1974 and 1975 were watershed years for THIN LIZZY who transformed from the trio of their initial phase into a fearsome foursome with signature twin-guitar sound that, between the band’s “Nightlife” and “Fighting” albums, shifted towards hard rock. In 2024, the quartet’s heavier incarnation has been anthologized in the "1976" box set – which marked a change from the one-longplay-focused approach of "Vagabonds Of The Western World" collection – and it will be followed on November 21st by “74-75” that includes seven CDs.
There are no Blu-ray this time around (except for a standalone SuperDeluxeEdition.com one, with Atmos options), and while “Nightlife” is presented in the original variant and a fresh mix, the “Fighting” remaster is accompanied by the 2025 remix of only four tracks. And though three discs of demos and work-in-progress – the “outtakes” label should feel misleading in the absence of pieces which didn’t make the cut in any shape – feel interesting (predictably, the number from Jan Schelhaas was not considered), as do the group’s Beeb recording, the concert document from Derby, preserved for posterity five decades to the date prior to the new box’s release, was previously issued as “UK Tour ’75” in 2008, and the ensemble apparently couldn’t find a different show to use here. The packaging looks impeccable, however, and, given how quickly the previous set got sold out, buying “74-75” seems quite necessary.
74-75:
Night Life / Fighting
CD 1 – Nightlife
Original mix:
1. She Knows
2. Night Life
3. It’s Only Money
4. Still In Love With You
5. Frankie Carroll
6. Showdown
7. Banshee
8. Philomena
9. Sha La La
10. Dear Heart
2025 mix:
11-20 – as 1-10
CD 2 – Fighting:
Original mix:
1. Rosalie
2. For Those Who Love To Live
3. Suicide
4. Wild One
5. Fighting My Way Back
6. King’s Vengeance
7. Spirit Slips Away
8. Silver Dollar
9. Freedom Song
10. Ballad Of A Hard man
2025 mix:
11. Rosalie
12. Wild One
13. King’s Vengeance
14. Silver Dollar
CD 3 – Nightlife Outtakes, B-sides, 7″ Edits:
1. Philomena (7″ single edit)
2. Showdown (demo with Gary Moore)
3. Still In Love With You (demo with Gary Moore)
4. It’s Only Money (demo with Gary Moore)
5. She Knows (demo)
6. It’s Only Money (demo)
7. Dear Heart (demo)
8. Rock And Roll With You (instrumental)
9. Banshee (with vocals)
10. Dear Heart (extended version)
11. Night Life (extended version)
12. Philomena (alt. version)
13. Showdown (alt. take)
14. Still In Love With You (rough vocal mix)
CD 4 – Fighting Outtakes, B-sides, 7″ Edits:
1. Rosalie (7″ mix)
2. Half Caste (7″ B-side)
3. Wild One (7″ mix)
4. Ballad Of A Hard Man (instrumental demo)
5. Try A Little Harder (alt. vocal)
6. Fighting My Way Back (rough mix)
7. Song For Jesse (instrumental demo)
8. Leaving Town (instrumental)
9. Leaving Town (extended take)
10. Spirit Slips Away (extended version, take 4)
11. Wild One (instrumental demo)
12. Brian’s Funky Fazer (Silver Dollar)
13. Cadillac (instrumental demo)
14. For Those Who Love To Live (demo)
15. Freedom Song (demo)
16. Suicide (demo)
CD 5 – Mixes:
1. Frankie Carroll (instrumental outtake)
2. Showdown (extended take)
3. Sha La La (extended take)
4. Philomena (acoustic demo)
5. Wild One (acoustic)
6. Silver Dollar (alt. vocal)
7. Rosalie (extended, alt. vocal)
8. Kings Vengeance (alt. vocal)
9. Song For Jesse (with vocal)
10. For Those Who Love To Live (instrumental demo)
11. Rosalie (outtake)
12. Try A Little Harder)
74-75 :
Night Life / Fighting
CD 6 – BBC Sessions
John Peel Session, 1974:
1. She Knows
2. It’s Only Money
3. Sha La La
4. Philomena
Bob Harris Session, 1974:
5. Dear Heart
6. Banshee
Live In Concert, 1974:
7. She Knows
8. Its Only Money
9. Still In Love With You
10. Showdown
11. Rock And Roll With You
12. Baby Drives Me Crazy
John Peel Session, 1975:
13. Half Caste
14. Rosalie
15. Suicide
CD 7 – Derby College of Technology – November 21st, 1975:
1. Fighting My Way Back
2. It’s Only Money
3. Wild One
4. For Those Who Love To Live
5. Still In Love With You
6. Showdown
7. Suicide
8. Rosalie
9. The Rocker
10. Sha La La
11. Baby Drive Me Crazy
12. Me And the Boys
13. Cowboy Song (Derby Blues)
14. Little Darling
15. Sound Check Jam
