Take Five: Classics from Phil Lynott

Phil Lynott was one of rock’s great front men. The Black bassist from Dublin, Ireland was also one of rock’s finest lyricists, penning songs that were cinematic in their vivid depiction of Lynott’s stories. His epic storytelling often explored Celtic themes, but many of his songs were more universal in their approach, touching on the mythology of the American West (“Cowboy”) and other topics.

Lynott scored his biggest successes with Thin Lizzy, but even after he put that band to rest, he continued to embark upon creatively satisfying projects. Lynott’s drug use contributed to his tragically premature death in 1986 at age 36, but he left behind a lot of great music. In celebration of his life – he would have turned 75 in August – here are five Phil Lynott classics from Thin Lizzy and beyond.

“Whiskey in the Jar” Thin Lizzy single (1972)
In light of Phil Lynott’s brilliance as a songwriter, it’s something of a surprise to realize that his first hit with Thin Lizzy was an arrangement of a classic Irish folk song. The tune’s origins are lost to the mists of time, but many scholars believe it dates to the 17th century. Thin Lizzy was but one of many bands that would record versions of the song, but none of the others – not even Metallica’s 2000 recording – rocks quite like Lynott and his band mates did. While the band’s single didn’t chart in the U.S., it went all the way to #1 in Ireland.

“The Boys are Back in Town” from Thin Lizzy’s Jailbreak (1976)
Along with the album’s title track, this song is among the best-known songs written by Phil Lynott. With a richly detailed set of songs, the Jailbreak LP was almost a conceptual work. Even without thematic unity, the record was filled with powerful, anthemic songs and razor-sharp playing. Thin Lizzy’s patented twin-guitar attack (here featuring Brian Robertson and Scott Gorham) is part of the successful recipe, but it’s Lynott’s, bass guitar, words and vocal that make it one of rock’s great classics.

“The Spirit of Man” from Jeff Wayne’s Musical Version of The War of the Worlds (1978)
With the consent of the H.G. Wells estate, American expatriate Jeff Wayne mounted an ambitious musical retelling of the classic science fiction novel, this time in musical form. Vocalists on the album included David Essex, Moody Blues guitarist Justin Hayward, Chris Thompson from Manfred Mann’s Earth Band, and on this track (in the role of Parson Nathaniel), Phil Lynott. The double album was a massive hit in countries around the world, but only a minor commercial success in the U.S. (That’s legendary actor Richard Burton providing narration.)

“King’s Call” from Phil Lynott’s Solo in Soho (1980)
Even through Thin Lizzy was still a going concern in 1980, Lynott stepped out on his own for his debut album as a solo artist. The seething, moody “King’s Call” has a sinister vibe not far removed from Thin Lizzy’s best tracks. Lynott’s lyrics are an oblique tribute to Elvis Presley, and the recording features Dire Straits leader Mark Knopfler on lead guitar. Solo in Soho earned widespread positive reviews.

“Sarah” from Grand Slam’s Slam Anthems (2023)
After Thin Lizzy broke up, Lynott formed a new band, Grand Slam. The group was unsuccessful in landing a record deal, but did make a number of recordings that would be released in the years after Lynott’s death. One of Grand Slam’s most notable tracks is “Sarah,” a romantic, melodic and midtempo number with hints of Caribbean steel drum and analog synthesizer. The song had first been recorded by Thin Lizzy, appearing on that group’s 1979 record Black Rose: A Rock Legend.