Customer Reviews

Chinatown

5 star:		(17)
4 star:		(11)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Chinatown is often maligned by critics knowing the dual guitar lineup of Gorham/Robertson or even Gorham/Moore was replaced by ace guitarist Snowy White as partner to Scott Gorham. But this is still Phil Lynot's band here, and once again he makes the magic with a collection of understated rockers that DO better with age "We Will Be Strong" "Sweetheart" and "Chinatown". White brings an american rythm and blues style to the mix with "Sugar Blues" and the band also delivers the goods on the quintessential rocker "Killer on the Loose". Still with the band is Lynot's poignant lyrics and vocal chops, so I never understood the backlash against this effort. To me it easily ranks alongside Jailbreak, and Bad Reputation. The recording is a bit more polished than earlier Lizzy releases but the rockers are still tight and feverish with the sonic clarity welcomed. That's not a slight at earlier Lizzy recordings, which I always thought were a cut above many hard rock bands of the era (especially Sabbath, Slade, and UFO). It's just a good album to crank up to "11".

i'm tired of hearing how bad this album and renegade were!
these two albums are awesome and have classic songs! yes
there were some not so strong but there are no duds. Also
Snowy White is a really good player and plays great on these
albums and blended well with Scott Gorham. Take a listen again
and really listen without comparing to the Live n' Dangerous
line up that everyone compares too. These albums rock as much
as Thunder and LIghtning and some of the earlier stuff! With
all the bad music out there I still listen to these all the time.
I think true Lizzy and rock fans love these albums and maybe all
the skeptics should give them another try? Rock on!

Let us discuss what makes this particular release especially notable and special. The Chinatown album itself has it's share of ups and downs - the beginning of Thin Lizzy's decline (but it's FAR more solid then the rock-bottom "Renegade" follow-up). I always thought that "Genocide" came to life when played live and is kind of tepid sounding on this album. Then there's the bland "Having a Good Time" - meh. "Didn't I" succeeds as a ballad to a certain extent - at least it has a nice riff. "We Will Be Strong" is a little all over the place lyrically as well as "Sweetheart" but at least the musicianship is solid and tuneful. More plaintively stated, the trademark dual-guitar melodies propelled this album quite further along with the songwriting largely being inconsistent. The cover of the '30s blues song "Sugar Blues" is very welcomed and the singles "Chinatown" and "Killer on the Loose" are definitely Lizzy classics and standards.
Now let's get on to the meat and potatoes of the release - the bonus tracks. Many of these were previously only available on really expensive and rare import releases or unofficial releases. The live versions of "Dear Miss Lonely Hearts" and "Chinatown" are bar none the best live versions of these tracks. The 3-guitar live version of "Whiskey in the Jar" with Midge Ure ("Midge knows the song") is really fun and the audience makes the performance really special. The fidelity of the tracks is unbelievable compared to how I've heard them over the years. The soundchecks from Cork and Hammersmith are notable as some of the songs are played in different arrangements ("Hey You") or contain different lyrics ("Sweetheart"). I still wonder if Phil adlibbed those lyrics on the spot or they were how the song was originally written. I would've enjoyed the complete Cork and Hammersmith soundcheck material but that's just picking nits. They did the release more then justice here.

Disc One
1- We Will Be Strong
2- Chinatown
3- Sweetheart
4- Sugar Blues
5- Killer On The Loose
6- Having A Good Time
7- Genocide (The Killing Of The Buffalo)
8- Didn't I
9- Hey You

Disc Two
1- Don't Play Around (B-Side)
2- We Will Be Strong (Single)
3- Sugar Blues (Chinatown 7" single)
4- Whiskey In The Jar (Nineteen 7" single double pack)
5- Are You Ready (Killers live 7" single)
6- Chinatown (Killer on the loose 7" single)
7- Got To Give It Up (Killer on the loose 7" single)
8- Dear Miss Lonely Hearts (Killers live 7" single)
9- Killer On The Loose (Thunder and lightning bonus LP)
10- Chinatown (edited version)
11- Hey You (edited version)
12- We Will Be Strong (Demo)
13- Chinatown (Demo)
14- Don't Play Around (Soundcheck - Hammersmith 5/29/80)
15- Sweetheart (Soundcheck - Hammersmith 5/29/80)
16- Didn't I (Soundcheck - Cork)
17- Hey You (Soundcheck - Cork)

It took long enough to get this on CD and dude it was well worth the wait. I've been listening to album cuts of most of the tracks for years. This release is on Wounded Bird Records out of New York. Everything sounds so fresh; it is almost unbelievable. I have always loved Lynott's voice and bass. Brian Downey has always been an excellent drummer. Scott Gorham has been with Lizzy since their Mercury days and it is good to hear him duel with guitar wizard Gary Moore. It's always a thrill to hear different solos in different speakers and to hear two guitarists playing the same leads in harmony. Thin Lizzy, through Lynott, have always been storytellers, as well as performers.

My favorite song on this is "Killer on the Loose", so , beware Jack the Ripper. The vareity here is good, as it always is with a Lizzy album. There is the anthem "We Will Be Strong", there is blues, and there is fun, "Having a Good Time". This disc is full of great tunes! Give a listen to "Chinatown" and "Didn't I". Don't be left out in the cold, complete or start on your Thin Lizzy collection with CHINATOWN, while it is available.

Not only is Thin Lizzy the greatest rock band that everyone seems to have forgotten, but they might just be the greatest rock band period. I was too young to remember these guys back in the day, but I was introduced to them a few years ago and was totally blown away. Phil was one of those rare talents like Hendrix who just knew how to groove. His music is rocking and yet very relaxing at the same time; a rare combination. The title track 'Chinatown' has to be one of the best Lizzy songs of all time. The album itself is superb as are all the other releases from this band. Thin Lizzy is truly one of a kind.

Following the brilliance of THIN LIZZY's-"Black Rose" album, it's hard to belive THIN LIZZY was able to create an album dead equal to the classic power of "Black Rose". "Chinatown" featuring post-Gary Moore guitarist Snowy White, is rock solid start to finish. Surrounded in an aura of cocaine imagery, street fights, and dirty sex, "Chinatown" is tragically overlooked by many THIN LIZZY fans. Gorham and White's guitar teamwork sounds like the work of longtime friends, not a first time guitar tagteam. If you love THIN LIZZY, "Chinatown" is undeniably essential, and offers yet another brilliant mountain peak, in the history of one of hard-rock's most legendary acts. Listen for yourself, but make sure not to forget some nose numbing "sugar".

this is thin lizzys best album! SWEETHEART, is a real trippy song with synthesizer. CHINATOWN really hits hard. the best song is KILLER ON THE LOOSE, that song makes me want to drive 185 mph. DIDNT I is a great romantic tune also. if you want hard thin lizzy, thenn buy this album, and if you dont like the album then get a hold of me and i will talk some sense in you!

Ten years into their career though, sadly, closer to the end than the beginning, Thin Lizzy released Chinatown. While not the best album in the band's catalog, it is a strong release.

Beginning with the hard rockin' "We Will Be Strong," the album gets off to a good start. The guitar is in fine form, as are the vocals supplied by bassist/vocalist Phil Lynott. This is one of my personal favorites from Lizzy.

Title track "Chinatown" is really driven by the percussion and bass, though it does feature a strong guitar solo, and marks a change in style from the opening track, while "Sweetheart" is driven by Lynott's vocals, at first, and by a repeated melody later in the track.

"Sugar Blues" is a departure for Lizzy, being a more typical, blues driven hard rock track, rather than the folk approach they often take, and it's a real album highlight...especially that shredding solo over thumping bass guitar!

The second half is a little less strong than the first, though tracks like "Genocide" which just manage to sound as only Lizzy can sound, are always welcome.

This band is so underrated.they can play with any big band from the 70's.This album is awesome.Great guitar,drums,song writing,and just good ol rock and roll.this album and like 6 or 7 before this one are classic rock all the way.They dont make them like this any more.


p.s all we have today are hack bands who cant write any good songs.

Before I recentley purchased this CD it had been about 15 years since I last heard it. How did I survive without it for so long? And why the hell hasn't this been available in the US? My favorite Thin Lizzy albulm. Boy do I miss Phil Lynott. His enouciation, inflection, bass playing, and believability in what he's singing about come through on this record more than any other in my opinion. Snowey White, and Scott Graham, while without Van Halen type dexterity, mesh into a tight unit, more often than not playing the same notes simoultaneously, rather than dueling each other...and it works! Downey, on drums is hypnotic, with at least 4 tunes you can't help but tap your feet. Throw in some great hooks,Lynott's chops, and the bands overall tighness, and you have a helluva record. The Lynott compositions are by far the strongest. "We will be Strong", "Sweetheart", and "Killer on the Loose" are the best cuts on the record, NONE of which were included on the Greatest hits compilation ( who compiled that?) "Chinatown" (which was included) is another great tune. The most fun is "Having a Good Time" in which you can really feel Lynott enjoying himself. For the uninitiated who have only heard "Jailbreak" and the "Boys are back in town" this is the record to get!