Thin Lizzy's Best Song On Each Of Their Studio Albums

Feature Photo: David Fowler / Shutterstock.com

Thin Lizzy was the first major rock band that I ever saw in concert. The group was opening for Queen in 1977 at Madison Square Garden in New York City. You never forget your first time, and so this band holds a special place in my rock and roll heart. I remember Phil Lynott standing center stage with his bass pointing out to the audience as the band broke into the song “Jailbreak.” It was wonderful.

This Thin Lizzy’s Best Song On Each Of Their Studio Albums article presents a showcase of what I believe was the best song from each of their studio albums. At times, my picks may also appear to be the album’s most popular song, while at other times it will be a hidden gem or a deep album track.

Thin Lizzy – “Look What The Wind Blew In”

Thin Lizzy’s debut album was released in 1971. The band at the time consisted of Phil Lynott on vocals, bass guitar, and acoustic guitar, Eric Bell on lead guitar, and Brian Downey on drums. I’ve always loved the closing track on the album’s first side, “Look What The Wind Blew In.” The crunch of that guitar riff at the song’s beginning is just so addicting. One can hear the influence of Hendrix on the band at this time.

Shades of a Blue Orphanage – “Baby Face”

Shades Of A Blue Orphanage [Remastered & Expanded]

Thin Lizzy followed up their debut album a year later, in 1972, with Shades of a Blue Orphanage. The album’s title was a combination of the bands the band members had been in previously, one being Shades of Blue and the other Orphanage. The pick here, “Baby Face,” was the album’s opening cut on side two of the record. You can hear the band’s sound developing on their sophomore effort.

Vagabonds of the Western World (1973)

The song “The Rocker” is one of the band’s most popular songs from their early albums. It starts with a killer guitar riff that just lends itself to Phil Lynott’s tough-as-nails lyrics and street attitude vocals.

Nightlife (1974)

“She Knows” is the top pick from the Nightlife album. The album was released in 1974. It was the first album to feature Scott Gorham and Brian Robertson on guitars. A 2012 reissue of Nightlife reached number 19 on the UK Rock & Metal Albums Chart.

Fighting (1975)

Thin Lizzy’s golden era of commercial success begins with the Fighting album. The pick here is the album’s opening track entitled “Rosalie.” This was an excellent cover of a classic Bob Seger song.

Jailbreak – “The Boys Are Back In Town”

In 1976, the band Thin Lizzy would become a household name with their smash worldwide hit “The Boys Are Back In Town.” The song would become one of classic rock’s defining moments of the 1970s.

Johnny the Fox – “Johnny the Fox Meets Jimmy the Weed”

It was tough for the band to follow up on the worldwide success of their Jailbreak album. Nonetheless, they did great with the rocking Johnny The Fox album. The pick here is side two’s opening track “Johnny the Fox Meets Jimmy the Weed.”

Bad Reputation – “Soldier Of Fortune”

Bad Reputation stands as my favorite Thin Lizzy album. The band sounded heavier than they ever had before, yet Phil Lynott still maintained his wonderful sense of melody, fueling most of the material. It was tough to choose between the album’s lead single “Dancing in the Moonlight (It’s Caught Me in Its Spotlight),” the title track “Bad Reputation,” and the album opener “Soldier of Fortune,” which eventually became the top choice.

Black Rose: A Rock Legend – “Toughest Street In Town”

The band closed out the decade with their ninth studio album, Black Rose: A Rock Legend, released in 1979. I have always loved this one, which was composed by Scott Gorham, Phil Lynott, and the legendary Gary Moore.

Chinatown – “Chinatown”

“Chinatown” is one of our favorite Thin Lizzy songs of all time. It opens with a sensational, classic-sounding guitar riff and just keeps getting better with every passing beat.

Renegade – “Hollywood (Down on Your Luck)”

While this album was not greeted with the most celebrated reception, as a Thin Lizzy fan, it got plenty of spins on my turntable. The song “Hollywood (Down on Your Luck)” should have been a big hit. It’s a killer cut.

Thunder and Lightning – “Cold Sweat”

On our top 10 Thin Lizzy songs of all time list, the track here, “Cold Sweat,” was chosen as number one. We don’t have to say much more than that. Make sure you take a listen to this smoking tune if you’ve never heard it before.