Thin Lizzy – Rock Legends Review
The long anticipated Thin Lizzy box set has finally arrived. This 7-disc behemoth dates back to 2012 when Universal announced the unearthing of over 100 Thin Lizzy tapes. More than 700 unreleased recordings were purported to exist in that massive discovery.
Thin Lizzy fanatics salivated at the thought of unused recordings. What could be included in that arsenal of material? Surely demos, live material, and alternative versions of classic tracks would be there. Perhaps there even existed half-written songs that never escaped the walls of a Guinness soaked rehearsal room. One could only imagine.
Fans waited. Then waited some more. Years passed. Many forgot all about the news blurb, and fans like me? Well, our hearts broke. It became painfully obvious that some sort of legal wrangling had prevented the release of these highly coveted tapes. The holy grail of Thin Lizzy material seemed unlikely to be released.
Eight years later, long after losing hope, Universal announced the Rock Legends box set. 99 tracks span 6 CDs. The set even includes a DVD featuring the documentary Bad Reputation, along with a 1976 TV performance.
Quality is apparent before one even breaks the cellophane seal of Rock Legends. The box set is both larger and heftier than one expects of a 7-disc box set. The weight can be attributed to a lavish amount of visual components meant to complement the music.
The star of this bonus material is a hard cover book that lovingly recreates tour programs. Each replica is accurate to the point where vintage ads are reprinted. The glossy photos reinforce the overarching sense of quality that pervades every aspect of the Rock Legends box set.
Inclusion of a hard cover book would have been enough to satisfy even the most demanding consumer. Regardless, replicas of tour programs are merely the start. A Phil Lynott poetry book accompanies yet ANOTHER book featuring recollections from musicians and producers associated with the band.
Keeping with the lavish, no expense spared spirit of the box set; four prints created by famed cover artist Jim Fitzpatrick are included. Colorful and decorative, they are ideal for framing or simply staying inside the box for safekeeping.
For an extra $5, I was able to secure an exclusive print signed by Scott Gorham. These limited prints sold out quickly, but if you manage to find a copy for sale, I advise making an immediate purchase.
Extras aside, what really matters is the music. All together, we have 99 tracks, 74 having been previously unreleased. Disc one spans the early years until the final Lizzy album. There are no revelations hidden in disc one, merely a collection of 7” and radio edits. Regardless, their inclusion is welcome and the rare edits make for a nice introduction to the box set.
Disc 2 is devoted to the early years. Although Thin Lizzy’s debut single, “The Farmer,” has been commercially available, it’s the perfect start to disc 2. Next up is the B-side, “I Need You.” It’s a fair assumption that the majority of listeners will be hearing “I Need You” for the first time thanks to this box set. RTE Radio Eireann Sessions from 1973 and 1974 round out disc 2 on a strong note.
Discs 3, 4, and 5 are all devoted to rarities. These tracks are ultimately demos, yet each track sounds polished to the point that they could have been included on the official LP.
The real value of these rarities is the glimpse they offer into the creative process. Surely I’m not the only listener that was shocked to learn that Banshee had LYRICS at one point!
Phil Lynott is renowned as a lyricist, yet the magic required effort and revision. Phil continued to tinker with lyrics until the words meshed seamlessly with the music. The rarities discs allow fans to hear early versions of classic songs. Even the instrumental breaks can sound drastically different than the polished studio creations.
The final CD presents a live show from 1980 in support of the Chinatown album. It’s a curious concert to offer. Surely the majority of Lizzy fans would have preferred a concert from the seventies. Regardless, it IS nice to have live documentation of Snowy White’s tenure in the band.
One may wonder how this lavish box sets SOUNDS; especially considering that the majority of tracks are technically demos. I’m hardly an audiophile, but the songs sound lively and dynamic on my humble system. If you’d rather take sound quality recommendations from actual audiophiles, I implore you to search through online forums. These demanding listeners, who notoriously deride the sound quality of releases, have sung the sonic praises of Rock Legends. Andy Pearce has done a phenomenal job remastering the long lost tapes.
The only downside to Rock Legends is the box set is limited to 7000 copies worldwide. Official stores linked to the Thin Lizzy website are already sold out. If you want to procure a copy of this box set, it’s highly advisable to buy now. Much like the coveted BBC box set, Rock Legends is bound to become an obscure collectible. Pay what you can now, because the price is surely going to skyrocket once the set sells out from legitimate retailers.
