The Boys Are Back in Town

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"The Boys Are Back in Town"
Theboysareback.jpg
1991 Re-release UK 7-inch single
Single by Thin Lizzy
from the album Jailbreak
B-side "Emerald" or "Jailbreak"
ReleasedApril 1976
Studio Ramport, London
Genre Hard rock
Length4:29 (album version)
3:11 (single version)
Label Vertigo (UK)
Mercury (US)
Songwriter(s) Phil Lynott
Producer(s) John Alcock
Thin Lizzy singles chronology
"Wild One"
(1975)		"The Boys Are Back in Town"
(1976)		"Jailbreak"
(1976)

"The Boys Are Back in Town" is a song by Irish hard rock band Thin Lizzy. The song was originally released in 1976 as the first single from their album Jailbreak . It is considered by Rolling Stone to be the band's best song, placing it at No. 272 on the 2021 edition of the "500 Greatest Songs of All Time" list. [1]

Contents

Lyrical content

There are many theories regarding the inspiration behind the lyrics to "The Boys Are Back in Town", although none has been verified. [2] One theory is that it is about a group of Manchester criminals collectively known as the Quality Street Gang. [3]

Single release information

The original 1976 UK single release featured the album track "Emerald" as a B-side, although in some territories "Jailbreak" was chosen. The single was remixed and re-released in several formats in March 1991, after the success of the "Dedication" single, reaching No. 63 in the UK. [4] The 12" EP featured the extra tracks "Johnny the Fox Meets Jimmy the Weed", "Black Boys on the Corner" and a live version of "Me and the Boys".

Shortly after the UK single release of "The Boys Are Back In Town" BBC Radio 1 Disc Jockey Tony Blackburn picked this single as his 'Record of the Week', receiving daily plays during his mid morning show.

Reception

"It was 1976 and we were touring America", recalled Scott Gorham. "Jailbreak wasn't shifting and we weren't selling any tickets". The band were surprised to learn from their manager that "The Boys Are Back in Town" was becoming a hit record, especially as the track had not been among the ten songs originally chosen by the band for the album. Gorham attributed the song's unexpected success to two DJs in Louisville, Kentucky who "played it incessantly until other stations in the surrounding area picked up on it… Had that song not kickstarted the sales of the album, then the band was over." [5] [6]

It was given 499th position among the 2004 Rolling Stone's 500 Greatest Songs of All Time, [7] though was not included in the 2010 update. However, it re-entered the list in the 2021 update at an even higher position than before at number 272. [1] Rolling Stone praised lead singer and bassist Phil Lynott's "Gaelic soul" and said the "twin-guitar lead by Scott Gorham and Brian Robertson" was "crucial to the song's success". [8] In March 2005, Q magazine placed "The Boys Are Back in Town" at No. 38 in its list of the 100 Greatest Guitar Tracks. [9] The song won a 1976 NME Award for Best Single. [10]

Other Uses

At the 2012 Republican National Convention, the song was used to introduce then vice-presidential candidate Paul Ryan on stage. This unauthorised use of the song caused controversy. Both Lynott's mother, Philomena Lynott, and Thin Lizzy lead guitarist Gorham criticised its use, suggesting that Lynott would not have wanted his music used for any political purpose, including endorsing politicians, and furthermore would likely have objected to the policies of Ryan and his running mate Mitt Romney. [11] [12]

The song is played at most Irish Rugby matches. [13]

The song is featured in Toy Story.

Charts

Certifications

Certifications for "The Boys Are Back in Town"
RegionCertification Certified units/sales
United Kingdom (BPI) [23] Platinum600,000‡

‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Cover versions

Happy Mondays version

A cover version of The Boys Are Back in Town became the last Top 40 single for the Manchester rock band Happy Mondays when it peaked at number 24 in the UK Singles Chart in May 1999. [24] [25] According to the band they did not think that their version was a straight cover, but a record "inspired by the Phil Lynott song, but doesn't sound a thing like the original". [26]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Thin Lizzy</span> Irish rock band

Thin Lizzy are an Irish hard rock band formed in Dublin in 1969. Thin Lizzy initially consisted of bass guitarist, lead vocalist and principal songwriter Phil Lynott, drummer Brian Downey, guitarist Eric Bell and organist Eric Wrixon, although Wrixon left after a few months. After Bell left at the end of 1973 the band soon switched to twin lead guitarists: Scott Gorham, who remained with the band until their break-up in 1983, and Brian Robertson, who was replaced in 1978 by Gary Moore. Moore was replaced in turn by Snowy White in 1980, and John Sykes in 1982. The line-up was augmented by keyboardist Darren Wharton in 1980. The singles "Whiskey in the Jar" (1972), "The Boys Are Back in Town" (1976) and "Waiting for an Alibi" (1979) were international hits, and several Thin Lizzy albums reached the top ten in the UK. The band's music reflects a wide range of influences, including blues, soul music, psychedelic rock and traditional Irish folk music, but is generally classified as hard rock or sometimes heavy metal.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Phil Lynott</span> Irish musician (1949–1986)

Philip Parris Lynott was an Irish musician, songwriter, and poet. He was the co-founder, lead vocalist, bassist, and primary songwriter for the hard rock band Thin Lizzy. He was known for his distinctive pick-based style on the bass and for his imaginative lyrical contributions, including working class tales and numerous characters drawn from personal influences and Celtic culture.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Brian Robertson (guitarist)</span> Scottish guitarist

Brian David Robertson is a Scottish rock guitarist, best known as a former member of Thin Lizzy and Motörhead.

<i>Jailbreak</i> (album) 1976 studio album by Thin Lizzy

Jailbreak is the sixth studio album by Irish hard rock band Thin Lizzy. It was released on 26 March 1976, by Vertigo Records. The album proved to be the band's commercial breakthrough in the US, and the only Thin Lizzy album with a certification in that country. The singles taken from the album include "Jailbreak" and "The Boys Are Back in Town"; the latter is Thin Lizzy's biggest US hit, and won the 1976 NME Award for Best Single.

<i>Johnny the Fox</i> 1976 studio album by Thin Lizzy

Johnny the Fox is the seventh studio album by Irish hard rock band Thin Lizzy, released in 1976. This album was written and recorded while bassist/vocalist Phil Lynott was recovering from a bout of hepatitis that put him off the road halfway through the previous Jailbreak tour. "Don't Believe a Word" was a British hit single. Johnny the Fox was the last Thin Lizzy studio album on which guitarist Brian Robertson featured as a full member of the band, as the personality clashes between him and Lynott resulted in Robertson being sacked, reinstated, and later sacked again.

<i>Bad Reputation</i> (Thin Lizzy album) 1977 studio album by Thin Lizzy

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<i>Live and Dangerous</i> Live album by Thin Lizzy

Live and Dangerous is a live double album by the Irish rock band Thin Lizzy, released in June 1978. It was recorded in London in 1976, and Philadelphia and Toronto in 1977, with further production in Paris. It was also the last Thin Lizzy album to feature guitarist Brian Robertson, who left the band shortly after its release.

<i>Renegade</i> (Thin Lizzy album) 1981 studio album by Thin Lizzy

Renegade is the eleventh studio album by Irish band Thin Lizzy, released in 1981. Though not his first appearance, this was the first album in which keyboard player Darren Wharton was credited as a permanent member, becoming the fifth member of the line-up. As such, he made a contribution as a songwriter on the opening track "Angel of Death". However, even though he had officially joined the band, his picture was omitted from the album sleeve. Renegade was the second and final album to feature guitarist Snowy White. By his own admission, White was more suited to playing blues than heavy rock and he quit by mutual agreement the following year. He went on to have a hit single with "Bird of Paradise" in 1983.

<i>Greatest Hits</i> (Thin Lizzy album) 2004 greatest hits album by Thin Lizzy

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<i>Dedication: The Very Best of Thin Lizzy</i> Compilation album

Dedication: The Very Best of Thin Lizzy is a compilation album released by rock group Thin Lizzy in 1991. The only previously unreleased track was "Dedication", which was reconstructed after band leader Phil Lynott's death, using an old 8 track demo recording of a Grand Slam song originally recorded around 1985 and written by guitarist Laurence Archer. This track was the subject of a High Court case, as following Lynott's death Thin Lizzy released this track as a lost Thin Lizzy track, removing Archer's guitar and the writing credit from the track. Archer is now credited for writing this track.

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jailbreak (Thin Lizzy song)</span> 1976 single by Thin Lizzy

"Jailbreak" is a song by Thin Lizzy that originally appeared as the title track on their 1976 album Jailbreak. Along with "The Boys Are Back in Town", it is one of their most popular songs, played frequently on classic rock radio.

<i>Wild One: The Very Best of Thin Lizzy</i> 1996 greatest hits album by Thin Lizzy

Wild One: The Very Best of Thin Lizzy is a 1996 compilation album by Irish rock band Thin Lizzy. It was released ten years after the death of frontman Phil Lynott in 1986 as a tribute to him.

<i>Vagabonds Kings Warriors Angels</i> 2001 box set by Thin Lizzy

Vagabonds Kings Warriors Angels is a 2001 4-disc set by Irish rock group Thin Lizzy, which also contains a book chronicling the life of the band and music in some detail, with rare photos and a discography. The set was packaged in a longbox format with the booklet fixed inside like a book.

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<i>Thin Lizzy Live at Sydney Harbour 78</i> Album by Thin Lizzy

Thin Lizzy Live at Sydney Harbour '78 was a live concert performance by Thin Lizzy on 29 October 1978, subsequently produced in VHS and DVD format and available from Warner Vision. It was originally a made for television special produced by local radio station 2SM and Australia's Seven Network.

<i>Still Dangerous</i> 2009 live album by Thin Lizzy

Still Dangerous is a live album by Irish rock band Thin Lizzy. It was compiled from two live concerts by the band at the Tower Theater in Upper Darby Township, Pennsylvania, U.S., just outside of Philadelphia, at 20 and 21 October 1977 during the tour in support of their Bad Reputation album. No overdubs were made to any tracks so the album is completely live. The tracks "Cowboy Song", "The Boys Are Back in Town", "Massacre" and "Emerald" were previously released on the album Live and Dangerous, while "Opium Trail" and "Bad Reputation" were issued on the Killers Live EP in 1981.

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References

  1. 1 2 "500 Best Songs of All Time". rollingstone.com. Rolling Stone. 15 September 2021. Archived from the original on 17 September 2021. Retrieved 16 September 2021.
  2. ↑ Bailie, Stuart – Jailbreak album sleeve notes
  3. ↑ "Phil Lynott's mother recalls exciting days in Manchester". Manchester Evening News . 28 February 2011. Archived from the original on 14 June 2018. Retrieved 23 June 2018.
  4. ↑ "The Boys Are Back in Town (1991) Record details". 45cat.com. Archived from the original on 7 September 2012. Retrieved 17 June 2011.
  5. ↑ Barton, Geoff, Dome, Malcolm, Kendall, Jo, Ling, Dave: "The night I set Phil Lynott's todger on fire and other stories"; Classic Rock #219, February 2016, p. 55
  6. ↑ Ling, Dave (26 March 2016). "Scott Gorham on 40 Years of Thin Lizzy's Jailbreak". Classic Rock. Archived from the original on 31 December 2021. Retrieved 31 December 2021.
  7. ↑ "The RS 500 Greatest Songs of All Time (1–500)". Rolling Stone . 9 December 2004. Archived from the original on 30 March 2009.
  8. ↑ "News". Rolling Stone . Archived from the original on 28 December 2006. Retrieved 27 July 2016.
  9. ↑ "Rocklist.net...Q Magazine Lists". Rocklistmusic.co.uk. Archived from the original on 13 October 2018. Retrieved 27 July 2016.
  10. ↑ "1976 – NME". NME . 28 February 1976. Archived from the original on 23 January 2018. Retrieved 22 January 2018.
  11. ↑ McDonald, Henry (3 September 2012). "Phil Lynott's mother objects to Mitt Romney using Thin Lizzy's music". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 19 July 2017. Retrieved 16 December 2016.
  12. ↑ "Scott Gorham hits out at Mitt Romney's use of 'The Boys Are Back In Town' | Music | News". Hot Press. Archived from the original on 20 May 2013. Retrieved 27 July 2016.
  13. ↑ "Comic Relief does Fame Academy – Home". BBC. 24 September 2014. Archived from the original on 25 September 2015. Retrieved 27 July 2016.
  14. ↑ "Forum – 1970 (ARIA Charts: Special Occasion Charts)". Australian-charts.com. Archived from the original on 2 June 2016. Retrieved 4 December 2016.
  15. ↑ "Top RPM Singles: Issue 4289a." RPM . Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 19 June 2023.
  16. 1 2 "The Irish Charts – Search Results – The Boys Are Back in Town". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved 19 June 2023.
  17. ↑ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 19 June 2023.
  18. ↑ "Thin Lizzy Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved 19 June 2023.
  19. ↑ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 19 June 2023.
  20. ↑ "Top RPM Singles: Issue 5173a." RPM . Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 19 June 2023.
  21. ↑ "Top 100 Hits of 1976/Top 100 Songs of 1976". www.musicoutfitters.com. Archived from the original on 7 March 2004. Retrieved 15 December 2016.
  22. ↑ "Cash Box YE Pop Singles – 1976". tropicalglen.com. Archived from the original on 20 October 2018. Retrieved 15 December 2016.
  23. ↑ "British single certifications – Thin Lizzy – The Boys Are Back in Town". British Phonographic Industry . Retrieved 23 September 2022.
  24. ↑ "Happy Mondays | full Official Chart History". Officialcharts.com. Archived from the original on 1 May 2021. Retrieved 7 December 2021.
  25. ↑ Strong, Martin C. (2000). The Great Rock Discography (5th ed.). Edinburgh: Mojo Books. pp. 421–422. ISBN   1-84195-017-3.
  26. ↑ "MONDAYS SKANK YOUR WAY IN MAY". NME. 14 March 1999. Archived from the original on 2 December 2021. Retrieved 7 December 2021.
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