Artist: Thin Lizzy
Label: Vertigo Records
Released: 1977
Thin Lizzy’s wild lifestyle, which the lads had already perfected down to the last detail by 1977, brings them an international reputation as the bad boys of rock & roll. The mere fact that they survived 1976, in which on top of constant touring they put out two phenomenal albums, counts as a feat of a special kind. The rapidly growing number of shows kept demanding more and more from Lynott and company, which, with expectations rising along with it, had to leave a mark in the end. The first to “kneel” was Robertson, who badly injured his hand in a brawl while heroically rescuing a friend, just one day before the start of the American tour, and Lynott never forgave him for it. Most of the guitar duties on Bad Reputation therefore fall to Scott Gorham, who wasn’t rattled by the situation. He does a stellar job, which will surprise quite a few people, given that he’d often been one of the quieter and less obtrusive elements of Thin Lizzy before.
Bad Reputation wraps up an era for the band in many ways. After it, the group’s sound would change forever. For all fans of Lynott’s typical take on everyday working-class life, the album is the last real Thin Lizzy record.
The legendary Tony Visconti handles production on Bad Reputation. With his help, the full potential of Lynott’s lineup is finally revealed, condensed into a rough, raw musical whole that even Jailbreak or Johnny The Fox couldn’t match. Thin Lizzy simply never sounded this sharp. These powerful, uncompromising songs can be read as a mirror image of Phil’s state of mind at the time. The sinister opening of Opium Trail, inspired by a TV series, speaks in the same breath about the worrying relationship with drugs that the Lynott – Gorham duo had developed. Still, here the turn of events does more good than harm. The title track Bad Reputation proves to be yet another phenomenal whirlwind of classic Thin Lizzy motifs, paved with Lynott’s typically sharp, cutting bass playing, where Brian Downey also gets his moment in the spotlight for a short while with his antics. After the almost deceptively laid-back opening of Soldier Of Fortune, the two tracks deliver a proper hard rock punch to the head! Speaking of punches, we have to mention Gorham’s brilliant performance on Killer Without A Cause, where the guitarist keeps pulling incredible solos out of his sleeve, which work totally convincingly both in solo and in triple-guitar passages. Hats off to the man, who more than obviously wasn’t thrown by the absence of his guitar partner. Quite the opposite! Scott made the most of his chance and showed off his brilliant individual skills.
All you softer souls will get your fix with the emotional Southbound, which strongly recalls the earlier Borderline, Downtown Sundown, and the simple but all the more interesting Dancing In The Moonlight. Of all those mentioned, the last one deserves the most attention. The bass line, which builds its backbone on Phil’s simple riff, is a admirable creation both creatively and in terms of meaning. The last of the classic Thin Lizzy albums is closed out by That Woman’s Gonna Break Your Heart, where you’ll recognize Brian Robertson in the stinging guitar sound, and the funny, odd Dear Lord, whose meaning everyone can interpret in their own way. With it, Bad Reputation closes the golden Thin Lizzy era in grand style. With Lynott’s infectious storytelling, great music, and at least three eternal Lizzy classics.
Lineup
Phil Lynott: vocals/bass
Scott Gorham: guitar
Brian Downey: drums
Brian Robertson: guitar
Production
Tony Visconti
Track list
1.Soldier Of Fortune
2.Bad Reputation
3.Opium Trail
4.Southbound
5.Dancing In The Moonlight
6.Killer Without A Cause
7.Downtown Sundown
8.That Woman’s Gonna Break Your Heart
9.Dear Lord
Album length: 35.50
