Shades of a Blue Orphanage [Import]

Thin Lizzy | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (February 23, 2004)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Import
• Label: Polygram UK
• ASIN: B000001F6Q
• In-Print Editions: Audio CD  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 3.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (18 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #221,211 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Thin Lizzy's second album from 1972 has now been digitally remastered and expanded with the addition of 9 Bonus Tracks including the hit single, "Whiskey In The Jar" plus it's B-side, "Black Boys On The Corner", 3 songs which were overdubbed and remixed in 1977 and 4 songs recorded in session for John Peel Lynott, Bell and Downey entered De Lane Lea studios in Wembley in 1972 to begin work on their second album. Nine songs were chosen, all written by Lynott with the exception of "The Rise and Dear Demise of the Funky Nomadic Tribes" which was a collaborative effort between all three members of the band. The song had premiered the previous October as a session for the John Peel show on BBC Radio One. Philip Lynott explored both his love of powerful, Hendrix-esque rock and more acoustic and folk influenced material. Of the former style, "Baby Face" and "Call the Police" were exemplary, whilst "Chatting Today" and "Brought Down" were more introspective works. Perhaps the most revealing aspect to Lynott's song writing skill during the January recording sessions was the evocative and sensitive side of his nature. "Sarah" (a title later revisited on the album "Black Rose" in a song written about the birth of his baby daughter in 1978) was a heartfelt folk song with added piano accompaniment from Clodagh Simonds (of the Irish folk rock outfit Mellow Candle, a fellow Decca signed act). Simonds also added sensitive Mellotron and Harpsichord parts to a song that would be a memorable closing track to the album, "Shades of Blue Orphanage". The song was an effective homage to Lynott's years spent growing up in Dublin. Peppered with references to people and places dear to him, Philip referred to Roy Rogers and "Hopalong" Cassidy, the Western heroes of the Cowboy films he adored in his formative years and characters from his Dublin childhood. This remastered version of the album includes John Peel sessions broadcast on Radio 1, and several remixes. --This text refers to an alternate Audio CD edition.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

17 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Overlooked and Unappreciated Gem, February 3, 2004

By 

Sidsel Roine (Lexington, KY United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Shades of a Blue Orphanage (Audio CD)

While I am a huge fan of all of Lizzy's music,a part of me always wondered what path their music would have taken had they continued in the musical direction of their first three albums. In many ways, I miss the simple purity Lizzy had with these early records, something that was lost when they hit it big.

Shades of a Blue Orphanage is an extension of their first album; storytelling, poetic lyrics, musical experimentation with blues, rock, folk and prog elements. There is no real formula to any of it; These tracks would be right at home in a live jam, and I can only imagine some of the great shows Lizzy must have put on in the early days.

Listeners looking for classic Lizzy hard rock will be scratching their heads at hearing this album. Listeners without an appreciation for lyrical imagery and experimentation will be prone to dismiss what they don't understand as "awful". Shades is an original recording filled with verve and genuine emotion. It's too bad most modern music can't say the same thing.

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars "...When We Were Kids...We Were Headed For...Number One", October 23, 2010

By 

Mark Barry, Reckless Records, London (UK) - See all my reviews
(TOP 500 REVIEWER)   

This review is from: Shades of a Blue Orphanage (Audio CD)

This new 18 October 2010 CD (UK release date) on Decca 984 448-2 remasters Thin Lizzy's second album for Decca Records and adds on a further 9 bonus tracks (it was initially slated for a 25 February 2008 release, but cancelled). Here's a detailed breakdown (77:57 minutes):

Tracks 1 to 9 are the album "Shades Of A Blue Orphanage" issued 10 March 1972 in the UK on Decca TXS 108 (original UK copies had a fetching gatefold sleeve - there was no corresponding US release on London Records).

Tracks 10 and 11 are "Whisky In The Jar" and "Black Boys On The Corner", the A & B-sides of their second UK 7" single released 3 November 1972 on Decca F 13355. "Whisky In The Jar" (spelt with an 'e' only on American issues) was the real starting point for Thin Lizzy's global success. "Whisky" is a traditional Irish air dating back as far as 1729 and was originally only meant to be a jokey B-side dashed off in the studio to accompany "Black Boys On The Corner" on the A (far more representative of their rocking sound). But British DJ's flipped the single and "Whisky" became the hit. It finally charted January 1973 and eventually rose to number 6.

[Note: the version used here is commonly known as the 'Full Single Version' at 5:44 minutes. However a 7" 'edit' of the track was quickly pressed up for BBC Radio play and the US 7" single on London - this 'edit' version at 3:44 minutes is elsewhere - on the 2CD Deluxe Edition of "Vagabonds Of The Western World"]

Tracks 12, 13 and 14 are "Buffalo Gal", "Sarah" and "Brought Down"

The version of "Sarah" presented here turned up on the 2003 CD compilation "Rockers', but still some further explanation of these 'first appearance on CD' 1977 remixes is needed. The last compilation album touching on the 1971-1974 period of Thin Lizzy was called "The Continuing Saga Of The Ageing Orphans" released in the UK in March 1978 on Decca SKL 5298. Of it's 11 tracks, 3 were untouched cuts off the "Vagabonds Of The Western World" album - "Mama Nature Said", "The Hero And The Madman" and "Vagabond Of The Western World". But the other 8 tracks were December 1977 remixes and remakes of old Decca material where Lynott, Gary Moore and Midge Ure of Ultravox redid them in the studio. All 8 have been spread across the 3 x 2010 reissues - so the purchase of the Deluxe Edition of "Vagabonds" AND the '2010' extended editions of "Thin Lizzy" and "Shades Of A Blue Orphanage" will finally allow fans to acquire these 'missing' remakes and sequence that entire compilation album. See also my 'comment' attached to this review...

Tracks 15 to 18 are "Suicide", "Black Boys On The Corner", "Saga Of The Ageing Orphans" and "Whisky In The Jar". They are all previously unreleased and were recorded for the "BBC Radio 1 John Peel Session" on 14 November 1972.

BOOKLET:

The newly upgraded 16-page booklet uses an outtake photo of the shot that adorned the back and inner album cover, the three boys wandering through a wintry St. Stephen's Green Park in central Dublin on the 10th of January 1972. There are several period photos of the young band, the words to "Shades Of A Blue Orphanage" are reproduced as per the original album artwork (lyrics above) and there's even a Promotional 1-page Blurb from Decca too. Don't know if I like the "Digitally Remastered" logo pasted into the front cover of the booklet where you can't remove it - but it's a minor niggle. The knowledgeable liner notes by MARK POWELL are superb and it's all been run by Philomena - Phil's mum.

SOUND:

As with "Thin Lizzy" and the Deluxe Edition of "Vagabonds Of The Western World", this 2010 CD has been remastered with great results by PASCHAL BYRNE. I've raved about his work before (see my reviews for "Ain't No Saint" the 4CD John Martyn box set and "Blues From Laurel Canyon" by John Mayall), and this set is no different. The first generation tapes have been used - not too brash - fantastic presence - each track a revelation.

CONTENT:

The Lizzies were still a three-piece at this point - PHILIP LYNOTT on Vocals and Bass, ERIC BELL on Guitars and Keyboards with BRIAN DOWNEY on Drums. The famous dual guitar blasts of Scott Gorham and Brian Robertson are years away, so those expecting "Fighting" or "Jailbreak" should really look further ahead.

With Lynott's melody capabilities expanding fast, the album was a strange mix of styles - some working, some not. You get the sensitive singer-songwriter on "Brought Down", then the out-and-out rocker on "Baby Face" and "Call The Police" - and even the Salsa Dancer Man on "Chatting Today". Other highlights include the opening drums and guitar of "The Rise And Dear Demise..." where the band sounds not unlike a demented Blodwyn Pig at first and then suddenly morphs into a funky AWB - great stuff - and it has huge sound. The lovely "Buffalo Gal" (used as a B-side to "Little Darling" in 1974) is a sweetheart of a tune and sounds superb too. You couldn't say the same of the short but awful "I Don't Want To Forget About The Jive" - its mock rock 'n' roll construction just doesn't work. "Sarah" is another very pretty ballad featuring beautiful piano accompaniment by CLODAGH SIMONDS of Irish Folk-Rock act Mellow Candle. It's known as 'Version 1' because he revisited the title "Sarah" on the "Black Rose" album and had a hit with it. Simonds also adds Harpsichord and Mellotron to the seven-minute big album finisher "Shades Of A Blue Orphanage".

The extras are fantastic. To hear "Black Boys On The Corner" after nearly 4 decades sound this punchy and ballsy is a genuine blast for me - I've always loved this stunning non-album cut. The early version of "Suicide" (it would eventually turn up on 1975's "Fighting") features stunning slide guitar work from Bell - a great different take on the tune. It's followed by a cool live version of "Black Boys..." that's as powerful as the studio version. A very well produced "Saga Of The Ageing Orphan" (from the first album) is surprisingly pretty - deft touches everywhere. But while Eric Bell is almost note-for-note perfect in the live rendition of "Whisky", Phil unfortunately sounds like he's lost his voice. Still, it's great to have these precious gems after all those years languishing in Aunty Beeb's dusty vaults.

To sum up - the album may not appeal to everybody and even fans will see it is transitional and a "grower", but the remaster is fabulous, the bonus tracks genuinely good and I picked it up for less than a mid-price CD.

Recommended like a good pint of Guinness that's been given time to settle.

PS: see also my reviews for the 2010 versions of "Thin Lizzy" and the long-delayed 2CD Deluxe Edition of "Vagabonds Of The Western World"

11 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Good but a buy for only a true Thin Lizzy Fan, October 29, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Shades of a Blue Orphanage (Audio CD)

This is the weakest of the Eric Bell era Thin Lizzy albums. Half of the album will not interest most people but there are a few quality songs(Brought Down, Baby Face, Call the Police). The production quality is poor by todays standards which can be expected of many albums of that time. There are a couple of good but very slow songs(Sarah, Shades of a Blue Orphanage) and one that should just be skipped(I Don't Want to Forget How to Jive). If you are interested in an album from the Eric Bell days, I would first recommend Thin Lizzy(electric folk debut album) then Vagabonds of the Western World(their 3rd album, the heaviest and last of the Eric Bell years).