release date: Oct. 16, 1976
format: cd (1990 reissue)
[album rate: 3,5 / 5] [3,45]
producer: John Alcock
label: Vertigo Records - nationality: Ireland
Track highlights: 1. "Johnny" - 3. "Borderline" - 4. "Don't Believe a Word" - 5. "Fools Gold" -7. "Old Flame" - 9. "Sweet Marie"
7th studio album by Thin Lizzy released only 7 months after the acclaimed Jailbreak (Mar. 1976) couldn't but turn out as a weaker release. Despite using the same producer as on the band's biggest success, the album doesn't showcase the same strict and simple soundscape. Instead, Johnny the Fox has a much more symphonic sound. It's known as the first album where tensions between Lynott and guitarist Brian Robertson didn't help much in the recording process, but why on Earth they were pursuaded (or: forced) to embark on yet another album after this short period didn't do much good. Perhaps, the record company - as they are notoriously infamous for - really just wanted to get as much as they possibly could from this new gold mine but that doesn't explain why they decided to try new arrangements and what appears as a new sound.
Anyway, Johnny the Fox isn't all bad - far from it - but it does fall out somewhat pale compared to the predecessor and to the album that was to follow.
[ allmusic.com 4 / 5 stars ]
