Nightlife Songs Ranked
Nightlife is the fourth studio album by Irish band Thin Lizzy, released in 1974. It was produced by Ron Nevison and bandleader Phil Lynott and was the first album to feature the band as a quartet with newcomers Scott Gorham and Brian Robertson on guitars. Some reissue CDs, and occasionally other sources, spell the album title as Night Life, the same as the song title. However the original album title is Nightlife. The song “Philomena” was written for Lynott’s mother. The album cover, designed by Jim Fitzpatrick, shows a panther-like creature in a city scene. The panther is often thought to be intended to represent Lynott, but Fitzpatrick has confirmed that the panther referred to the Black Panthers and African-American political figures like Malcolm X and Martin Luther King Jr. Here are all of Nightlife songs ranked.
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10. She Knows
“She Knows” is my favorite song from the album. The way those vocals seem to sail calmly and peacefully as the verse melody rolls on… just brilliant. She Knows is an ideal entry, a full-blown song that already shows us the power of those guitars from the first moment, plus that spectacular “Mother Mary”.
9. It’s Only Money
“They kick back with the killer It’s Only Money. A cool tough rocker, with a great dirty guitar tone, and some cool in the mix cowbell. The drum sound is also real punchy here. But oddly it’s one of the only tracks here that has the in your face style of familiar Thin Lizzy.”
8. Frankie Carroll
“Frankie Carroll sounds like Lynott’s tribute to Dylan of some kind. Another gentle piano driven song, it’s ok, the piano melody isn’t that great and it’s an interesting musical idea but it needed something else.”
See more: Thin Lizzy Albums Ranked
7. Banshee
“It finds some beautiful interwoven acoustic and electric guitar lines. It’s a gorgeous but much too brief piece that for the first times finds Robertson and Gorham locking together for something special. The newly released deluxe edition of Nightlife actually has a longer (just under 2:30) take of it for the BBC.”
6. Sha-la-la
“Sha La La finally shows the kick ass Thin Lizzy. Of course this track was on Live & Dangerous as well, and there is truly ignites into an absolutely killer rocker. Here it still manages some good momentum.”
5. Dear Heart
“The record closes one another slow note, Dear Heart. With a mix of pianos, keyboards and light guitars, it shows a good, delicate atmosphere that was as always, one of Phil’s strong suits. Nightlife wasn’t a hit record, and it must’ve been the final kick in the ass for Lynott to abandon the more exploratory nature of his songwriting and unleash the inner rocker.”
See more: Thin Lizzy Songs Ranked
4. Philomena
“Philomena” is a fast and heavy Irish-sounding song, which makes sense since the band came from Ireland. Probably the heaviest song on the album. I think you’ll like the verse melody. It’s really good.”
3. Showdown
” There are some great musical ideas here and the album overall is still pretty good, and has less filler than their more popular “slump” album Renegade. It just doesn’t have a large share of heavy rock the band is known for.”
2. Still in Love With You
“Still in Love With You” features some rather underrated guitar playing, maybe similar to Santana, maybe not. Good vocals too. Still In Love With You finds the band in power ballad mode here. Most fans know this Lizzy classic from it’s cooking version off Live & Dangerous but here in it’s more sterile studio version it also works, especially taken in context with the rest of the material here.”
1. Night Life
“Night Life” is a great little mellow bluesy song, though if I keep using the word “mellow” I’ll get bored fast! The entire album has a soft feel. This song is seriously one that gets better the more you listen to it.”
