Once in a blue moon some ensembles serve up concert albums that define their career as much as their best studio platters, but while the Japanese recordings from DEEP PURPLE and CHEAP TRICK have never been compromised by vicious rumors, the legacy of THIN LIZZY‘s 1978 set “Live And Dangerous” was marred by decades-long misinformation of on-stage tapes’ significant off-stage enhancements. Of course, the double-LP’s quality it’s a testament to the legendary band’s impeccable delivery as well as Tony Visconti’s talent as producer and the skilled engineering courtesy, first of all, of Rob O’Brien, but even the further, expanded releases couldn’t dissuade the unbelievers in the non-doctoring of source tracks. And though the unbelievers will hardly want to listen to the classic’s 45 anniversary reissue, the group’s followers will be glad to delve into the 8CD-box which hits the shelves on January 20th, 2023.
The new take on “Live and Dangerous” includes, alongside the album per se, preserved for posterity in 1976, the freshly mastered concert recordings – entire sets – spanning a few tours the collective embarked on in 1976-1978. And even though a lot of songs appear on most of the discs, “Emerald” and “Jailbreak” on each one, listening to those can’t seem to be boring, given the infectiousness of Phil Lynott’s performances, guitar fireworks from Brian Robertson and Scott Gorham – the latter having overseen the release – and Brian Downey’s thunder. Unfortunately, the “Live and Dangerous” video film which has been included in the record’s 2011 reissue and was a main feature of 2007 collection of the same title isn’t part of the otherwise perfect box set.
CD 1 – Live and Dangerous:
1. Jailbreak
2. Emerald
3. Southbound
4. Rosalie
5. Dancing In The Moonlight
6. Massacre
7. Still In Love With You
8. Johnny The Fox Meets Jimmy The Weed
9. Cowboy Song
10. The Boys Are Back In Town
11. Don’t Believe A Word
12. Warriors
13. Are You Ready?
14. Suicide
15. Sha La La
16. Baby Drives Me Crazy
17. The Rocker
CD 2 – Hammersmith Odeon – November 14th 1976:
1. Jailbreak
2. Massacre
3. Emerald
4. Johnny
5. It’s Only Money
6. Still In Love w\With You
7. Johnny The Fox Meets Jimmy The Weed
8. The Boys Are Back In Town
9. Rosalie / Cowgirl’s Song
10. Suicide
11. Warriors
12. Sha La La
13. Baby Drives Me Crazy
CD 3 – Hammersmith Odeon – November 15th, 1976:
1. Jailbreak
2. Massacre
3. Emerald
4. Johnny The Fox Meets Jimmy The Weed
5. The Boys Are Back In Town
6. Rosalie / Cowgirl’s Song
7. Suicide
8. Warriors
9. Sha La La
10. Baby Drives Me Crazy
11. Me And The Boys Were Wondering How You And The Girls Were Getting Home From Here Tonight
12. The Rocker
CD 4 – Hammersmith Odeon – November 16, 1976:
1. Jailbreak
2. Massacre
3. Emerald
4. Johnny
5. It’s Only Money
6. Still In Love With You
7. Johnny The Fox Meets Jimmy The Weed
8. The Boys Are Back in Town
9. Rosalie / Cowgirl’s Song
10. Suicide
11. Warriors
12. Sha La La
13. Baby Drives Me Crazy
14. Me And The Boys Were Wondering How You And The Girls Were Getting Home From Here Tonight
CD 5 – Philadelphia Tower – October 20th, 1977:
1. Soldier Of Fortune
2. Jailbreak
3. Johnny
4. Warrior
5. Dancing In The Moonlight
6. Massacre
7. Still In Love With You
8. Cowboy Song
9. The Boys Are Back In Town
10. Opium Trail
11. Don’t Believe A Word
12. Emerald
13. Bad Reputation
14. Baby Drives Me Crazy
CD 6 – Philadelphia Tower – October 21st, 1977:
1. Solider of Fortune
2. Jailbreak
3. Johnny
4. Warriors
5. Dancing In The Moonlight
6. Massacre
7. Still In Love With You
8. Cowboy Song
9. The Boys Are Back In Town
10. Opium Trail
11. Don’t Believe A Word
12. Emerald
13. Bad Reputation
14. Baby Drives Me Crazy
15. The Rocker
CD 7 – Seneca College Fieldhouse, Toronto – October 28th, 1977:
1. Soldier Of Fortune
2. Jailbreak
3. Emerald
4. Dancing In The Moonlight
5. Massacre
6. Still In Love with You
7. Johnny The Fox Meets Jimmy The Weed
8. Warriors
9. Opium Trail
10. Cowboy Song
11. The Boys Are Back In Town
12. Don’t Believe A Word
13. Bad Reputation
14. Are You Ready?
15. Me And The Boys Were Wondering How You And The Girls Were Getting Home From Here Tonight
16. The Rocker
CD 8 – Rainbow Theatre – March 29th, 1978:
1. Jailbreak
2. Emerald
3. Southbound
4. Rosalie
5. Dancing In The Moonlight
6. Massacre
7. Still In Love with You
8. Johnny The Fox Meets Jimmy The Weed
9. Don’t Believe A Word
10. Warriors
11. Cowboy Song
12. The Boys Are Back In Town
13. Suicide
14. Are You Ready?
15. Sha La La
16. Baby Drives Me Crazy
17. The Rocker