A new Thin Lizzy album titled Acoustic Sessions is set for release on January 24th, featuring stripped-back versions of the band’s early songs, complete with original vocals from late frontman Phil Lynott.
The 10-song LP, which features new guitar work from founding member Eric Bell, is set to arrive on CD and limited-edition marble or clear vinyl (pre-order here).
Among the songs is an acoustic version of “Whiskey in the Jar” (listen below), a traditional song that Thin Lizzy rearranged into a rock song in 1972, inspiring further notable covers by Metallica, U2, and The Pogues.
Another notable inclusion is a new version of “Eire” from the Irish band’s self-titled 1971 debut album.
“I remember recording ‘Eire’ from our debut album Thin Lizzy in 1971,” recalled Bell in a press release. “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.”
He continued, “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 favorite 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.”
The album marks Bell’s first time playing on a Thin Lizzy release since he left the band in 1973.
Thin Lizzy broke up in 1983, the same year they released their last proper studio album, Thunder and Lightning. Sadly, Lynott tragically died a couple years later in January 1986 at the young age of 36.
In 1996, longtime guitarist Scott Gorham and ’80s-era keyboardist Darren Wharton relaunched the band. The two remain in the current touring lineup of Thin Lizzy, which has been fronted by singer Ricky Warwick since 2010 and has featured Judas Priest drummer Scott Travis since 2016.
Check out the acoustic rendition of “Whiskey in the Jar” and a promo video for Acoustic Sessions below, followed by the album artwork and tracklist.
Acoustic Sessions Artwork:
Acoustic Sessions Tracklist:
01. Mama Nature Said
02. A Song for While I’m Away
03. Eire
04. Slow Blues – E.B (Eric Bell)
05. Dublin
06. Whiskey in the Jar
07. Here I Go Again
08. Shades of a Blue Orphanage
09. Remembering Pt. 2
10. Slow Blues – G.M (Gary Moore) – Bonus Track
