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Thin Lizzy - Johnny the Fox Audio CD

A fair review of the Thin Lizzy "Johnny the Fox" Audio CD. Please note that the below review is the views of the authors, and authors only. You can get a complete list of all Thin Lizzy reviews here, or go back to the Thin Lizzy tabs.

Thin Lizzy Band: Thin Lizzy
Title: Johnny the Fox
Rating:
Release Date: 1990-04-20
Media: Audio CD

Tracks: 1: Johnny 2: Rockey 3: Borderline 4: Don't Believe a Word 5: Fools Gold 6: Johnny the Fox Meets Jimmy the Weed 7: Old Flame 8: Massacre 9: Sweet Marie 10: Boogie Woogie Dance

JOHNNY AND JIMMY THE WEED
this an onslaught of twin guitars and melodies that sound great. LIZZY are an often overlooked band that every rock fan should check out.


What's Up With The People In Charge?
Let's get it done,people!!!! They are no more so either a comprehensive anthology or a complete catalog redo should be in the works!!! . When are these classic albums gonna get remastered? Johnny the Fox is my favorite song by these masters of hard rock and I'm waiting for someone to clean these up and raise the sound volume like UFO's "Lights Out" got! Extra tracks and live cuts would smoke, too.


johnny!
Mean lyrics and a heavy guitar tone make this one a classic. Suddenly Thin Lizzy just got a little heavier! "Johnny" absolutely ROCKS! One of my favorite Thin Lizzy songs, and perhaps one of the loudest songs they've ever done (as far as studio albums are concerned, which obviously doesn't count the live album they made a few years later).

"Rocky" reminds me of glam rock, such as Slade or Sweet. Not one of my favorites, but good enough. I wish the verse melody was more memorable than it is.

"Massacre" rules a lot- check out that soaring vocal melody and heavy guitar riff that sort of sounds like it's rumbling! "Sweet Marie" is a pretty good ballad rocker (a toss up between the two styles!)

I guess the song that's most popular (which isn't popular at all really, according to FM radio) is the 80's-sounding "Borderline". It's a good song with a pretty nice chorus. Not a favorite for me personally, but good enough. "Boogie Woogie Dance" reminds me of ZZ Top's better moments, and that's a good thing. Strange to close an album with a funky/heavy track such as this though. Should have been put in the middle of the track order somewhere- not the very end of the album.

"Fools Gold" is alright, but another highlight is "Johnny the Fox Meets Jimmy the Weed". I love the funky rhythm, and just the uniqueness of the song is pretty cool.

So yeah, this is a great album, but not quite a classic.
.


Excellent album that would sadly prove prophetic
Here, Phil Lynott writes a loosely constructed concept album about a rock star that struggles with the hard lifestyle and the addictions that often come with it. Johnny the Fox is nearly as impressive as its predecessor, the outstanding Jailbreak. Sadly, this would prove prophetic for Phil as he would become a victim of said lifestyle a decade later. All of the songs are very good, and as with all of their best work, there's a good mix of emotions. The upbeat rockers ("Rocky", "Fools Gold", "Johnny") complement their trademark wicked heavy metal ("Massacre", "Boogie Woogie Dance", "Don't Believe A Word") and a dose of funk in "Johnny the Fox meets Jimmy the Weed. " However, it's the ballads that truly shine here as the Johnny character deals with both depression on "Borderline" and lost love on the joyous "Old Flame" and the beautiful "Sweet Marie. " Scott Gorham and Brian Robertson's guitar work is impressive throughout, particularly on "Old Flame" and Brian Downey's drumming is spot on, especially on "Johnny" and "Boogie Woogie Dance. " Phil's vocals on the ballads are true tearjerkers. Nobody in hard rock could ever sing like him. While not quite on the level of Jailbreak (few hard rock albums are), Johnny the Fox is an excellent album from the underrated Irish hard rock band. .


In steps the Fox to thunderous applause...
In less than a year's time, Philip and the boys went back to the studio to contruct another opus to take advantage of the buzz around their previous hit record. God I love this album; it may be my favorite of Lizzy's with a slight bump over its predecessor 'Jailbreak'. When released in October of 1976, seven months after 'Jailbreak', 'Johnny the Fox' stalled commercially. The biggest reason might be that there was no follow up single along the lines of "Boys Are Back in Town" and the fellas were denied rock superstardom, especially in the US. Also another psuedo concept lp, 'Johnny the Fox' represented a peak in artistic abililty for Lizzy. The guitar partnership of Gorham and Robertson was flawless along with Brian Downey's performance. Philip's voice and lyrics were even more soulful and heartbreaking as he warned of the foilibles of life on the road or a life of crime. "Don't Believe a Word" was the lone single on 'JtheF' but it may not be the best song, though it is one of Thin Lizzy's greatests. "Massacre" is quite simply a masterpiece and would later be covered by Iron Maiden (whose dual guitar interplay was heavily influenced by Lizzy!). "Fool's Gold", "Borderline" and "Old Flame" tug at the heart strings as they portray lads and lasses who suffer through life at their own or others' hands. "Boogie Woogie Dance" is indescribable with an amazing rhythm section. "Johnny" and "Rocky" seem to be about rivals or old friends, one a career criminal and the other a rock star wannabe (or are they both the same man?). Some may prefer 'Jailbreak' but either way you can't go wrong with 'Johnny the Fox'. . . . it'll take you right up to heaven. Play on voodoo rhythm devils!.


You can see a complete list of all Thin Lizzy discography, or go back to the Thin Lizzy tabs. There is also a good guide on how to read guitar tabs here.

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