Customer Reviews

Black Rose

5 star:		(15)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I almost gave this album 4 stars, but after I wrote my review I realized that it is clearly a 5* album (although Thin Lizzy produced at least 4 other 5* albums that are better than this one). Although this album strikes me as a little more patchy/inconsistent/varied than the golden era albums with Brian Robertson, it is still a fantastic album. The song Roisin Dubh (Black Rose) is a master piece, and exciting montage of Irish culture (music, heros, legends, poets) served up with the full force of Gary Moore and Scott Gorham -- it blew my socks off! Waiting For An Alibi is also one of my favorite tracks. I actually like the soft hit single Sarah too (Phil was reluctant to play this live apparently) - Phil was good at the sensitive stuff as well as the hard rockers. The song "Do Anything you want to do" was a reasonable hit, but strikes me as indictive of the future (more abrasive, less melodic) direction of Lizzy, which I found less inspiring. S&M is over campy and a little jarring but the lyrics are quite clever. Toughest Street is good. Got To Give It Up is very good (pity Phil didn't). Get Out of Here is good. With Love is very good

The first song on this album, to me, sums up perfectly how this band approached their music. They simply did songs they wanted to do, regardless of what anyone thought.

The guitar work and production values on the album are incredible. This album marks the return of guitarist Gary Moore to the band and he absolutely smokes on this album. Said Scott Gorham in "Guitar" magazine....."To be honest, each guy that came in gave me a kick in the ass. It's a tough position to be in, having to work with a new guy again and having to work up the enthusiasm all over again. But I think I definitely improved 'cause a lot of great players went through that band. Gary Moore, in particular, tightened up my act quite a bit 'cause he was such a precise player. I was playing catch-up ball with him at that point."

This is about as tight as I have ever heard the band play, and I guess credit would also go to Tony Visconti, the producer of this album. I also give much belated praise to Brian Downey on drums, not just on this album, but on all the others as well. It may have been frustrating for him as Thin Lizzy will usually get praise for the gits and lyrics.<

The 4 Thin Lizzy studio albums released consecutively....Jailbreak (1976) Johnny the Fox (1976) Bad Reputation (1977) Black Rose (1979)....were rock nirvana for me. (I think Scott's work on "Bad Reputation" makes it the best effort. But then I hear him and the bite of Brian Robertson on the album "Johnny The Fox" and the Gary Moore adrenaline rush on the album "Black Rose", and think wait a minute, maybe these are better....

As a sidenote, I know Scott Gorham and John Sykes doesn't really constitute "Thin Lizzy", but they will be on tour, as Thin Lizzy this summer (2004). Scott Gorham has his own website with the tour info (www.scottgorham.com), and also info on his band "21 Guns".

This band's sound, style, and look (including Jim Fitzpatrick's artwork, which by the way he has his own website also, www.jimfitzpatrick.ie), will always be something special to me.

Great songwriting backed with stellar musical performances. Much of it is "classic" Thin Lizzy with the signature harmony guitars and Phil's rich passionate voice, but "Sarah" is a beautiful, heart-felt ballad that shows another side of the genius that was Phil Lynott (and features a then relatively unknown Huey Lewis on harmonica). A great album, and a MUST HAVE for any Thin Lizzy fan.

What a shame that this band is primarily thought of a one hit wonder in the US, known only for "The Boys are Back in Town". Out of the many truly great albums of their career (Chinatown, Bad Reputation, and one of the top five live records of all time, Live and Dangerous)this one stands out. Do Anything...and Got to Give it Up alone are worth the price of admission, but theres so much more...Check it out!!!

Personally, this one and "Thunder and Lightning" rank at the top of my Thin Lizzy hit parade. All the Lizzy elements are present and accounted for on each release, Phil's clever lyrics, Brian Downey's solid drumwork and the guatar-harmony interplay, but in my book "Thunder and Lightning" is up there for the presence of John Sykes, and "Black Rose" for Gary Moore. On this one, there just seems to be a stepped up intensity, a viciousness to the guitar solos I don't find on the Snowy White or Brian Robertson releases-- though to be fair I'm also a huge fan of Gary Moore's solo work.

OK, for one criticism, "My Sarah" is a sweet little tune but just seems the oddball stacked beside "Waiting for an Alibi" and "Toughest Street in Town".

I've read warnings about dodgy sound quality on the Wounded Bird releases. Mind you, I'm not expecting a Remaster, but for a CD replacement for a well-worn vinyl LP, it's worth the price.

A neglected (by the general public) album, from a criminally neglected band, Thin Lizzy really hits the mark with this one. The twin guitar attack in full force, with an undeniable sense of groove and some funky riffing, this is really a gem to reserved for true Lizzy fans. The opening two tracks are both very strong, as is what may be my favorite Lizzy track, "Got to Give it Up." "Roisin Dubh" closes the album with that Irish folk sound that Lizzy mixes so well with their rock n' roll sound. If you want to hear some Lizzy beyond Jailbreak, this is a good place to start!

This album is inventive, leading edge, smart and a pleasure to listen to . From all aspects this album truley does get better with age. If you care to break it down or enjoy it as a whole "Black Rose" is worth the money. Of course this is a biased review, but what review isn't. Dual guitars, great hooks, heavy in some sections, light in others, PERFECT SOLO'S, and poetic lyrics, all encased in 9 tracks of pure bliss!! Buy it, enjoy it and never forget to tell others on what they are missing out on!!

I overlooked this album when it was first released. A major mistake.

It's a true classic with great guitar. It's not an overblown album
It never gets the attention of Jailbreak.

Another major mistake by most rock fans.

a few years later it was in my walkman and keeping me sane at USAF tech school. (early 80s)

Now I have it on CD and it keeps me sane at the Pentagon.
Phil Lynott left this earth too soon.

Things were looking up very well for Thin Lizzy by this point in their career. After the successful Live and Dangerous set, which culminated into 7 odd years of alot of hard work from Phil and the lads, it seemed that Black Rose would be the record where the guys could begin to enjoy the fruits of their labor. Having Gary Moore officially in as a member in what would turn out to be his only complete studio album with them, wasn't a bad addition to the twin Lizzy guitar sound. Brian Robertson had finally wore out his welcome in the band during the Bad Reputation tour(of where Live and Dangerous' collection came from) and Gary stepped in for the third time to help the band out. Unfortunately, in support of this album Moore would suddenly leave the band mid-tour in the States; what an odd sense of irony! Onto the album. Tony Visconti returns a third time to help with the proceedings of a record that lyrically, may well be Phil's crowning achievement as a songwriter. Do Anything You Want To starts things off on a strong,powerful note that has an uplifting message coupled with an uplifting melody. Gary and Scott Gorham's guitars sing in tandem with each other, and Phil's vocals are straightforward, brisk and to the fore. Toughest Street in Town carries into another rough rocker but with Visconti's production qualities, gives it a gloss and sheen that shines throughout. S&M is a funky and rockin' number that is lyrically playful, but yielding in innuendoes. Waiting For An Alibi features the twin guitar attack again with some great solo's from Moore and Gorham, culminating in one of Lizzy's better live songs and makes for a timeless classic.

There are 2 softer numbers here to round out the album and to give it a fair balance amongst the heavier material: Sarah is an ode to Phil's then newborn daughter and With Love has a fine melody that rides the song throughout, even though the inclusion of these numbers would be better suited for a Phil Lynott solo album. Got to Give it Up and Get Out of Here are the next tracks to follow and the former speaks of self-indulgence and the dangers that come with it, while the latter has a similar feel and sound to that of Do Anything or Waiting for an Alibi, in other words, its filler. But, upon the end of the album we are treated to Roisin Dubh(Black Rose)-A Rock Legend which is a stunningly arranged number that culminates the whole recording of Black Rose and puts all the proverbial eggs into one basket. Gorham and Moore's guitars work themselves out into a frenzy and Lynott's lyrics depict images of a medieval nature. Its an instant classic tour-de-force statement from Lizzy and is probably the best ending number to any Lizzy record out there.

In closing, I feel this album is definitely Lizzy's peak and having Gary Moore in the ranks was certainly a moment in time that, while brief, was extremely exciting and brought much to the table. A Solid 4 Stars...

This is a flawless album. I highly suggest you get yourself a copy. Thin Lizzy could do no wrong in my eyes.