Interview with Scott Gorham of Thin Lizzy – 25th September 2024
I was invited by Universal Music to a Dolby Atmos run through of the Thin Lizzy albums “Jailbreak” and “Johnny the Fox”.
Afterwards there was a questions and answers (Q and A) with Scott Gorham guitarist with Thin Lizzy and Richard Whittaker who engineered the new Atmos version, chaired by the writer and journalist, Mark Blake, who wrote the inlay cards for the new boxset. Universal were very hospitable when we arrived laying on soft drinks and crisps etc.
They didn’t actually play the whole albums but played a 30-minute selection of songs from the two albums. Here are some of the highlights from the Q and A.
Wait for the pips
Scott was great fun starting, off-piste, by telling the story about when he first came to London in his twenties. How he got off the airplane in his jeans and just a t-shirt, he said he couldn’t believe it was cold and raining; very different from California. He then had to make a call. This was in the days before the internet and mobile phones and he had to use a pay-phone and they were different to the ones in the US. He said he asked help from a man in a bowler hat, in those days’ men working in the city of London, wore bowler hats.
The man said you need 2p, Scott didn’t have any UK money so the man gave him the 2p. The man said, call the number and wait for the pips, then put in your 2p. Scott said he remembered asking, “what are pips?” Anyway, Scott managed it and was very grateful for the man that helped him that day.
About the remix
During the Q and A, Scott and Richard Whittaker discussed the process of creating the Atmos version. Originally Scott thought he was just going for a listening session to hear what Richard had created. In effect, Scott was there to give a final sign off. What happened at that meeting was that Scott and Richard bonded and in fact that opened up to a complete re-evaluation of the albums.
Scott explained, was never happy with the mix of either album. He said the issue was that they were a live band and when they got to the studio the sound was “dead”. The other thing was that Richard found a load of stuff on the tapes that didn’t appear on the final mix.
Scott elaborated and said that back in 1975, people were still experimenting with sound recording and he said that the drums and bass didn’t seem to be miced well. Richard agreed and said that Brian Downey drums were restrained. He suspected that what was happened was that whenever Brian hit the cymbals the sound would “red line” and on the final mix this all had to be restrained. Richard explained that this all could be “fixed” in digital and so in the new Atmos Mix the drums had been opened up to sound has they did on the original recording sessions.
Scott and Richard were also able to make the rhythm guitar to sound more balanced and make the twin guitars of Brian Robertson and Scott to be clearer and more differentiated.
What is new? There is some backwards sounds at the start of Jailbreak. Scott said he was never told that that had been removed and there are also some Phil Lynott spoken vocals. There are lost more but you will have to listen to them. Can you spot the cow bell? Scott and Richard were keen to say that there were no new over-dubs, the sound is exactly from the original masters.
The creative process
I asked a question about the creative process at the time. Scott pointed out that in those days you got a three-album deal and Scott admitted the first two albums had been that strong. Scott pointed out that with this album this had to be a success or they were out. Scott said they band purchased a Teac four track tape recorder and went away and wrote 25 songs.
The band management said, pick your best ten and we will go with that. One of manager at the time, Chris O’Donnell did sit down and listen to all twenty-five songs and picked out one that Scott said was called, “the boys are back” or something and said it could be a single. That was drop into the ten and another song rejected.
Woody wood pecker
When they were recording what would become “the boys are back in town”, Phil said there was a gap in the song and it needed a second hook. Scott said Phil said it should go, “de, dar, de dar” and Scott said what like “dur, dur, dur, dur, dur” and immediately Brian Robertson came up with the melody. Years later, a journalist pointed out that the “Boys are Back in Town” hook is “Woody wood pecker”.
Live and Dangerous
Scott was asked about Live and Dangerous and how that came about. Scott said they were in America and heard “Frampton Comes Alive!”. Thin Lizzy went to their management to get permission from the record company. At that time, they didn’t know if a live album would be part of their contractual deal.
Scott said that it was common that songs played live would be different from the album, as free from the constraints of the studio, they were able to try new and different arrangements with the songs.
“1976” is a new compilation box set containing the two versions of “Jailbreak” and “Johnny the Fox” – the original forms and new stereo mixes by Richard Whittaker as overseen by Guitarist Scott Gorham and mastered by Andy Pearce.
There is also a Blu-Ray containing an Atmos mix of both albums. The other discs contain unreleased mixes from the bands vault, radio sessions, and an unreleased show from Cleveland. The package – housed in a 10 x 10 box – is rounded off with sleeve notes by Mojo’s Mark Blake and has a hard-backed booklet packed with rare photos and memorabilia, with contributions from long-time contributor Jim Fitzpatrick.
Timothy Hughes | Now Spinning Magazine
