The Irish rock band Thin Lizzy are being celebrated with a box set that celebrates their breakthrough year. The band’s sixth and seventh albums, Jailbreak and Johnny The Fox, were both released in 1976 and are seen as their definitive studio albums with such memorable songs as “The Boys Are Back In Town,” “Jailbreak,” “Warriors,” and “Cowboy Song.” 1976, a collection on 5-CDs + Blu-ray, arrived September 27, 2024, via Universal Music Group. It’s available in the U.S. here and in the U.K. here.
The 1976 box set contains two versions of both albums, the original and a new stereo mix by Richard Whittaker as overseen by guitarist Scott Gorham and mastered by Andy Pearce, as well as a previously unreleased concert. There is also a Blu-ray containing an Atmos mix of both albums. Listen to many of the tracks below.
Gorham wasn’t a member of Thin Lizzy when they first came together in Dublin in 1969. He joined five years later, and was part of the breakthrough Jailbreak quartet that also included frontman Phil Lynott on bass, Brian Robertson playing the other guitar and Brian Downey on drums.
Jailbreak was released in March 1976 and was the band’s breakthrough album in America reaching #18 on Billboard and #10 in the U.K. The album’s “The Boys Are Back in Town” was a #12 single on the Hot 100 and #8 in the U.K. Johnny The Fox was recorded in the same year and released in October 1976 to critical acclaim and got to #11 in the U.K.
Listen to an early take of “Jailbreak” from the collection
The new collection’s other discs contain unreleased mixes from the band’s vault, radio sessions, and a previously unreleased 1976 concert from Cleveland.
Listen to “Jailbreak” and “The Boys Are Back in Town” from that performance
The package, housed in a 10 x 10 box, features sleeve notes by Mojo’s Mark Blake and has a hard-backed booklet packed with rare photos and memorabilia, with contributions from long-time contributor Jim Fitzpatrick.
Related: Our feature on Thin Lizzy’s perfect rock song, “The Boys Are Back in Town”
Thin Lizzy 1976 5-CD + Blu-ray Track Listing
CD1
Jailbreak – Original Mix
Jailbreak
Angel From the Coast
Running Back
Romeo And the Lonely Girl
Warriors
The Boys Are Back in Town
Fight Or Fall
Cowboy Song
Emerald
Jailbreak – New Stereo Mix
Jailbreak
Angel From the Coast
Running Back
Romeo And the Lonely Girl
Warriors
The Boys Are Back in Town
Fight Or Fall
Cowboy Song
Emerald
CD2
Johnny The Fox-Original Mix
Johnny
Rocky
Borderline
Don’t Believe a Word
Fool’s Gold
Johnny The Fox Meets Jimmy the Weed
Old Flame
Massacre
Sweet Marie
Boogie Woogie Dance
Johnny The Fox- New Stereo Mix
Johnny
Rocky
Borderline
Don’t Believe a Word
Fool’s Gold
Johnny The Fox Meets Jimmy the Weed
Old Flame
Massacre
Sweet Marie
Boogie Woogie Dance
CD3
Jailbreak Take 5 – Demo
Angel From the Coast – Alt Version
Running Back – Demo
Romeo And the Lonely Girl – Acoustic
Warriors – Instrumental
The Kid Is Back – Take 1
Fight Or Fall – Acoustic
Cowboy Song – Take 2 – Instrumental Demo
Emerald – Alt Version
Brian’s Number – Take 3 – Outtake
Funky Job – Outtake
Emerald – BBC Session – 12/02/1976
Warriors – BBC Session – 12/02/1976
Cowboy Song – BBC Session – 12/02/1976
Jailbreak – BBC Session – 12/02/1976
CD4
Johnny – Instrumental T2
Rocky – Alt Version 2
Borderline – 4 Track Demo
Don’t Believe a Word – Alt Version 2
Fools Gold – Demo
Johnny The Fox Meets Jimmy the Weed -12-inch Mix
Old Flame – Alt Version 2
Little Big Horn
Sweet Marie – Demo
Boogie Woogie Dance – Instrumental Outtake
Biriani Tango – Instrumental Outtake
Son Of Warrior – Instrumental Outtake
Jam aka Give It Up
Jam – Improvised vocal off mic
Don’t Believe a Word – BBC Session – 23/09/1976
Johnny – BBC Session – 23/09/1976
Fool’s Gold – BBC Session – 23/09/1976
Johnny The Fox Meets Jimmy the Weed – BBC Session – 23/09/1976
CD5 (LIVE CLEVELAND 11/05/1976 WMMS Radio Broadcast Jailbreak)
Jailbreak
The Boys Are Back in Town
For Those Who Love to Live
Wild One
Emerald
It’s Only Money
Romeo And the Lonely Girl
Blues Boy
Warrior
Rosalie + Cowgirl Song
Suicide
Angel From the Coast
Sha La La
Me And the Boys
The Rocker
Blu-Ray
Jailbreak – ATMOS Mix
Jailbreak
Angel From the Coast
Running Back
Romeo And the Lonely Girl
Warriors
The Boys Are Back in Town
Fight Or Fall
Cowboy Song
Emerald
Jailbreak – New Stereo Mix
Jailbreak
Angel From the Coast
Running Back
Romeo And the Lonely Girl
Warriors
The Boys Are Back in Town
Fight Or Fall
Cowboy Song
Emerald
Johnny The Fox- ATMOS Mix
Johnny
Rocky
Borderline
Don’t Believe a Word
Fool’s Gold
Johnny The Fox Meets Jimmy the Weed
Old Flame
Massacre
Sweet Marie
Boogie Woogie Dance
Johnny The Fox- New Stereo Mix
Johnny
Rocky
Borderline
Don’t Believe a Word
Fool’s Gold
Johnny The Fox Meets Jimmy the Weed
Old Flame
Massacre
Sweet Marie
Boogie Woogie Dance
2 Comments so far
Jump into a conversationThe Magic Circle in all its glory
Really looking forward to this huge set, and i have also ordered a copy as well, which also will include vinyl an added extra. Also a Japanese version all in surround sound which are shmcd’s & their packaging is amazing. Also with their editions you will most likely have lyrics in Japanese & english