Lizzy Goes Brains Over Braun

Thin Lizzy found their trademark twin-guitar sound on 1975's Fighting, but it was on its 1976 successor, Jailbreak, where the band truly took flight. Unlike the leap between Night Life and Fighting, there is not a great distance between Jailbreak and its predecessor. If anything, the album was more of a culmination of everything that came before, as Phil Lynott hit a peak as a songwriter just as guitarists Scott Gorham and Brian Robertson pioneered an intertwined, dual-lead guitar interplay that was one of the most distinctive sounds of '70s rock, and one of the most influential…

Thin Lizzy was originally conceived as a power trio in the image of Cream and the Jimi Hendrix Experience, but Eric Bell lacked the charisma of those groups' guitarists, forcing vocalist/bassist Philip Lynott to take center stage from day one. Despite his already poetic, intensely personal lyrics, Lynott was only beginning to develop as a songwriter, and the band's unfocused, folk-infused early efforts are a far cry from their mid-'70s hard rock glory. Recorded on a shoestring budget, their self-titled debut is surprisingly mellow; many songs, such as "Clifton Grange Hotel" and "The Friendly Ranger of Clontarf Castle," sound confused and unfinished.

Still Dangerous, a live set from classic rockers Thin Lizzy, was released March 3, 2009. Viewed as a companion to the earlier Live and Dangerous album, this live show recorded in 1977 at the Tower Theater in Philadelphia is yet another thrilling performance by arguably one of rock 'n' roll's greatest dual lead guitar machines. Recently discovered on a shelf lying dormant inside a box marked "Philadelphia 2," guitarist Scott Gorham was astounded by the fact that the tapes even existed. The potential of this particular show was enough to grab legendary producer Glynn Johns out of retirement to do his magic on the tracks. Still Dangerous was recorded live in the prime of the Irish rock band's illustrious career, during the sold out "Bad Reputation" tour. Though Thin Lizzy was known for its revolving door membership, especially in the guitarist department, this is the lineup that brought us the albums Jailbreak, Bad Reputation, and of course, Live and Dangerous.