Thin Lizzy-Shades Of A Blue Orphanage (1972)

The second album from Irish band Thin Lizzy is a clear evolution from their underrated debut. Here, the band, led by bassist and singer Phil Lynott, creates a rich tapestry of styles and sounds ranging from hard rock and folk rock to semi-progressive and psychedelic flourishes. Featuring the same lineup as their debut album, in addition to Lynott, the excellent guitarist Eric Bell and the energetic drummer Brian Downey are also present, while keyboardist Clodagh Simmonds handled the mellotron and harpsichord. This strange combination of styles and sounds is reflected in the funk rock of "The Rise and Demise of the Funky Nomadic Tribes", the evocative folk rock of "Buffalo Gal", the acoustic ballad "Sarah", the heavy folk of "Brought Down", the psychedelic hard rock of "Baby Face", nods to 1950s rock and roll with "I Don't Want to Forget How to Jive", classic rock anthems like "Call the Police", and the soul/folk of "Shades of a Blue Orphanage". Considered a mere transitional album, it reflects Thin Lizzy's search for their own original style at that time, and this musical offering resulted in one of the most interesting albums of 1972.