Live & Dangerous

How live was it? Who cares! Whatever Tony Visconti got up to at the mixing desk, he already had the motherlode of raw material to work with: Lizzy’s finest line-up (Lynott, Downey, Gorham and Robertson) recorded at their peak on the 1977 Bad Reputation tour, playing the definitive arrangements of their strongest set of tunes. From the opening ‘Jailbreak’ to the serpentine twin lead symphony of ‘Emerald’, from the finger-clicking cool of ‘Dancin’ In The Moonlight’ to a blistering version of Bob Seger’s ‘Rosalie’; from the pimp-rolling funk-rock of ‘Johnny the Fox’ to the showstopping segue of ‘Cowboy Song/The Boys Are Back In Town’, the band were in rare form throughout. And of course, there’s a long, languorous, mournful version of ‘Still In Love With You’. Live & Dangerous was Lizzy’s finest hour. Bitchin’ cover too.

No 3 in 2009, as voted for by over 200 Irish musicians. Down from No 2 in 2004.

Laura Izibor on Thin Lizzy's Live & Dangerous:
“When I first heard Live And Dangerous I was blown away. I couldn’t believe it was live! What I would have given to be a member in the audience! I first heard it when I was 16, chillin’ in my room at home in Dublin. I borrowed it off a friend and had only just got around to listening to it. It had everything I could want – an amazing lead man with charisma flowing out of every pore, not to mention a voice full of soul, grit and rock’n’ roll all at the same time; an incredible band, all innovators in their own right and last but not least, the songs are simply classic! ‘Don’t Believe A Word’ is one of my favourite tracks...if nothing else the guitar is quite ridiculous. I also love ‘Still In Love With You’, one of his slower songs. It’s so sexy and you really feel Phil is singing from his heart. How could I not identify with Phil Lynott? He was proud to be black and Irish, strutting his Afro all over town – as am I! Thin Lizzy were so fearless with their approach. They really went for it and wrote great music they believed in.“