THIN LIZZY: OUT OF THE VAULTS & "STILL DANGEROUS"

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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GEORGE THOROGOOD BACK HOME IN DELAWARE FOR A "GRAND" SHOW

The self-proclaimed “World's Greatest Bar Band” – George Thorogood and the Delaware (yes, we’ll use the group’s full name here) Destroyers – return to their home state for a show at Wilmington, Delaware’s Grand Opera House on Monday, March 23 at 8:00 pm. Tickets are priced from $35 to $52. For more information, call the Grand box office at 302-652-6677.

It’s hard to believe, but it has been six years since Thorogood and the Destroyers performed in Delaware. They rocked Wilmington's Big Kahuna back in 2003.

I’ve never interviewed Thorogood, but through stories told by friends of friends, he always impressed me as a fairly unpretentious guy who charted his own course – as passionate about his semi-pro baseball team as he was about his music career.

The March 2009 issue of Delaware Today magazine features an article that chronicles Thorogood’s career, and what writer Matt Amis calls Thorogood’s “checkered relationship” with his home state. Maybe Thorogood did have a rough adolescence here, but by the early 80s, after he had become Delaware’s first bona fide rock star of the MTV age, Thorogood seemed to have reconciled with his past.

Even though he didn’t officially live here, he certainly was spending time in the area. On at least one occasion circa 1982-83, Thorogood showed up unannounced with his guitar at a now defunct Newark, Delaware bar and grill called the Crap Trap and played a set for open mic night.

Thorogood appears to have maintained that same unassuming personality trait to this day. Regarding his return to Delaware, Thorogood is quoted in the Delaware Today feature as saying, “I’m really looking forward like you wouldn’t believe…. I used to think the only way I’d get into the Grand Opera House is if they asked me to sweep the floor.”

Monday’s show at the Grand is going to be recorded for an upcoming live album. If it comes to fruition, it will be the first live album by a nationally known music artist ever recorded entirely in Delaware.

Give “Lonesome George” credit for remembering the First State. Thorogood is one of only a handful of nationally known music artists to mention or allude to Delaware in his songs. In addition to Thorogood’s “Delaware Slide,” the slim list includes “School Days” by Loudon Wainwright III, “Dover, Delaware” by Canadian folk-roots band the Duhks, Perry Como’s “Delaware,” and Fats Waller’s “(You’re A) Square From Delaware.”

Examples of live recordings originating in Delaware are even rarer. In fact, the only other occurrence that I can find of a live recording taking place in Delaware during the rock era is a track on Earthbound, a 1972 album by the British progressive rock band King Crimson. The album opens with a track called “21st Century Schizoid Man” that was recorded in Wilmington at the old State Armory (which used to be located at 10th and DuPont Streets) on February 11, 1972.

King Crimson was opening for the J. Giles Band that night.

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TOP-10 IRISH ARTISTS IN ROCK AND POP

Irish musicians have played important roles and influenced every style of music imaginable – from classical, to jazz, to folk, to country. In honor of St. Patrick’s Day, here’s a list of ten notable Irish artists and bands in the pop and rock genres. The list is by no means meant to be definitive, just this Honorary Irishman’s humble opinion. In alphabetical order:

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The Boomtown Rats – Led by future humanitarian Bob Geldof, these post-punk rockers never found a large audience in the States. Even their biggest worldwide hit, “I Don’t Like Mondays” fell short of the Top-40 here. Still, the group’s blend of epic, Springsteen-esque story-songs and punk attitude are worth checking out, especially on the group’s U.S. debut, A Tonic for the Troops.

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Clannad / Enya – Clannad had been creating its unique combination of traditional Irish folk, Celtic, pop and new age music since the early 70s. It took ten years for the group to achieve international success, primarily through its work on various movie and television soundtracks. Eithne Ní Bhraonáin, better known as Enya, struck out on her own in the mid-80s and found even greater success creating ethereal, multi-layered vocal orchestrations that walked a fine line between pop and new age.

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The Corrs – This three sisters and a brother act enjoyed a great deal of worldwide success in the ten year period between 1996 and 2006. The band’s sound, epitomized by hits like “Runaway” and “Breathless,” leaned heavily toward pop-rock, but contained a fair sprinkling of traditional Irish influences and instrumentation.

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The Cranberries – This Limerick-based alternative rock band enjoyed plenty of airplay and chart success for most of the 90s on the basis of its two great strengths – sharp pop songwriting (typified by hits like “Linger,” “Dreams,” and “Salvation”), and the pure, powerful voice of lead singer Dolores O'Riordan.

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Rory Gallagher – The late, great blues-rock guitarist Rory Gallagher died too young – he was only 47 when years of substance abuse finally caught up with him in 1995. Although his albums sold over 30 million copies worldwide, perhaps his most important and lasting contribution to music is evidenced by his acknowledged influence on guitarists like The Edge, Slash, Johnny Marr, Glenn Tipton, and Brian May.

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House of Pain / Everlast – In the early 90s, white rappers were still a novelty, and legitimate white rappers were an even bigger rarity. Spittin’ lyrics in a full-on brogue, Everlast stepped to the plate not as a copycat, but as a “copy that.” With an even more successful solo career he demonstrated his range in a variety of musical genres.

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Van Morrison – Morrison is the reigning monarch of Irish singer-songwriters. Fans might question whether this Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee should be recognized more for his exceptional songwriting or for his unique, soulful voice. Fortunately, there’s no need to rush a decision – at age 63, Morrison is still going strong.

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The Pogues – Some reviews of Pogues concerts talk of shows of unparalleled power and elegance, others of performances marred by incoherent drunkenness. The focal point of contradiction is always Shane MacGowan — singer, songwriter, and enigmatic leader of the group — the man who's equally responsible for the Pogues' greatest achievements as well as its occasional downfalls.

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Thin Lizzy – For my money, Thin Lizzy is one of the most underrated rock bands of all time. Lead singer Phil Lynott was a fine songwriter, and a charismatic front man. The group was one of the pioneers of the twin lead guitar sound, and a terrific live act.

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U2 – Okay, Bono and the boys can get a bit pretentious at times, but as a band they’re still the current kings of the mountain. The group has been around long enough to be considered classic rock, but as evidenced by its new chart topping effort, No Line on the Horizon, the band is still taking chances – and finding a large audience in the process.

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