy – at the time featuring the classic lineup of singer, songwriter, and bassist Phil Lynott, guitarist Brian Robertson, drummer Brian Downey, and Gorham – was touring the U.S. in support of its Bad Reputation album, which had been released a month earlier.
As part of that tour, Thin Lizzy played two consecutive nights at the Tower (which those of us in the Tri-State area know is located in Upper Darby, Pennsylvania - not Philadelphia). The tracks on Still Dangerous were recorded at the first show on October 20, 1977 (ironically the same night three members of Lynyrd Skynyrd and their road manager were killed in a tragic plane crash).
My guess is that some of you reading this were in the audience one of those nights (shoot me an email if you were). But even if you weren’t there – even if the only song you know from Thin Lizzy is “The Boys Are Back In Town” – this is a CD you should add to your collection.
Thin Lizzy never found the audience it deserved here in the States. Drug and alcohol abuse among the band members took its toll (Lynott died in 1986 at age 36). But the quality of Lynott’s songwriting, the band’s stellar musicianship, and Thin Lizzy’s continued influence on rock music can’t be denied.
Producer Glyn Johns (Led Zeppelin, Rolling Stones) came out of retirement to remix and remaster the album. The results sound remarkably good, especially considering the source tapes are over 30-years-old.
Purists might quibble that the entire 16-song set that was recorded that night (available for streaming at Wolfgang’s Vault ) should have been included on the CD. However, the 10 songs that are featured offer a nice mix of hits (“Jailbreak,” “The Boys Are Back In Town,” “Dancing In The Moonlight”), fan favorites (“Cowboy Song,” “Massacre” “Don’t Believe A Word”) and rarities (“Soldier Of Fortune” and “Opium Trail” – neither of which has ever appeared on a Thin Lizzy live album). The band’s pioneering twin lead guitar attack is in full force, and the concert setting only enhances the depth and variety of Lynott’s songwriting.
Here’s the complete track listing for Still Dangerous: Live at the Tower Theatre Philadelphia 1977:
1) Soldier Of Fortune
2) Jailbreak
3) Cowboy Song
4) The Boys Are Back In Town
5) Dancing In The Moonlight
6) Massacre
7) Opium Trail
8) Don’t Believe A Word
9) Baby Makes Me Cry
10) Me And The Boys
Enjoy this classic video of "Dancing In The Moonlight (It's Caught Me In Its Spotlight)":
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