In January 2016, Phil Lynott (bass player and lead singer with Thin Lizzy) will have been dead for 30 years. Fitting therefore to look back at the recorded output of his band, particularly as people are only really starting to acknowledge that Lynott is up there with the best of them when it comes to songwriting. Lyrically he weaves compelling tales that can be compared to Springsteen. Irish author Alan Byrne, who has followed the band for many years (and has already written a biography of both Thin Lizzy and Phil Lynott), turns his attention to Lizzy's recorded output from their 1971 debut through to 1983's Thunder And Lightning, which was the last album to feature Lynott. This is a unique angle as most books on the band emphasize their blistering live performances and hedonistic lifestyle (not that Byrne doesn't cover the excess too, of course), He looks at how the albums were made via interviews with band members such as Scott Gorham, Brian Robertson and Brian Downey, Interestingly, he interviewed guitarist Snowy White who has previously been reticent to talk about this part of his career. Producers and technicians have also been interviewed, as have the photographers who shot the record sleeves. In other words, this is an exhaustive looking back on the band. Byrne has also secured many rare and previously unseen photos from fans, making this very much a book by and for fans. Fitting, given that Thin Lizzy inspired great loyalty amongst the faithful. Byrne also puts things into perspective by examining the band's legacy, which is considerable. The twin guitar harmony sound has been oft imitated, but never bettered; the songs are classics.
http://www.amazon.com/dp/0992948088/?tag=imwan-20
