![]() Jailbreak, Emerald, Cowboy Song and Warriors were recorded for a BBC session on 12 February 1976 – only days after completing the album. But they are certainly an interesting listen and it would have been great if we had been offered a complete alternative remixed album rather than just three tracks. Whether you think these are improvements or not is a moot point, given that there are offered as alternatives to the originals rather than replacements. Def Leppard’s Joe Elliot (who along with Gorham was involved in the remixing) explains in the reissue notes that “The remixed songs on Jailbreak have now become studio versions of the Live and Dangerous (legendary Lizzy Live album) arrangements”.įor these remixes Scott Gorham has re-recorded some rhythm guitar parts, and other work includes bringing in unused extra chorus vocals on The Boys are Back in Town and improving the drum mix in Emerald. This explains the inclusion of remixed versions of key album tracks on CD2 which is an attempt to ‘beef-up’ the sound. The album has always had quite a light, clean ‘pop’ sound, something which may have contributed to its commercial success at the time, but guitarist Scott Gorham was never very happy with it “The sound was extremely tame compared to what we were capable of delivering on stage”. It still sounds great, but some might see this as a missed opportunity. The remastering on this issue dates from 2002 when a 16-bit remaster for a Japanese release was created. A new hi-res 24-bit remaster was created but for some reason not used. It should be noted that while the bonus tracks are newly remastered, the album itself is not a new remaster for this release, contrary to what the booklet states. The first disc consists of the standard 9-track album. This 2CD Deluxe Edition is released to celebrate the 35th anniversary of the original release and CD2 comes with a selection of remixes, alternate takes, and live tracks. The success of this single (it eventually peaked at #12 on the Billboard Hot 100) helped the album hit the US top 20 and ensured Thin Lizzy were rapturously received on their US tour during May 1976, when they supported the likes of Aerosmith and Rush. The album was released in the UK and the US in March 1976 and as Lizzy reached the end of a successful UK tour, word started filtering through to the band that The Boys are Back in Town was getting some serious radio-play in America. The sessions lasted only around five weeks but would end delivering some of their best known songs including Jailbreak, Cowboy Song, Warriors, Emerald and of course, The Boys are Back in Town. ![]() However, the concept idea fell by the wayside as the recording progressed and only a handful of the tracks have any relevance to this main theme. Jailbreak was originally conceived by Lynott as a concept album about “youth and oppression” and long-time Lizzy collaborator Jim Fitzpatrick’s sleeve artwork very much reflected this, depicting (in comic-book style) people breaking out from the clutches of the “Overmaster”. Up and coming producer John Alcock, who had worked with The Who, Alice Cooper and Supertramp was considered to be a good fit for the band and work on Jailbreak began in January 1976 at The Who’s Ramport Studios in Battersea, London. The previous album Fighting, had been self-produced and the management felt that this was a burden that should be lifted for the follow-up. One of the first things they did was to set about finding someone appropriate to produce what would become Jailbreak, to take some pressure off singer, songwriter and bass player Phil Lynott’s shoulders. Nigel Grainge, the A&R man at Vertigo, had to be reassured by the band’s managers Chris Morrison and Chris O’Donnell, that Thin Lizzy could deliver. Two albums in, and the band still had nothing approaching a big hit single and the record label were keen for some commercial success. ![]() In late 1975, Thin Lizzy’s record label Vertigo were starting to wonder if their investment in the band was going to pay off.
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