Decca [Release date 24.01.24]

The Irish legends’ first new album in 40 years and it takes us back to the early 70s, when the band were a three piece.

Back then, before guitarists Brian Robertson and Scott Gorham came on board and Thin Lizzy rocked the world with Nightlife, Johnny The Fox and so on, they were a three piece of a different ilk. Alongside bassist vocalist Phil Lynott and drummer Brian Downey was guitarist Eric Bell, and the band had more a Celtic folk and acoustic feel to their rock.

Many tracks are often demoed on piano or guitar before recording, or just tried with different arrangements, you’ll often see these attached as bonus tracks to reissued CDs.

That’s what has happened here, with Eric Bell adding guitar to some early tracks, taken from across the band’s first three albums Thin Lizzy, Shades Of A Blue Orphanage and Vagabonds Of The Western World. And I’m guessing that the otherwise odd artwork is a follow on from that third album.

And before anyone cries foul, this has done before within camp Lizzy; tracks from the first two albums were remixed in 1977 with overdubs from Gary Moore, and subsequently added as bonus tracks.

I have worked with Eric Bell before, on the rerelease of his Irish Boy CD, and his love of both the blues and the Celtic heritage was clear.

A short album, it opens with ‘Mama Nature Said’ and ‘Song For While I’m Away’. These are so stripped back, it was initially hard to fathom it as Thin Lizzy. The latter does have an orchestral arrangement, and on repeated listens one reason it sounds so different are beyond Bell’s guitar (the sole addition), is the mix. The remix does make a huge difference to the clarity, the layer differentiation. In the right situation, Lynott could be in the room with you.

Slow Blues hits you like a hammer with the electric guitar. That is something else.

Side two of the record continues in the same vein and it’s amazing, the only track not as surprisingly good as the others, is Whiskey In The Jar, which kind of had an acoustic feel originally anyway.

Some might consider the track choices odd, some being additions (outtakes) to the earlier remasters.

There are times where Phil’s vocals are more rock than the acoustic finish of the song, just a smidgeon but there is a hint.

The tracks range from vocals and guitar to full band and orchestra, all superbly mixed.

Solid clear vinyl pressing, nice inner sleeve that tells you on who is on each track.

However, no sleevenotes, would have been nice to have comment form Bell or Downey, perhaps putting things into context. Either way, the LP, even with the short running time (35 minutes give or take) is a lovely item.

For the more trad or casual fan or listener, the regular 2 CD remasters of the first 3 albums would be a better place to start (one or two of the deluxe editions were far too expensive for what you get). But if you are more of a fan, I would recommend.

A stand alone item – nice. Mix – excellent.

A bonus disc on a Decca box, value for money.

Before I heard the music, I’ve heard a lot of negative thoughts at the whole idea of it. Although it’s not the first Decca era release I’d recommend to a casual listener, there are a lot of positives and a lot of enjoyment to be had. But info to put in context and a longer playing time please.

Enjoy. ***1/2

Review by Joe Geesin

Track Listing

1. Mama Nature Said
2. A Song For While I’m Away
3. Eire
4. Slow Blues – E.B.
5. Dublin
6. Whiskey In The Jar
7. Here I Go Again
8. Shades Of A Blue Orphanage
9. Remembering Pt. 2

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