Thin Lizzy have announced a new acoustic album re-imagining their favourite songs and featuring new guitar parts by Eric Bell.
Fans of the legendary blues rock group can hear the original vocals of late frontman Phil Lynott – who died in 1986 at the age of 36 – alongside stripped-back arrangements on ‘Acoustic Sessions’, which is due for release on January 24, 2025.
The first track taken from the project is a new rendition of their version of ‘Whiskey In The Jar’ that is reminiscent of the way the band first played the cover of the Irish classic, which they had a hit with in 1973.
Drummer Brian Downey’s original drum parts are also heard throughout the collection, which features tracks from the 50th-anniversary super deluxe editions of 1973’s ‘Vagabonds Of The Western World’, their 1971 self-titled debut and 1972’s ‘Shades of a Blue Orphanage’.
Eric, 77, said: “I remember recording ‘Eire’ from our debut album ‘Thin Lizzy’ in 1971. I wrote the main guitar part first on acoustic and then we built it up from there. I played the 12-string acoustic throughout the track and introduced the electric on top.
“This was useful in the studio in Belfast recently where we recorded fresh guitar parts to allow us to create new Thin Lizzy acoustic versions of some of our favourite songs, by recreating those original acoustic parts and adding the vocals which Philip laid down on the day and those original drum parts which Brian came up with in the original recording sessions.”
Producer and mixer Richard Whittaker added: “Traditionally, songwriters and bands have used acoustic ‘polyrhythmic’ instruments such as piano or guitar to demo or sketch out their ideas. In most cases these parts are replaced as the production process develops but occasionally, these core elements survive and remain intact. I encountered this during the Vagabonds project. After sifting through all the Decca recordings, I presented a list of ideas however, in most cases additional development and material was required. So the guys at the label approached Eric (Bell) who was happy to get involved with the project and between us, I think we’ve made something really quite unique and special.”
Eric departed Thin Lizzy following the release of ‘Vagabonds Of The Western World’ and after their chaotic 1973 New Year’s Eve show, which saw the sticksman shove amplifiers into the audience and storm off stage. He later stated that it was due to ill-health brought on by exhaustion. Gary Moore briefly replaced him.
Fittingly, the bonus track ‘Slow Blues G.B.’ is a tribute to late guitar hero Gary – who died of a heart attack at the age of 58 in 2011.
‘Acoustic Sessions’ is the first Thin Lizzy release from Eric since his dramatic exit from the ‘Boys Are Back In Town’ group.
Their final studio album was 1983’s ‘Thunder and Lightning’.
Pre-order the album now via thinlizzy.lnk.to/TheAcousticSessions.
The ‘Acoustic Sessions’ track-listing:
Mama Nature Said (Acoustic Version)
A Song For While I’m Away (Acoustic Version)
Eire (Acoustic Version)
Slow Blues (Acoustic Version)
Dublin (Acoustic Version)
Whiskey In The Jar (Acoustic Version)
Here I Go Again (Acoustic Version)
Shades Of A Blue Orphanage (Acoustic Version)
Remembering Pt. 2 (Acoustic Version)
Slow Blues G.M (Gary Moore) (Acoustic Version)