Fighting by Thin Lizzy

Fighting

by Thin Lizzy

Released: September 12, 1975

Hard rock, blues rock

musicOnOff editorial

Why This Album Matters

This album matters because its strongest editorial story is: Breakthrough.

01

The Album

"Fighting" is the fifth studio album by Irish rock band Thin Lizzy, released in 1975. After four previous studio albums, the band developed a distinctive sound characterized by the twin guitars of Scott Gorham and Brian Robertson. Another track recorded during the Fighting sessions was "Try a Little Harder", which was eventually released on the Vagabonds, Kings, Warriors, Angels boxed set in 2002.

02

Inside the Recording

The track "Suicide" was originally performed by Thin Lizzy when guitarist Eric Bell was still in the band, including on a BBC broadcast recorded in July 1973.

Stories and details

Interesting Facts

Fighting is the only Thin Lizzy album, aside…

Fighting is the only Thin Lizzy album, aside from their 1971 debut, where band members other than Phil Lynott receive sole songwriting credits for certain tracks.

This sound blends elements of hard rock, folk…

This sound blends elements of hard rock, folk, pop, and rhythm and blues, setting the stage for their major commercial breakthrough with the follow-up album Jailbreak.

It was first performed with different lyrics under…

It was first performed with different lyrics under the title "Baby's Been Messing" and lacked the middle section that appears on Fighting.

The non-album track "Half-Caste" was released on the…

The non-album track "Half-Caste" was released on the B-side of the original "Rosalie" single.

Bell wrote "Ray Gun" on the debut, and…

Bell wrote "Ray Gun" on the debut, and Robertson and Gorham wrote "Silver Dollar" and "Ballad of a Hard Man", respectively.

Start listening here

Essential Tracks

01

Rosalie

The non-album track "Half-Caste" was released on the B-side of the original "Rosalie" single.

02

Suicide

The track "Suicide" was originally performed by Thin Lizzy when guitarist Eric Bell was still in the band, including on a BBC broadcast recorded in July 1973.

03

Silver Dollar

Bell wrote "Ray Gun" on the debut, and Robertson and Gorham wrote "Silver Dollar" and "Ballad of a Hard Man", respectively.

04

Ballad Of A Hard Man

Bell wrote "Ray Gun" on the debut, and Robertson and Gorham wrote "Silver Dollar" and "Ballad of a Hard Man", respectively.

Then

Reception

Fighting was also the band's first album to chart in the UK, reaching No. 60.

Full background

The Complete Album Story

"Fighting" is the fifth studio album by Irish rock band Thin Lizzy, released in 1975. After four previous studio albums, the band developed a distinctive sound characterized by the twin guitars of Scott Gorham and Brian Robertson. This sound blends elements of hard rock, folk, pop, and rhythm and blues, setting the stage for their major commercial breakthrough with the follow-up album Jailbreak. Fighting was also the band's first album to chart in the UK, reaching No. 60.

The track "Suicide" was originally performed by Thin Lizzy when guitarist Eric Bell was still in the band, including on a BBC broadcast recorded in July 1973. It was first performed with different lyrics under the title "Baby's Been Messing" and lacked the middle section that appears on Fighting. The non-album track "Half-Caste" was released on the B-side of the original "Rosalie" single. Another track recorded during the Fighting sessions was "Try a Little Harder", which was eventually released on the Vagabonds, Kings, Warriors, Angels boxed set in 2002.

Fighting is the only Thin Lizzy album, aside from their 1971 debut, where band members other than Phil Lynott receive sole songwriting credits for certain tracks. Bell wrote "Ray Gun" on the debut, and Robertson and Gorham wrote "Silver Dollar" and "Ballad of a Hard Man", respectively.

Although the distinctive Thin Lizzy logo (designed by Jim Fitzpatrick) was frequently used on compilation albums, merchandise, and as stage scenery at the band's gigs over the years, this was the only Thin Lizzy studio album to feature it on the cover.

Europe guitarist John Norum covered "Wild One" on his 1987 debut solo album Total Control, and Europe covered "Suicide" on their 2008 live album Almost Unplugged.

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