Jailbreak (album)
Encyclopedia
Stephen Thomas Erlewine
of Allmusic described Jailbreak as a "truly exceptional album", with "a dimension of richness that sustains, but there's such kinetic energy to the band that it still sounds immediate no matter how many times it's played". Highlighting Lynott's songs as "lovingly florid... crammed with specifics and overflowing with life", he claimed that Gorham and Robertson's guitar work is "intertwined, dual-lead guitar interplay that was one of the most distinctive sounds of '70s rock". A reviewer for Sputnikmusic
took the view that nearly every song on the album is "a pure, hard rocker with little to no flaws", picking out the "killer groove" of "Angel from the Coast", the "infamous" "The Boys Are Back in Town
" and the "gritty" title track
. He also claimed that "Cowboy Song" is "arguably one of the best songs Thin Lizzy ever produced".
Conversely, Robert Christgau
likened the album's songs to Bruce Springsteen
cast-offs, with Lynott's lyrical ideas as "boring", and Gorham's guitar lines as "second-hand".
On the 1996 Mercury CD reissue, "Angel from the Coast" and "Running Back" are listed as the second track with only one running time, making it appear to be a single song called "Angel from the Coast Running Back", and there is no third track listed. However, all the songs are sequenced as on the original LP release.
However, the track-listing on the back cover is incorrect, listing only 10 songs when the actual CD contains 11 tracks. The songs are also not in the correct order. The correct tracklisting is listed below.
It should be noted that only the bonus material on disc 2 has been remastered in 2010 (despite what it says on the back of the CD booklet). disc 1 uses the same remaster as the 1996 edition. New remasters were made, but scrapped at the last minute before the release, for reasons unknown.
. Finally, the tour management decided to cancel the remaining tour dates allowing Lynott time to convalesce.
Stephen Thomas Erlewine
Stephen Thomas Erlewine is a senior editor for Allmusic. He is the author of many artist biographies and record reviews for Allmusic, as well as a freelance writer, occasionally contributing liner notes. He is also frontman and guitarist for the Ann Arbor-based band Who Dat?Erlewine is the nephew...
of Allmusic described Jailbreak as a "truly exceptional album", with "a dimension of richness that sustains, but there's such kinetic energy to the band that it still sounds immediate no matter how many times it's played". Highlighting Lynott's songs as "lovingly florid... crammed with specifics and overflowing with life", he claimed that Gorham and Robertson's guitar work is "intertwined, dual-lead guitar interplay that was one of the most distinctive sounds of '70s rock". A reviewer for Sputnikmusic
Sputnikmusic
Sputnikmusic, or simply Sputnik, is a music website offering music criticism and music news alongside features commonly associated with wiki-style websites...
took the view that nearly every song on the album is "a pure, hard rocker with little to no flaws", picking out the "killer groove" of "Angel from the Coast", the "infamous" "The Boys Are Back in Town
The Boys Are Back in Town
"The Boys Are Back in Town" is a single from Irish hard rock band Thin Lizzy. The song came out in 1976 on their album Jailbreak. It was honoured with the 499th position among the 2004 Rolling Stone's 500 Greatest Songs of All Time, though it was not included in the 2010 update...
" and the "gritty" title track
Jailbreak (Thin Lizzy song)
"Jailbreak" is a song by Thin Lizzy that originally appeared as the title track on their 1976 album Jailbreak. Along with "The Boys Are Back in Town", it is one of their most popular songs, and is a classic rock radio staple, receiving steady airplay....
. He also claimed that "Cowboy Song" is "arguably one of the best songs Thin Lizzy ever produced".
Conversely, Robert Christgau
Robert Christgau
Robert Christgau is an American essayist, music journalist, and self-proclaimed "Dean of American Rock Critics".One of the earliest professional rock critics, Christgau is known for his terse capsule reviews, published since 1969 in his Consumer Guide columns...
likened the album's songs to Bruce Springsteen
Bruce Springsteen
Bruce Frederick Joseph Springsteen , nicknamed "The Boss," is an American singer-songwriter who records and tours with the E Street Band...
cast-offs, with Lynott's lyrical ideas as "boring", and Gorham's guitar lines as "second-hand".
Side one
- "JailbreakJailbreak (Thin Lizzy song)"Jailbreak" is a song by Thin Lizzy that originally appeared as the title track on their 1976 album Jailbreak. Along with "The Boys Are Back in Town", it is one of their most popular songs, and is a classic rock radio staple, receiving steady airplay....
" – 4:01 - "Angel from the Coast" (Lynott, Brian RobertsonBrian RobertsonBrian "Robbo" David Robertson is a Scottish rock guitarist, best known for his work with Thin Lizzy and Motörhead.-Early life:...
) – 3:03 - "Running Back" – 3:13
- "Romeo and the Lonely Girl" – 3:55
- "Warriors" (Lynott, Scott GorhamScott GorhamScott Gorham is an American guitarist and songwriter who rose to international recognition as one of the "twin lead guitarists" of the Irish-formed rock band, Thin Lizzy...
) – 4:09
Side two
- "The Boys Are Back in TownThe Boys Are Back in Town"The Boys Are Back in Town" is a single from Irish hard rock band Thin Lizzy. The song came out in 1976 on their album Jailbreak. It was honoured with the 499th position among the 2004 Rolling Stone's 500 Greatest Songs of All Time, though it was not included in the 2010 update...
" – 4:27 - "Fight or Fall" – 3:45
- "Cowboy Song" (Lynott, Brian DowneyBrian Downey (drummer)Brian Michael Downey is an Irish drummer.Downey is the drummer and a founding member of the rock band Thin Lizzy, and a friend from childhood of co-founder and frontman Phil Lynott. Along with Lynott, Downey was the only constant member of the pioneering hard rock group until their break-up in...
) – 5:16 - "Emerald" (Gorham, Downey, Robertson, Lynott) – 4:03
On the 1996 Mercury CD reissue, "Angel from the Coast" and "Running Back" are listed as the second track with only one running time, making it appear to be a single song called "Angel from the Coast Running Back", and there is no third track listed. However, all the songs are sequenced as on the original LP release.
Singles
- "The Boys are Back in Town" / "Emerald" - 17 April 1976
- Some countries, including the USA and Canada, featured "Jailbreak" on the B-side.
- "Jailbreak" / "Running Back" - 30 July 1976
- "Cowboy Song" / "Angel from the Coast" (Canada and the USA only)
Remastered edition
On 24 January 2011, a new remastered and expanded of Jailbreak was released. This new edition is a 2CD set, with the original album on disc 1, and bonus material on disc 2.However, the track-listing on the back cover is incorrect, listing only 10 songs when the actual CD contains 11 tracks. The songs are also not in the correct order. The correct tracklisting is listed below.
It should be noted that only the bonus material on disc 2 has been remastered in 2010 (despite what it says on the back of the CD booklet). disc 1 uses the same remaster as the 1996 edition. New remasters were made, but scrapped at the last minute before the release, for reasons unknown.
Disc Two
- "The Boys Are Back in Town" (Remixed version)
- "Jailbreak" (Remixed version)
- "The Boys Are Back in Town" (Alternate vocal - remixed version)
- "Emerald (Remixed version)
- "Jailbreak" (BBC Session 12/02/1976)
- "Emerald" (BBC Session 12/02/1976)
- "Cowboy Song" (BBC Session 12/02/1976)
- "Warriors" (BBC Session 12/02/1976)
- "Fight or Fall" (Extended version – rough mix)
- "Blues Boy"
- "Derby Blues"
Original vinyl release
On the original vinyl release of the album, the back cover included a short story, this is also reprinted inside the new deluxe edition.Tour
While touring to promote the album, in the United States, Phil Lynott was stricken with hepatitisHepatitis
Hepatitis is a medical condition defined by the inflammation of the liver and characterized by the presence of inflammatory cells in the tissue of the organ. The name is from the Greek hepar , the root being hepat- , meaning liver, and suffix -itis, meaning "inflammation"...
. Finally, the tour management decided to cancel the remaining tour dates allowing Lynott time to convalesce.
Personnel
- Phil LynottPhil LynottPhilip Parris "Phil" Lynott was an Irish musician who first came to prominence as a founding member, principal songwriter, and frontman of the Irish rock band Thin Lizzy....
- bass guitarBass guitarThe bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
, lead vocals, acoustic guitarAcoustic guitarAn acoustic guitar is a guitar that uses only an acoustic sound board. The air in this cavity resonates with the vibrational modes of the string and at low frequencies, which depend on the size of the box, the chamber acts like a Helmholtz resonator, increasing or decreasing the volume of the sound... - Scott GorhamScott GorhamScott Gorham is an American guitarist and songwriter who rose to international recognition as one of the "twin lead guitarists" of the Irish-formed rock band, Thin Lizzy...
- lead guitarLead guitarLead guitar is a guitar part which plays melody lines, instrumental fill passages, guitar solos, and occasionally, some riffs within a song structure...
, guitars - Brian RobertsonBrian RobertsonBrian "Robbo" David Robertson is a Scottish rock guitarist, best known for his work with Thin Lizzy and Motörhead.-Early life:...
- lead guitar, guitars - Brian DowneyBrian Downey (drummer)Brian Michael Downey is an Irish drummer.Downey is the drummer and a founding member of the rock band Thin Lizzy, and a friend from childhood of co-founder and frontman Phil Lynott. Along with Lynott, Downey was the only constant member of the pioneering hard rock group until their break-up in...
- drumsDrum kitA drum kit is a collection of drums, cymbals and often other percussion instruments, such as cowbells, wood blocks, triangles, chimes, or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single person ....
, percussionPercussion instrumentA percussion instrument is any object which produces a sound when hit with an implement or when it is shaken, rubbed, scraped, or otherwise acted upon in a way that sets the object into vibration...
- Tim HinkleyTim HinkleyTim Hinkley is an English singer-songwriter, keyboardist and record producer. Hinkley started playing in youth club bands in the early 1960s, including The Copains, Boys, Freeman Five. During this time he turned down an offer to join The Konrads which featured Davy Jones, who later changed his...
- keyboardsKeyboard instrumentA keyboard instrument is a musical instrument which is played using a musical keyboard. The most common of these is the piano. Other widely used keyboard instruments include organs of various types as well as other mechanical, electromechanical and electronic instruments...
on "Running Back" (uncredited)