Waiting for an Alibi

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"Waiting for an Alibi"
Waitingforanalibi.jpg
UK single sleeve featuring (L–R): Downey, Lynott, Gorham and Moore
Single by Thin Lizzy
from the album Black Rose: A Rock Legend
B-side "With Love"
Released23 February 1979
RecordedDecember 1978
Genre Hard rock
Length3:29
Label Vertigo
Songwriter(s) Phil Lynott
Producer(s) Tony Visconti and Thin Lizzy
Thin Lizzy singles chronology
"Rosalie/Cowgirl's Song (Medley)"
(1978)
"Waiting for an Alibi"
(1979)
"Do Anything You Want To"
(1979)

"Waiting for an Alibi" is a song by the Irish rock band Thin Lizzy and the first single from the band's 1979 album, Black Rose: A Rock Legend . [1] Black Rose was the only Thin Lizzy album recorded while Gary Moore was a member of the band, [1] and he left soon after.

Contents

The song was released as a single reaching No. 9 in the UK Singles Chart [2] and No. 6 in Ireland. [3] An accompanying video was filmed. The band promoted the single with a performance on The Kenny Everett Video Show ,

An extended version of this track can be found on The Adventures of Thin Lizzy compilation LP released in 1981, [4] Dedication: The Very Best of Thin Lizzy released on CD in 1991, [5] as well as Wild One: The Very Best of Thin Lizzy , released in 1996. [6] It also appears on the compilation albums Lizzy Killers (1981) [7] and Soldier of Fortune (1987). [8] This version lasts 4:08 and has a third verse and chorus not included on the single.

History

Before its release, the track had been reworked from its original recording. A demo of the song was recorded in early 1978 with Brian Robertson on lead guitar alongside Scott Gorham (this was before Gary Moore's return to the band). The song was also played at Thin Lizzy's major gig at Sydney Harbour in late 1978 where the version performed could be described lyrically as a cross-over between the original demo and the final version that was released the following year.

When Moore left Thin Lizzy in July 1979, Midge Ure was brought in to help finish a tour of the US, becoming the first in a string of guitarists to perform the song with the band. He was followed by Dave Flett, Snowy White and John Sykes before Thin Lizzy split up in 1983. In later incarnations of the band, Vivian Campbell, Richard Fortus and Damon Johnson also performed Moore's parts.

Personnel (studio version)

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.

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References

  1. 1 2 "Black Rose: A Rock Legend - Thin Lizzy". AllMusic . Retrieved 1 June 2021.
  2. "Waiting for an Alibi". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 1 June 2021.
  3. "Thin Lizzy". Irish Charts. Retrieved 21 June 2011.
  4. "Adventures of Thin Lizzy - Thin Lizzy". AllMusic. Retrieved 1 June 2021.
  5. "Dedication: The Very Best of Thin Lizzy". AllMusic. Retrieved 1 June 2021.
  6. "Wild One: The Very Best of Thin Lizzy - Thin Lizzy". AllMusic. Retrieved 1 June 2021.
  7. "Lizzy Killers - Thin Lizzy". AllMusic. Retrieved 1 June 2021.
  8. "Soldier of Fortune - Thin Lizzy". AllMusic. Retrieved 1 June 2021.