Rating:
Genre:
Rock
Release Date: 10/26/2004
During the early 21st century, the
BMG Special Products label began issuing budget-priced, in-concert collections of classic
rock acts, each going by the title of
Extended Versions. But the series is slightly misleading, as most of the time they use latter-day recordings of the respective artists, most of which include little or no original members, such as the
Thin Lizzy edition of
Extended Versions. The ten-track set is basically a truncated version of the 13-track 2000
Lizzy release
One Night Only, which featured a lineup of
John Sykes on vocals/guitar,
Scott Gorham on guitar,
Darren Wharton on keyboards,
Marco Mendoza on bass, and
Tommy Aldridge on drums (the latter two of which were never members of
Lizzy when their late leader,
Phil Lynott, reigned supreme). The group pounds out faithful, workman-like renditions of such
Lizzy classics as
"The Boys Are Back in Town," "Jailbreak," "Cowboy Song," and
"Still in Love With You," but you can't help but feel like you're listening to a
Lizzy tribute band, rather than the real McCoy. If you caught the latter-day version of
Lizzy in concert and want a faithful live document,
Extended Versions is fine. But be forewarned -- if you don't already own the ultimate live album by the real
Thin Lizzy lineup, 1978's
Live and Dangerous, you'll be banished to Siberia.
~Greg Prato, All Music Guide