Search - Thin Lizzy :: UK Tour 75

4.5 stars

N. Hambleton | Mackay, Queensland Australia | 10/21/2008

(4 out of 5 stars)

"


How good is this? The complete Derby gig from 75 when the band was touring behind the Fighting album. (The first vinyl album I ever bought having finally moved on from those dreadful cassettes). This set features five songs from Fighting and even gives us the sound check for good measure. Live and Dangerous has always been the definitive live Lizzy album and one of the all time great 70's double live albums amongst a cast of many contenders for that title. I personally consider this recording, whilst not eclipsing that gem, certainly well worth the price of admission. It has the obvious advantage of sounding fresher than L&D after thirty odd years. There is little doubt that this recording finds a less polished outfit than at the time of L&D, and the performance sounds much more intimate and generally "smaller". But this in no way detracts from the quality of the playing or the reproduction of it. The cover art is excellent with many photos but my only gripe is the digipak style of the cover. I have never been a fan of the digipak which I find ungainly. This one features a hard cardboard inner sleeve similar to the old vinyl days. It is tricky to get the disc out and I believe there is too great a risk of scratching to justify it over the regular hard plastic case. However this is a minor complaint when viewed in the context of the overall product and the size of the booklet lends itself nicely to a standard jewel case as replacement. This album will surely appeal to the appreciator of the great 70's guitar bands in general, and live renditions of them in particular. In answer to the original question how good is this?.......for Lizzy fans, in 2008, I reckon it does not get much better,

"

Great to hear the classic lineup close to the beginning

Mark R. Cavanaugh | Buellton, CA USA | 10/29/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Phil Lynott's story is one of the most remarkable in rock history. This live performance exhibits what an exciting performer he was. This early recording of what is now known as the "classic" line-up gives an indication of how great Thin Lizzy live could be. Brian Downey is one of the finest drummers to ever grace a stage and with Phil Lynott on bass, they formed a world-class rhythm section for Scott Gorham and Brian Robertson to play great guitar parts over.



This concert includes Phil bravely presenting a rough cut of what would become "The Cowboy Song", arguably the finest rock and roll song ever written about the great American West. Phil Lynott has been overlooked by the public at large but has been recognized as one of Ireland's greats by no less than Bono and Van Morrison. This recording lets us revisit a brilliant young figure when the future held great promise.





It should be noted that several of the songs on this recording were previously released with on an accompanying CD to the supurb remastered Live and Dangerous DVD."

Do not hesitate any longer, buy this album

Seamus Law | KCMO, United States | 12/24/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"There are a multitude of official live Thin Lizzy recordings. They vary from the truly sublime "Live and Dangerous" to the mediocre "Life/Live" with the Sydney Opera House gig from '79 and the Hitchin Regal show from '83 trailing far behind. Where does UK tour '75 fit?



It is very, very good. It is second second only to the mighty "Live and Dangerous"



It is a little rough around the edges (no overdubs this time around), but that is part of what makes it so great. It captures the sound of a band in the ascendancy.

Lynott's patter between songs comes across as almost shy at times, but his vocals are strong, and the rhythm section of himself and Downey remains as tight as ever. Robertson and Gorham, the best guitar duo Lizzy ever had are in fine form and play off of each other so well. By the way Brian Robertson would only have been 19 when this was recorded.



Those songs from "Nightlife" and "Fighting" that feature on this album are rarely heard after their careers took off a year later, but the songs that appear a little weak in the studio take on a much tougher stance live.



If, like me you hesitated before buying this album, fearing that it could never live up to "Live and Dangerous", fear not. You will not be disappointed. Revel in the sounds of one of Rocks most underrated bands.



I have not stopped playing it since I bought it."