Black Rose: A Rock Legend
Encyclopedia
Black Rose: A Rock Legend is the ninth studio album by Irish band Thin Lizzy
. Released in 1979
, it has been described as one of the band's "greatest, most successful albums".
Black Rose: A Rock Legend debuted at its #2 peak in the UK album charts and it is the band's most successful studio album. It was the first time that blues rock guitarist Gary Moore
remained in Thin Lizzy long enough to record an album after previous stints in 1974 and 1977 with the band.
Axl Rose
has the cover of "Black Rose: A Rock Legend" tattooed on his right upper arm, and once said that he "wanted to show it to Phil Lynott, but then he died on me".
", the first song by this name having appeared on 1972's Shades of a Blue Orphanage
, written about his grandmother, also named Sarah. The song on Black Rose: A Rock Legend is about his then newly born daughter.
The last track, "Róisín Dubh", consists of traditional songs
, all arranged
by Lynott and Moore, as well as original parts. The song "Will You Go Lassie, Go" (Wild Mountain Thyme
) is sometimes mistakenly credited as a traditional song, but was in fact written by William McPeake, and first recorded by Francis McPeake (and is on the album credited to F. McPeak).
", "Waiting for an Alibi
" and "Sarah
" as stand-out tracks, among others. He also praised the title track, and its "amazing, complex guitar solo".
with
Thin Lizzy
Thin Lizzy are an Irish hard rock band formed in Dublin in 1969. Two of the founding members, drummer Brian Downey and bass guitarist/vocalist Phil Lynott met while still in school. Lynott assumed the role of frontman and led them throughout their recording career of thirteen studio albums...
. Released in 1979
1979 in music
See also:Record labels established in 1979* 1979 in music This is a list of notable events in music that took place in the year 1979.-January–February:*January 1...
, it has been described as one of the band's "greatest, most successful albums".
Black Rose: A Rock Legend debuted at its #2 peak in the UK album charts and it is the band's most successful studio album. It was the first time that blues rock guitarist Gary Moore
Gary Moore
Robert William Gary Moore , better known simply as Gary Moore, was a Northern Irish musician from Belfast, best recognised as a blues rock guitarist and singer....
remained in Thin Lizzy long enough to record an album after previous stints in 1974 and 1977 with the band.
Axl Rose
Axl Rose
W. Axl Rose is an American singer-songwriter and musician. He is the lead vocalist and only remaining original member of the hard rock band Guns N' Roses, with whom he enjoyed great success and recognition in the late 1980s and early 1990s, before disappearing from the public eye for several years...
has the cover of "Black Rose: A Rock Legend" tattooed on his right upper arm, and once said that he "wanted to show it to Phil Lynott, but then he died on me".
Songs
The album included the second song Lynott wrote about a member of his family entitled "SarahSarah (Thin Lizzy song)
Sarah is a pop song released in 1979 by Irish rock group Thin Lizzy, included on their album, Black Rose: A Rock Legend. The song was written by the band's frontman Phil Lynott and guitarist Gary Moore about Lynott's newborn daughter...
", the first song by this name having appeared on 1972's Shades of a Blue Orphanage
Shades of a Blue Orphanage
Shades of a Blue Orphanage is the second studio album by Irish band Thin Lizzy, released in 1972. The title is a combination of the members' previous bands: Shades of Blue and Orphanage....
, written about his grandmother, also named Sarah. The song on Black Rose: A Rock Legend is about his then newly born daughter.
The last track, "Róisín Dubh", consists of traditional songs
Traditional music
Traditional music is the term increasingly used for folk music that is not contemporary folk music. More on this is at the terminology section of the World music article...
, all arranged
Arrangement
The American Federation of Musicians defines arranging as "the art of preparing and adapting an already written composition for presentation in other than its original form. An arrangement may include reharmonization, paraphrasing, and/or development of a composition, so that it fully represents...
by Lynott and Moore, as well as original parts. The song "Will You Go Lassie, Go" (Wild Mountain Thyme
Wild Mountain Thyme
"Wild Mountain Thyme", also known as "Purple Heather" and "Will You Go Lassie, Go", is a folk song, rewritten by Francis McPeake, a native of Belfast, Northern Ireland...
) is sometimes mistakenly credited as a traditional song, but was in fact written by William McPeake, and first recorded by Francis McPeake (and is on the album credited to F. McPeak).
Reception
Greg Prato of Allmusic described the album as "Thin Lizzy's last true classic album", and their "most musically varied, accomplished, and successful studio album". He praised Moore's presence as "a perfect fit", and singled out "Do Anything You Want ToDo Anything You Want To
"Do Anything You Want To" is a song by Irish rock band Thin Lizzy, and the second single released from their 1979 album, Black Rose: A Rock Legend. Black Rose was the only Thin Lizzy album recorded while guitarist Gary Moore was a member of the band, although he left soon after...
", "Waiting for an Alibi
Waiting for an Alibi
"Waiting for an Alibi" is a song by Irish rock band Thin Lizzy, and the first single from their 1979 album, Black Rose: A Rock Legend. Black Rose was the only Thin Lizzy album recorded while Gary Moore was a member of the band, although he left soon after.The song was released as a single reaching...
" and "Sarah
Sarah (Thin Lizzy song)
Sarah is a pop song released in 1979 by Irish rock group Thin Lizzy, included on their album, Black Rose: A Rock Legend. The song was written by the band's frontman Phil Lynott and guitarist Gary Moore about Lynott's newborn daughter...
" as stand-out tracks, among others. He also praised the title track, and its "amazing, complex guitar solo".
Track listing
Remastered edition
A new remastered and expanded edition of Black Rose was released on 27 June 2011. This new edition is a 2CD set, with the original album on disc one, and bonus material on disc two.Disc Two
- "Just the Two of Us" (Lynott, Gorham)
- "A Night in the Life of a Blues Singer" (Longer version)
- "Rockula (Rock Your Love)"
- "Don't Believe a Word" (Slow version) Lynott/Moore vocals.
- "Toughest Street in Town" (Different version) (Lynott, Moore, Gorham)
- "S&M" (Nassau, 1978) (Lynott, Downey)
- "Got to Give It Up" (Nassau, 1978)
- "Cold Black Night" (Nassau, 1978) (Moore)
- "With Love" (Nassau, 1978) (Lynott)
- "Black Rose" (Nassau, 1978) (Lynott, Moore)
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, twelve-string guitar - 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...
, backing vocals - Gary MooreGary MooreRobert William Gary Moore , better known simply as Gary Moore, was a Northern Irish musician from Belfast, best recognised as a blues rock guitarist and singer....
- lead guitar, backing vocals - 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...
with
- Huey LewisHuey LewisHuey Lewis is an American musician, songwriter and occasional actor.Lewis sings lead and plays harmonica for his band Huey Lewis and the News, in addition to writing or co-writing many of the band's songs...
- harmonicaHarmonicaThe harmonica, also called harp, French harp, blues harp, and mouth organ, is a free reed wind instrument used primarily in blues and American folk music, jazz, country, and rock and roll. It is played by blowing air into it or drawing air out by placing lips over individual holes or multiple holes...
on "Sarah" and "With Love" - Jimmy BainJimmy BainJames Stewart 'Jimmy' Bain is a Scottish bassist most famous for playing in the bands Rainbow and Dio with Ronnie James Dio. He has worked with Thin Lizzy frontman Phil Lynott, co-writing on his solo albums....
- bass guitar on "With Love"