50 Year LP Lookback: Thin Lizzy, ‘Jailbreak’ – I Rediscover A 70s Gem

As is our habit around here at B&V, I started this year with a Playlist: Rock Songs From 1976, where I feature 1 song from any number of rock n roll albums from 50 years back, this year, from ’76 (obviously). As typically happens in any given year, I find myself going back to that playlist, especially when I’m out for a walk, pretending to run.

And, as usual, that playlist leads me to a deep dive on certain albums. This year I’ve previously “looked back” to Boston’s fabulous debut album, even though they said not to. That album was fundamental for me my friends, but we were “of a certain age” when it came out. We also glanced back at Bad Company’s Run With The Pack from ’76 as well.

One band that I don’t think ever got enough attention in the U.S. that has not one but two songs featured on the 1976 playlist was Thin Lizzy. What a great band! And as a bonus they’re Irish, which I love.

They put out two albums in ’76: Jailbreak in March and Johnny The Fox in October, hence 2 entries on our playlist. Those were the days, two albums by one group in one year. Work, work, work.

I actually listed Thin Lizzy on my “bands whose live album was the one that broke them wide” post. It turns out it wasn’t the double-live album Live And Dangerous but Jailbreak that was their commercial peak in the U.S., although it only went gold.

I would have sworn that Live And Dangerous was their biggest album but that’s because every Lizzy fan I knew, had that live album. Who knew there was an enclave of live Thin Lizzy fans out here in fly-over country? Frankly, while Jailbreak was the breakthrough I’ve always been surprised 1975’s Fighting wasn’t a bigger LP, it’s fabulous.

As I indicated earlier, I was drawn to posting about Thin Lizzy because I don’t think they ever got their due in the U.S. Sure, I could post about Zeppelin’s Presence from ’76, but I wanted to dig deeper. Not that I won’t post about Presence, but I’m off topic.

I think Thin Lizzy was slightly overlooked because they weren’t easily pigeonholed into one certain musical category, which was how things worked in the 70s. They boasted twin lead guitarists like Judas Priest, but they certainly weren’t part of the New Wave Of British Heavy Metal, aka NWOBHM.

They rocked hard but they were also so melodic. They also had this streak of writing almost Springsteen-esque, mythical story tracks (more on that later). I’ve heard people say they were influenced by Van Morrison, and Phil Lynott, who wrote the lyrics was a poet, but I don’t hear that in their music. They could also pull off pop-rock in an attempt to hit the charts. They were beautifully all over the place.

They were also slightly snake bit. On the tour for Jailbreak, they had to cancel out of a lucrative spot opening for Rainbow because front man Phil Lynott came down with hepatitis. (Is there a more 70s sentence than that one?)

During one tour previous guitarist Gary Moore, who went on to blues fame, quit the band. And of course prior to another tour guitarist Brian Robertson broke his hand in a bar fight. Sigh…musicians, what are you gonna do?

By the time of Jailbreak, Thin Lizzy was Brain Downey on drums, and Brian Robertson & Scott Gorham on twin lead guitars – and when those guys start weaving those dual leads together, fasten your seatbelt. The frontman, who also played bass, was wild man, poet, drug/booze addict Phil Lynott and what a towering figure he was!

I was in grade school in 1976, and sadly I wasn’t cool enough (like my little brother) to have started a record collection yet. It wasn’t until I was in college that I got into Thin Lizzy. I remember being in the record store in my college town, staring at the comic book cover of Jailbreak with so many questions.

Was this a concept album? Well, not really… although the guy on the cover is the Overlord and he’s one of a band of “Warriors” who plan the “Jailbreak.” I’m getting ahead of myself.

That DC Comics cover also made me think, were these guys like Kiss? Thank God, no. I had always been worried, because of “The Boys Are Back In Town” that these guys might be pop, the ultimate sin back then, but I thankfully pushed through that and bought the album anyway.

Once I got past the cover, I realized that Jailbreak is a sensational album. It does show the range of everything this band could do.

There was hard rock, riff-y songs like the title track, “Jailbreak.” Although admittedly I’ve always chuckled at the line, “Tonight there’s gonna be a jailbreak, somewhere in this town.” I’m gonna go out on a limb and suggest if there’s gonna be a jailbreak, it’s probably going to be at the town’s jail.

“Jailbreak” is such an iconic riff and song. There are two other hard rocking, big riff tracks in “Emerald,” which I assume is akin to the hard rock national anthem in Ireland, and “Warriors.” “Warriors” was supposedly a song about all the great rock stars who died of drug overdoses like Janis and Jimi. Or at least that’s what I read somewhere. That could be wrong.

Beyond the hard rock stuff, they did have rock songs that sound like they were crafted with radio in mind – and I don’t consider that a knock. “The Boys Are Back In Town” was probably their biggest hit and it’s just a great, great song about the joys of reuniting with your buddies.

“Running Back” started as a blues tune but Lynott brought in a keyboard player and a sax guy. Why this wasn’t a bigger hit is a mystery. Its’ a baby, I know you’ve moved on, but say the word and I’ll come running back… “I make my money singing songs about you,” is a great line. “When they say it’s over
It’s not all over, there’s still the pain…” Yeah, I think we’ve all been there.

“Fight Or Fall” is the album’s ballad and it’s ethereal and wonderful.

As a twist there are a few songs that give me Springsteen vibes. With titles like “Angel From The Coast” and “Romeo And The Lonely Girl” I’m half expecting “Zero And Blind Terry” to show up. “Angel From The Coast is a rocking track that I’ve always been drawn to.

Who doesn’t love “Romeo And The Lonely Girl”? I’ve always wondered why that one wasn’t a hit as well. Finally, in this Springsteen-esque category there’s my favorite, “Cowboy Song.” It starts slow with just Lynott and a quiet guitar, “I am just a cowboy, lonesome on the trail…” When this one kicks in, it’ll rock your world!

No one really talks about this album or Thin Lizzy much anymore, but they were a great band and this is a fantastic album, certainly worthy of another spin. There is not a bad moment on the record. It’s certainly an album everyone should have in their collection.

Crank this one up loud and scare the neighbors… maybe pour yourself a shot of Jameson to go with it…

Cheers!