1996 digitally remastered version of the bands 1975 album on Mercury/Vertigo Records. Album Description
 |  | no need to fight it- this is just good rock |  |
While the songwriting has become a bit more straight forward and commercial, I guess it's not really something to complain about considering Thin Lizzy was headed for major success sooner or later anyway. They had a special thing going as far as their lead singers distinct way of singing, and the band was trying very hard to make it big, and the results were starting to pay off by this point.
I don't really care for the Bob Seger cover that opens the album, but the rest of the tracks are quite good, with nice guitar riffs, pretty good vocals, and even some nice moments of guitar soloing (such as on "Suicide"). Not much in the way of diversity this time around however, but as far as songwriting goes, it's a pretty good album.
Looking at that album cover, I get the feeling these guys were ahead of their time as far as appearance goes. Just look at all those 80's hair metal bands, and then look at the cover for THIS album. You can see it coming 5 years earlier. That makes Thin Lizzy an influence.
November 27, 2008Not their strongest effort, but it has its strong points in songs like the gritty and aggressive "Suicide" and the soulful "Wild One." "Ballad of the Hard Man" is a pretty strong closer, too.
It's a good album for the big fans of the band, but not where I'd start a new fan.
February 18, 2008I bought this album when it came out after hearing "Fighting My Way Back" on the radio(man,I miss bay area free-form radio),and it seems I love it more now than when it came out.Exceptional throughout.The guitar tones as well as the playing from Scott Gorham and Brian Robertson are awesome(I'm thinking in general Scott's the rounded lead tone and Brian the biting lead tone-kind of like Dickey and Duane back in the day).I love how "For Those Who Love To Live" goes from crying harmonies for the intro to smooth diads and triads for the verses to chunkiness in the chorus.Tasty Les Paul tones to the max.I always get a pang of sadness when Phil sings "I love to live" as the song is winding up.Same with "Wild One",very passionate and "Spirit Slips Away",vibey and atmospheric.Rest in peace,Phil.Another great rock musician gone way too soon. All the guitar playing on this release is very melodic with an awesome sense of feel."Fighting My Way Back","Kings's Vengeance",and "Freedom Song" are examples of this but they could sound mean as well like on "Suicide" and "Ballad of a Hard Man".Really not a bad track on this record though Rosalie and Silver Dollar might be 3 or 4's out of 5.I also have Jailbreak, Johnny the Fox,Live and Dangerous,Black Rose and Bad Reputation,all on vinyl-yes,I'm a fan.But this album ,my first purchase by the band has truly gotten better with age.Dang,now I want a Les Paul Deluxe.
December 23, 2007 | | the second with Robertson/Ghorham | |
This record is very good, I don't like the song Rosalie, for me Phil do his best with his music, the high moment of this cd: two songs, for those who love to live, and suicide.
May 12, 2007| | | Has the most twin guitar attacks of all | |
This one does have the most twin guitar attacks of all thin lizzy albums. They are all catchy and rocking specially the tracks " To those who love to live", " Suicide", " Wild One". If you enjoy those harmonies with Gorham and Robertson then this is the one for you. Other songs are super catchy like " Silver Dollar" You will not go wrong too with " Rosalie" . A very pop oriented catchy song plus another tune titled "Freedom Song" which is just awesome with Phil sounding so good on the vocals.
All in all still a very balanced album. You got the rocking tunes, the guitar harmonies which is really the focus and the catchy pop songs. I've had this album for a long time and it is just now that I realized that this has got to be the finest among all the albums. Just try to play all your Lizzy albums one at a time and you will see what I am talking about. This is how this band really sounds like.
December 25, 2005More reviews at Amazon.com ...
(24 reviews)