This year marks the 50th anniversary of what is widely regarded as Thin Lizzy’s breakthrough album: Vagabonds Of The Western World, featuring their first U.K. Top 10 single Whiskey In The Jar, along with The Rocker, which would go on to be one of the band’s signature tunes — and the last song they performed at their final show in 1983.
To celebrate the album’s golden anniversary, deluxe CD and LP sets featuring rarities, radio sessions, unreleased music, rare photos, extensive sleevenotes by Mark Blake, and memorabilia is out now. The reissue suite also includes the album remixed in Dolby Atmos, a first for any Thin Lizzy record.
Vagabonds Of The Western World was Thin Lizzy’s third studio album and was initially released on the Sept. 21 1973. It was the first to feature artwork by Jim Fitzpatrick, the creator of the famous red and black portrait of Che Guevara, who would go on to work with the band on classic albums such as Nightlife, Jailbreak, Johnny The Fox, Black Rose and Chinatown.
The album was the band’s last roll of the dice, as they had been working for two years with limited success. After the band moved to London from Dublin, they played every gig they could to keep themselves afloat. While messing around in their rehearsal studio, Phil Lynott started busking the old Irish folk song Whiskey In The Jar, which dates back to the 1700s.
Their then-manager remarked upon it and insisted that the band recorded, against their gut instincts. The single was released in November 1972 and rose to No. 6 on the U.K. singles chart. However, the song didn’t sit well with the band, and despite its success, they left it off their forthcoming album.
Since then, the song, in arrangements influenced by the Lizzy version, has gone on to be covered by artists such as U2, Metallica, Belle & Sebastian, The Pogues, Pulp, Bryan Adams, Gary Moore and Simple Minds.
After a two-year struggle for recognition, Thin Lizzy had finally scored a breakthrough hit. It paved the way for the Vagabonds Of The Western World album, but it would be their last with original guitarist Eric Bell. After an unsuccessful New Year’s Eve show in Belfast, Bell was no longer in the band, which left the door open for Lynott’s latest idea: Twin lead guitarists. After a short spell with very young Gary Moore filling in, Phil and Brian recruited American Scott Gorham and 18-year-old Glaswegian Brian Robertson, and a new adventure started.
The 50th anniversary of Vagabonds Of The Western World is the sound of nascent Lizzy finally finding their feet and starting on their journey to be one of the greatest rock bands of the ’70s — and for Lynott to be recognised as one of the best songwriters of his generation.
Vagabonds Of The Western World 50th Anniversary Edition
CD 1: THE REMASTERED ALBUM & SINGLES
Mama Nature Said
The Hero And The Madman
Slow Blues
The Rocker
Vagabond Of The Western World
Little Girl In Bloom
Gonna Creep Up On You
A Song For While I’m Away
Whiskey In The Jar
Black Boys On The Corner (Single B-Side)
Randolph’s Tango (Single A-Side)
Broken Dreams (Single B-Side)
The Rocker (Single A-Side edit)
Here I Go Again (Single B-Side)
A Ride In The Lizzymobile (Single B- Side)
CD 2: RADIO SESSIONS
JOHN PEEL SESSION NOVEMBER 28, 1972
Whiskey In The Jar
Suicide
Black Boys On The Corner
RTE RADIO EIREANN SESSION
1969 Rock Suicide
Broken Dreams
Eddie’s Blues/Blue Shadows
JOHN PEEL SESSION AUGUST 7, 1973
Vagabond of the Western World
Gonna Creep Up On You
Little Girl in Bloom
JOHN PEEL SESSION AUGUST 16, 1973
Randolph’s Tango
The Rocker
Slow Blues
BOB HARRIS SESSION SEPTEMBER 17, 1973
Randolph’s Tango
Little Girl in Bloom
The Rocker
CD 3: LIVE, RARITIES, DEMOS & OUTTAKES
RADIO ONE IN CONCERT PARIS THEATRE JULY 26, 1973
The Rocker
Thing’s Ain’t Working Out Down At The Farm
Slow Blues
Gonna Creep Up On You
Suicide
• • •
The Rocker (Take 1 Instrumental)
Little Girl In Bloom (Take 3)
Gonna Creep Up On You (Take 2 Instrumental)
Slow Blues (Take 2 Instrumental)
Here I Go Again (Extended Version)
Suicide (gtr Needles And Pins Jam) (Lynott)
Whiskey In The Jar (Alternate Mix Extended Version)
Black Boys On The Corner (Alternate Mix)
Gonna Creep Up On You (Acetate)
Baby’s Been Messin’ (Acetate)
BLU-RAY: ATMOS MIX / 5.1 MIX / STEREO MIX
Mama Nature Said
The Hero And The Madman
Slow Blues
The Rocker
Vagabond Of The Western World
Little Girl In Bloom
Gonna Creep Up On You
A Song For While I’m Away
BONUS ATMOS MIXES
Whiskey In Jar (Single A-Side)
Black Boys On The Corner (Single B-Side)
Randolph’s Tango (Single A-Side)
Broken Dreams (Single B-Side)
The Rocker (Single A-Side Edit)
Here I Go Again (Single B-Side)
A Ride In The Lizzymobile (Single B-Side)
Whiskey In The Jar (Full Version)
