When it came to creating timeless melodic hard rock, Thin Lizzy certainly knew
how to mind the store. Led by charismatic singer/songwriter/bassist Phil Lynott,
the Irish band meandered at first, desperately in search of an identity. Along
the way, they carved out a unique niche all their own, spiced up with soulful
and authoritative vocals; a one-of-a-kind twin guitar attack backed by an equally
infectious rhythm section; and radio-friendly melodies to boot. To fully appreciate
the breadth and diversity of Thin Lizzy, you needn’t look any further
than the newly spiffied up Greatest Hits DVD, featuring 19
videos and live clips from virtually every era of the band. Although the collection
tends to be heavy on the glitzy, formulated productions and staged “live”
sequences, there’s still plenty of sumptuous and rarely seen footage,
all remastered in 5.1 surround sound, to feast on and savor.
Despite their high gloss, you may want to sneak a peak at “The Boys Are
Back In Town,” as well as the improperly labeled “live” “Don’t
Believe A Word” and “Dancing In The Moonlight.” These are
the numbers that more or less solidified Thin Lizzy’s legacy with the masses.
It isn’t until the actual live performance of Bob Seger’s “Rosalie”
that the band gets to flaunt their true colors as an unrelenting and hard rockin’
force. Loads of saucy videos ensue, mostly featuring Lizzy’s revolving
door of guitarists that has seen no less than Eric Bell, Scott Gorham, Brian
Robertson, Gary Moore, Snowy White and John Sykes aspire through the ranks.
In a lighter moment, Lynott croons through an orphaned solo track called “Sarah”
and is joined by Gorham, who playfully takes the microphone from the singer
and finishes the song, lip-syncing as the camera pulls away.
Even with all the goofy scenarios and setups, Thin Lizzy’s brilliance
as a band breaks through loud and clear. A 1973 Top Of The Pops appearance
with Bell performing the traditional Irish folk tune “Whiskey In A Jar”
puts a proper perspective on the group’s innate ability to take any song
and make it distinctively their own. Bell also lays down a solid foundation
for “The Rocker,” where Lynott’s reputation as a bad boy would emerge,
only to evolve into his whole persona in the coming years. Speaking of which,
“Bad Reputation,” another mislabeled “live” video, works
as an effective showcase for drummer Brian Downey’s nimble stick work
and rollicking sense of time. And when it comes down to something as quirky
as “Johnny The Fox,” the format simply takes a backseat to the boogie.
Certainly, there are Thin Lizzy concert videos available that more accurately
capture the band in their most primal state as live performers. But if you dig
the tunes and need some heavy bottom end to blast out your sub-woofer along
with a few flashy guitars to make your plasma or LCD look top drawer —
Thin Lizzy’s Greatest Hits deserves a spot in your DVD
cabinet.
~ Shawn Perry
