release date: Sep. 2, 1977
format: cd (2011 remaster)
[album rate: 3,5 / 5] [3,72]
producer: Tony Visconti
label: Vertigo Records - nationality: Ireland
Track highlights: 1. "Soldier of Fortune" - 2. "Bad Reputation" - 4. "Southbound" (5 / 5) - 5. "Dancing in the Moonlight (It's Caught Me in Its Spotlight)" (4 / 5) - 6. "Killer Without a Cause" - 7. "Downtown Sundown" - 8. "That Woman's Gonna Break Your Heart"
8th studio album by Thin Lizzy following the uneven Johnny the Fox (Oct. 1976) is the final with a stable line-up in more than three years. The album is the last to feature guitarist Brian Robertson who is only credited on three tracks (tracks #3, #6, and #8) due to conflicts within the band about musical direction - at the time of the release Robertson was no longer an official member, which is suggested by the album cover depicting only Lynott, Gorham, and Downey. Interestingly, it's the first collaboration work with already legendary producer Tony Visconti, which I think, may come through as a fine instrumental balance throughout the album. Apparently, the band had been through a phase of dispute concerning musical directions, which seems quite natural as Lynott and Downey had been together through several stylistic changes, and with Gorham and Robertson, the band had pursued a bolder hard rock-style compared to the early albums without the twin-guitars. Also, some of Lynott's best songwriting may shine stronger in his slower and more ballad-shaped compositions, which produced a bit of a contrast to much of the band's newer style.
Bad Reputations may not be as strong or consistent as Jailbreak, but it contains some really fine songs, including "Southbound", a song I consider among the band's top-3 songs ever, and it's certainly an improvement compared to Johnny the Fox.
Recommended.
[ allmusic.com 4,5 / 5 stars ]
