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Thin Lizzy: Bad Reputation (1977) CD Track Listing

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Thin Lizzy Bad Reputation (1977) (1977)
Originally Released 1977\nCD Edition Released July 1990\nRemastered CD Edition Released March 18, 1996\n\nAMG EXPERT REVIEW: Although Lizzy's last two albums, 1976's Jailbreak and Johnny the Fox, were hard rock classics laden with strong songwriting and playing, the production on both releases was anemic. On 1977's Bad Reputation, Lizzy hooked up with respected hard rock producer Tony Visconti (David Bowie, T. Rex), who finally helped the band fulfill their potential, sonically speaking. Lizzy had to record the majority of the album as a trio, since guitarist Brian Robertson was forced to bow out and recuperate from a hand injury sustained in a barroom fight. Hence, guitarist Scott Gorham performed double duty on almost all the tracks, and judging by the remarkable guitar harmonies, he rose to the occasion splendidly. Songwriter/singer/bassist Phil Lynott was again equipped with a fine batch of compositions, which comprise Lizzy's third classic album in a row. The tuneful epic "Soldier of Fortune" starts the album off, which quickly gives way to the furiously rocking title track. Lynott's storytelling lyrics take center stage on such tracks as "Opium Trail," "Southbound," and "Dear Lord," while the irresistible dirty funk of "Dancing in the Moonlight" was a U.K. hit single (and later covered by Smashing Pumpkins as a B-side in 1993). Other standouts include the vicious "Killer Without a Cause" and the reflective beauty of "Downtown Sundown." Yet another consistent, stellar Lizzy set. ~ Greg Prato\n\nAmazon.com Editorial Review\nThat much rock & roll excess and that little sleep--it would be enough to ruffle anyone. Thus Thin Lizzy decamped to Canada to unwind from a year of incident and illness. There they produced Bad Reputation, which sounds, if not exactly laid-back, then at least damn smooth. Phil Lynott was confident enough to loosen Lizzy's atomic boogie and open his writing to jazz and folk influences, while the band, despite shifting membership, sound tighter than ever, playing with a new delicacy and thoughtfulness. Scott Gorham emerged here as a genuinely original guitarist, Tony Visconti's production sharpens the edges, and the title track, "Southbound," and "Dancing in the Moonlight" are among Lizzy's best. --Taylor Parkes \n\nAmazon.com Customer Review\nTwo gems, lots of riffs, January 3, 2002\nReviewer: A music fan\nThin Lizzy was okay, a journeyman rock ('n roll) band with a lot of killer riffs that lifted only occasionally memorable tunes. Their big claim to fame in the US was "The Boys Are Back In Town," which in 1976 sounded like Bruce Springsteen meets heavy metal. The Springsteen comparison gave Thin Lizzy and bassist/lead singer/group leader Phil Lynott momentary cache on FM playlists at that time, but it didn't last and Lynott eventually died at a very young age after several years of alcohol overindulgence.\nBAD REPUTATION is pretty much generic Seventies arena rock, with two song exceptions. One is "Dancing In The Moonlight," another Springsteen clone which owes a lot to The Boss' "Spirit In The Night." The tune swings and it's one of the few instances where Lynott's lyrics actually go beyond cliches and say something. The other is a ballad, "Downtown Sundown," a folkish (but still electric) song of affirmation that, gender considerations apart, I could hear someone like Roseanne Cash or Gillian Welch pulling off. Lynott himself sings it with grace and a sort of rough compassion in his voice. Again, his lyrics hit home.\n\nI don't know if two really great songs is enough of a basis for buying a whole album, but you could do much worse.\n\nAmazon.com Customer Review\nA gem. Lizzy produced excellent songs in this period..., October 13, 2001\nReviewer: Tony "sir_isaac_newton" (Seattle)\nA great Thin Lizzy album. A hidden gem. Some of the very early and very late albums, although good, were a little less consistent. During this "middle period" Thin Lizzy were HOT! They had a string of fantastic albums and several hit singles. This is one of them. Notice Brian Robertson is missing from the cover picture? Apparently they decided it was time for him to go before they released this album - presumably related to his fight-injured hand. Shame -- I think we all regret that decision. The sound of Brian Robertson and Scott Gorham created a special harmony guitar sound that powerful and melodic...\nHigh-lights include the excellent hit pop-rock single Dancing in the Moonlight, the desperate Dear Lord and Southbound [a tribute to the 2002 stock market perhaps?! ;)]. Low-light - there are none. Highly Recommended.\n\nAmazon.com Customer Review\nDear Lord, it doesn't get any better, June 1, 2004\nReviewer: A music fan\nI can't think of another band that influenced me in my youth the way these guys did. I consider them the best rock band of all. I know Phil wrote the occasionally awful line, and at times the songs were just downright peculiar ("S & M" off "Black Rose" comes to mind), but the unique sound and look of the band set them apart, and gave them a unique, singular voice. \nHere is Thin Lizzy again offering very diverse material, songs that kick you in your butt ("Bad Reputation", "Opium Trail", "Soldier of Fortune" and "Killer Without A Cause"), what could be considered religious songs ("Downtown Sundown" and "Dear Lord", songs I find incredibly heartfelt, beautiful, and at times, awkward. God bless you, Phil), and pop songs with great guitar licks ("Southbound", "That Women's Gonna Break Your Heart" and "Dancing in The Moonlight", my least favorite track on the album). Not what you would expect from what everyone was saying was a "hard rock" band. \n\nWhen I consider that Thin Lizzy released the following 4 STUDIO albums consecutively...."Jailbreak" (1976), "Johnny the Fox" (1976), "Bad Reputation" (1977) and "Black Rose" (1979), and when I listen to them now, scratches and all, ....I think that Thin Lizzy is still my favorite rock band, and I wish to god I could play guitar like Scott Gorham and Brian Robertson, and be as cool as Phil Lynott. These 4 albums are rock nirvana to me.\n\nIf push came to shove, I consider "Bad Reputation" their best album. It is more Scott Gorham than Brian Robertson, and for that,I give it up to Scott Gorham. But I wish the two would have stayed together, especially when you hear them together on "That Woman's Gonna Break Your Heart". \n\nMy biggest regret was not seeing them on November 1st, 1977 at the Riverside Theater in Milwaukee WI, in support of this album. I was 14 at the time, and Thin Lizzy wasn't as popular as some of the other bands back then. Nobody really wanted to go to the show with me, and when your 14 you don't really feel comfortable going alone. As such, I never got the chance to see this band live, in person. But I hear that Scott Gorham and John Sykes have their version of Thin Lizzy touring this summer (with a date in my hometown, no less. Maybe I can fly there to see them).\n\nHalf.com Album Notes\nThin Lizzy: Phil Lynott (vocals, bass); Brian Robertson, Scott Gorham (guitar); Brian Downey (drums).\n\nIrish rock outfit Thin Lizzy gained worldwide status with its summer anthem, "The Boys Are Back in Town," a Springsteen pastiche of summer nights, male bonding, and the occasional fist fight or two. Although the band never released another single that equaled its impact, Thin Lizzy was enjoying both a commercial as well as creative peak during the mid- to late '70s. BAD REPUTATION is arguably the band's last "great" album. The radio-ready single, "Dancing in the Moonlight" is nearly as winning as the aforementioned "Boys" and the pumping title track is a classic Thin Lizzy mixture of twin guitars, bravado, and a dash of menace. Although singer Phil Lynott had a habit of crossing over into overblown machismo, more often than not the soulful tear in his voice along with the band's signature twin melodic guitar lines elevated the material beyond mere lunkhead chest pounding. YEAR: 1977
This rock cd contains 9 tracks and runs 35min 52sec.
Freedb: 76086609
Buy: from Amazon.com

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