Bad Reputation

Thin Lizzy: Phil Lynott (vocals, bass); Brian Robertson, Scott Gorham (guitar); Brian Downey (drums).
Irish rock outfit Thin Lizzy gained worldwide status with its summer anthem, "The Boys Are Back in Town," a Springsteen pastiche of summer nights, male bonding, and the occasional fist fight or two. Although the band never released another single that equaled its impact, Thin Lizzy was enjoying both a commercial as well as creative peak during the mid- to late '70s. BAD REPUTATION is arguably the band's last "great" album. The radio-ready single, "Dancing in the Moonlight" is nearly as winning as the aforementioned "Boys" and the pumping title track is a classic Thin Lizzy mixture of twin guitars, bravado, and a dash of menace. Although singer Phil Lynott had a habit of crossing over into overblown machismo, more often than not the soulful tear in his voice along with the band's signature twin melodic guitar lines elevated the material beyond mere lunkhead chest pounding.