THIN LIZZY – Vagabonds Of The Western World (Deluxe Edition 50th anniversary) (2023)

THIN LIZZY’s breakthrough album, 1973’s ‘Vagabonds Of The Western World‘, is being reissued for its 50th anniversary via multi-disc vinyl and CD box sets.
The band’s third studio album features the single ‘The Rocker’, although despite the top 10 success of the 1972’s ‘Whiskey in the Jar’, they left it off Vagabonds, although that hasn’t stopped the song being added to the various reissues over the years. That song was the last Lizzy release to feature original guitarist Eric Bell. After an unsuccessful New Year’s Eve show in Belfast, Bell was no longer in the band, which paved the way for Lynott’s idea about having twin lead guitarists, which led to the recruitment of American Scott Gorham and 18-year-old Glaswegian Brian Robertson.
For the 50th anniversary reissue a 3CD+blu-ray box set delivers the album newly remastered (by Andy Pearce and Matt Wortham), bonus tracks, rare radio sessions, live performances and 10 demos and outtakes – unreleased music previously never heard.

The album was Thin Lizzy’s last roll of the dice, as they had been working for two years with limited success. After the band moved to London from Dublin, they played every gig they could to keep themselves afloat. While messing around in their rehearsal studio, Phil Lynott started busking the old Irish folk song ‘Whiskey In The Jar’, which dates back to the 1700s.
Their then manager remarked upon it and insisted that the band recorded, against their gut instincts. The single was released in November 1972 and rose to number 6 on the UK singles chart. However, the song didn’t sit well with the band, and despite its success, they left it off their forthcoming album.
Since then, the song, in arrangements influenced by The Lizzy version, has gone on to be covered by artists such as U2, Metallica, Belle & Sebastian, The Pogues, Pulp, Bryan Adams, Gary Moore and Simple Minds.

After a two-year struggle for recognition, Thin Lizzy had finally scored a breakthrough hit. It paved the way for the ‘Vagabonds Of The Western World’ album, but it would be their last with original guitarist Eric Bell. After an unsuccessful New Year’s Eve show in Belfast, Bell was no longer in the band, which paved the way for Lynott’s idea about having twin lead guitarists.
After a short spell with very young Gary Moore filling in, Phil & Brian recruited American Scott Gorham and Brian Robertson, and a new adventure started.

The 50th anniversary of ‘Vagabonds Of The Western World’ is the sound of nascent Lizzy finally finding their feet and starting on their journey to be one of the greatest rock bands of the 70s and for Philip to be recognised as one of the best songwriters of his generation.

This LP was THIN LIZZY putting all they had into the music and taking risks. It’s passionate, high energy and distinctive. The sound quality on this Deluxe Edition 50th anniversary is really good.
‘Vagabonds Of The Western World’ was also the first album to feature artwork by Jim Fitzpatrick, who would go on to work with the band on classic albums such as Nightlife, Jailbreak, Johnny The Fox, Black Rose and Chinatown.
Classic

CD1 – Vagabonds Of The Western World remaster +bonus
01 – Mama Nature Said
02 – The Hero And The Madman
03 – Slow Blues
04 – The Rocker
05 – Vagabond Of The Western World
06 – Little Girl In Bloom
07 – Gonna Creep Up On You
08 – A Song For While I’m Away
09 – Whiskey In The Jar
10 – Black Boys On The Corner (Single B-Side)
11 – Randolph’s Tango (Single A-Side)
12 – Broken Dreams (Single B-Side)
13 – The Rocker (Single A-Side) Edit)
14 – Here I Go Again (Single B-Side)
15 – A Ride In The Lizzy Mobile (Single B-Side)

CD2 – Radio Session
16 – Whiskey In The Jar (John Peel Session)
17 – Suicide (John Peel Session)
18 – Black Boys On The Corner (John Peel Session)
19 – 1969 Rock (With Intro / RTE Radio Eireann Session / 16th Jan 1973)
20 – Suicide (With Intro / RTE Radio Eireann Session / 16th Jan 1973)
21 – Broken Dreams (With Intro / RTE Radio Eireann Session / 16th Jan 1973)
22 – Eddie’s Blues / Blue Shadows (RTE Radio Eireann Session / 16th Jan ’73)
23 – Vagabond Of The Western World (John Peel Session)
24 – Gonna Creep Up On You (John Peel Session)
25 – Little Girl In Bloom (John Peel Session)
26 – Randolph’s Tango (John Peel Session)
27 – The Rocker (John Peel Session)
28 – Slow Blues (John Peel Session)
29 – Randolph’s Tango (Bob Harris Session)
30 – Little Girl In Bloom (Bob Harris Session)
31 – The Rocker (Bob Harris Session)
32 – The Rocker (Radio One In Concert)
33 – Things Ain’t Working Out Down At The Farm (Radio One In Concert)
34 – Slow Blues (Radio One In Concert)
35 – Gonna Creep Up On You (Radio One In Concert)
36 – Suicide (Radio One In Concert)

CD3 – Live, Rarities, Demos & Outtakes
37 – The Rocker (Take 1 / Instrumental)
38 – Little Girl In Bloom (Take 3)
39 – Gonna Creep Up On You (Take 2 / Instrumental)
40 – Slow Blues (Take 2 / Instrumental)
41 – Here I Go Again (Extended Version)
42 – Suicide (gtr Needles And Pins Jam)
43 – Whiskey In The Jar (Extended Version / Rough Mix)
44 – Black Boys On The Corner (Rough Mix)
45 – Gonna Creep Up On You (Acetate Mix)
46 – Baby’s Been Messin’ (Acetate Mix)
47 – Whiskey In The Jar (Richard Whittaker Mix)

Philip Lynott – vocals, bass guitar, rhythm guitar
Eric Bell – lead guitar
Brian Downey – drums, percussion

Pre order:
www.amazon.de/dp/B0CHSGV8YK