Thin Lizzy
‘Acoustic Sessions’ revisits the band’s early catalogue with newly recorded guitar performances from founding member Eric Bell
More than four decades after their last new album, Thin Lizzy are revisiting the music that helped establish their place in rock history. Titled Acoustic Sessions, the forthcoming collection reimagines nine songs from the band’s early catalogue, pairing original recordings and the unmistakable voice of the late Phil Lynott with newly recorded acoustic guitar performances by founding member Eric Bell.
The project takes the band back to its formative years on Decca Records, stripping away much of the familiar electric instrumentation to bring the songwriting, melodies and arrangements into sharper focus. Rather than simply revisiting old recordings, Acoustic Sessions offers a different perspective on material that has been part of Thin Lizzy’s musical identity for generations. Its most significant element is Bell’s return: recording under the Thin Lizzy name for the first time since his departure in 1974, the guitarist has added fresh acoustic performances to the original tapes, reconnecting with the musical ideas that shaped the group’s earliest sound.
The first taste of the album arrives with a new acoustic interpretation of ‘Whiskey in the Jar’, available now. Originally released as a single in 1972, Thin Lizzy’s version of the traditional Irish folk song became the band’s first major breakthrough, reaching No. 6 on the UK Official Singles Chart in February 1973. The new arrangement shifts attention toward the song’s folk foundations, giving Lynott’s original vocal performance a more intimate setting while retaining the character of a recording that helped introduce the band to a much wider audience.
The collection also revisits several deeper cuts from the early catalogue, including ‘Mama Nature Said’, ‘A Song for While I’m Away’, ‘Eire’, ‘Dublin’, ‘Here I Go Again’ and ‘Shades of a Blue Orphanage’. Producer and mixer Richard Whittaker helped shape the project after an extensive review of the original Decca recordings, bringing together the archival performances and Bell’s newly recorded contributions.
There is also a special tribute to another important figure in Thin Lizzy’s history: the direct-to-consumer edition includes ‘Slow Blues G.M’, an acoustic tribute to the late Gary Moore, who joined the band in the mid-1970s and became one of its most celebrated guitarists. The track will serve as an exclusive bonus on the special edition.
Acoustic Sessions will arrive on CD and limited-edition marble vinyl, alongside an ultra-limited vinyl pressing featuring the exclusive bonus material. With Lynott’s original voice preserved and Bell returning to the music he helped create, the album offers a rare meeting of archival performances and newly recorded musicianship, bringing the band’s early catalogue into a different musical setting.
Pre-order: Thin Lizzy – Acoustic Sessions
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