Thin Lizzy - Vagabonds Of The Western World (3CD+Blu-ray)

Thin Lizzy’s breakthrough album, 1973’s Vagabonds Of The Western World, is being reissued for its 50th anniversary via multi-disc vinyl and CD box sets, with the latter including a blu-ray audio with a Dolby Atmos Mix of the album (a first for Lizzy!).

For the 50th anniversary reissue a 3CD+blu-ray box set delivers bonus tracks, rare radio sessions, live performances and 10 demos and outtakes. The blu-ray offers Vagabonds of the Western World mixed in Dolby Atmos (by Richard Whittaker) along with A-sides and B-sides from singles also in Dolby Atmos (including both single edit and the full length versions of ‘Whiskey in the Jar’). Sleeve notes come courtesy of Mark Blake.

The band’s third studio album features the single ‘The Rocker’, although despite the top 10 success of the 1972’s ‘Whiskey in the Jar’, they left it off Vagabonds, although that hasn’t stopped the song being added to the various reissues over the years. That song was the last Lizzy release to feature original guitarist Eric Bell. After an unsuccessful New Year’s Eve show in Belfast, Bell was no longer in the band, which paved the way for Lynott’s idea about having twin lead guitarists, which led to the recruitment of American Scott Gorham and 18-year-old Glaswegian Brian Robertson.

Vagabonds was also the first album to feature artwork by Jim Fitzpatrick, who would go on to work with the band on classic albums such as Nightlife, Jailbreak, Johnny The Fox, Black Rose and Chinatown.

DISC 1

1. Mama Nature Said
2. The Hero and the Madman
3. Slow Blues
4. The Rocker
5. Vagabond of the Western World
6. Little Girl in Bloom
7. Gonna Creep Up On You
8. A Song for While I'm Away
9. Black Boys On the Corner
10. Randolph's Tango
11. Broken Dreams
12. The Rocker (Single Edit)
13. Here I Go Again
14. Crushing in the Lizzymobile

DISC 2

1. Whiskey in the Jar (John Peel Session, 28th November 1972)
2. Suicide (John Peel Session, 28th November 1972)
3. Black Boys On the Corner (John Peel Session, 28th November 1972)
4. 1969 Rock - With Intro (RTE Radio Eireann Session, 16th January 1973)
5. Suicide (RTE Radio Eireann Session, 16th January 1973)
6. Broken Dreams (RTE Radio Eireann Session, 16th January 1973)
7. Eddie Blues/Blue Shadows - With Intro (RTE Radio Eireann Session, 16th January 1973)
8. Vagabond of the Western World (John Peel Session, 7th August 1973)
9. Little Girl in Bloom (John Peel Session, 7th August 1973)
10. Gonna Creep Up On You (John Peel Session, 7th August 1973)
11. Randolph's Tango (John Peel Session, 16th August 1973)
12. The Rocker (John Peel Session, 16th August 1973)
13. Slow Blues (John Peel Session, 16th August 1973)
14. Randolph's Tango (Bob Harris Session, 17th September 1973)
15. Little Girl in Bloom (Bob Harris Session, 17th September 1973)
16. The Rocker (Bob Harris Session, 17th September 1973)
17. The Rocker (Radio One in Concert, 26th July 1973)
18. Things Ain't Working Out Down at the Farm (Radio One in Concert, 26th July 1973)
19. Slow Blues (Radio One in Concert, 26th July 1973)
20. Gonna Creep Up On You (Radio One in Concert, 26th July 1973)
21. Suicide (Radio One in Concert, 26th July 1973)

DISC 3

1. Gonna Creep Up On You (Take 2/instrumental)
2. Little Girl in Bloom (Take 2/instrumental)
3. Here I Go Again (Extended Version)
4. The Rocker (Take 1/instrumental)
5. Slow Blues (Take 2/instrumental)
6. Suicide (Take 3/instrumental)
7. Suicide (Gtr Needles and Pins Jam)
8. A Ride in the Lizzy Mobile (Take 2/instrumental)
9. Mama Nature Said (Vox and Organ/take 6)
10. Whiskey in the Jar (Extended Version/rough Mix)
11. Black Boys On the Corner (Rough Mix)
12. Gonna Creep Up On You (Acetate Mix)
13. Baby's Been Messin' (Acetate Mix)