Thin Lizzy – Shades of a Blue Orphanage (1972, design by Decca in-house; cover art photograph by Radio Times Hulton Picture Library) While many look to 1976’s Jailbreak as the ultimate Thin Lizzy release due to its success in terms of album and singles sales, for me the centerpiece of my favorite Lizzy period releases is more a killer bridge between my favorite, Johnny The Fox, and my second Fighting. Understandably with Nightlife and Bad Reputation also making up that bunch, it’s a tough call and while I call Fighting my second fave Lizzy record, it really only sits slightly behind Johnny The Fox and on any given day if asked to choose, I might even lean the other way. But why bother to mince words, they’re all great but today Fighting gets the nod simply because it makes the retro review anniversary list and hey, I couldn’t be happier! But as I mentioned, I sort of keep my love affair with Lizzy close so for anyone expecting one of my mini autobiographical semi novels, let me apologize up front.

In June 1978, Lynott’s boast became reality with Live And Dangerous, the album against which all past and present Lizzy releases would be measured. The recent 45th-anniversary super-deluxe edition proves that the answer to the eternal question: Which is the greatest live album of all time?, remains the same. The beginning of 1982 was marred by both Downey and Gorham having to take breaks from the European tour to recover from personal problems. Downey was involved in a fight in a nightclub in Denmark in February, [101] and Gorham was suffering from drug-induced exhaustion. [102] Downey missed five concerts, and was replaced by Mark Nauseef again for three of them, and by Mike Mesbur of support band The Lookalikes for the other two. [103] In March, Gorham collapsed and returned home; eight concerts were performed as a quartet and six others were postponed. [103] Jailbreak was the seminal Lizzy studio album – that and Johnny The Fox,” believes Robertson. The album was filled with more tales of deadbeats, derring-do, doomed romance, sex and war. Its single Don’t Believe A Word reached No.12 in the UK, giving Thin Lizzy another much-needed hit. Larson, Jeremy D. (10 February 2014). "Massive Nights: Ten Years of the Hold Steady". Pitchfork . Retrieved 4 August 2021. Gary Moore & Friends – One Night in Dublin – A Tribute to Phil Lynott". AllMusic . Retrieved 17 April 2011. (subscription required)

Thin Lizzy - Suicide (Live)". YouTube. 22 February 2008. Archived from the original on 22 December 2021 . Retrieved 27 July 2019. Thin Lizzy – UK Tour '75". Uncut, IPC Media. Archived from the original on 28 November 2011 . Retrieved 3 April 2011. Live And Dangerous also précised Lizzy’s easy mix of machismo and vulnerability. For every Massacre or Warriors there was a Still In Love With You or a Dancing In The Moonlight (It’s Caught Me In Its Spotlight), the latter one of the greatest songs about fumbling adolescent romance. In late 1972, the band embarked upon a high-profile tour of the UK with Slade, who were enjoying a string of hit singles at the time, and Suzi Quatro. Around the same time, Decca released Thin Lizzy's version of a traditional Irish ballad, " Whiskey in the Jar", as a single. The band was angry at the release, feeling that the song did not represent their sound or their image, [35] but the single topped the Irish chart, and reached No.6 in the UK in February 1973, resulting in an appearance on Top of the Pops. It also charted in many countries across Europe. However, the follow-up single, "Randolph's Tango", was a return to Lynott's more obscure work, and it did not chart outside Ireland. [36]

In 1997, Tommy Aldridge filled in on drums when Brian Downey was unable to, and became a full member when Downey left shortly thereafter. This line-up remained stable through to 2000, when the group recorded a live album, One Night Only. The band went on to tour the US playing clubs in early 2001, but Wharton had already left the band by the time of the tour. From 2000 to 2003, Mendoza toured with Ted Nugent, and with Whitesnake in 2004. Sykes released two solo albums during 2002–03, while Gorham worked with his band 21 Guns. Thin Lizzy performed sporadically during this period, recruiting some musicians for single tours, such as bass guitarist Guy Pratt for the Global Chaos Tour of 2003. [131] Thin Lizzy Considering Return to the Studio". Billboard. 14 September 2009 . Retrieved 3 April 2011.Final Thin Lizzy LPs getting expanded by Universal U.K." Mike Duquette, The Second Disc. 1 August 2013.