Colour Collection : Thin Lizzy (Intl Ver.)

Along with Motörhead and UFO, Thin Lizzy must have signed one of the flimsiest recording contracts early on, because the amount of compilations (undoubtedly unauthorized by the band) that include almost identical track listings is absolutely staggering. Case in point, the 2006 comp, Colour Collection -- which contains the same exact track listing as 1999's Classic Thin Lizzy: The Universal Master Collection. Just about every Lizzy fan will agree that the group didn't truly come into their own until the mid- to late '70s, when the group's twin-guitar attack set them apart from the rest of the pack and marks the era that birthed the majority of the group's strongest material. But absolutely no tracks here are included from that era (that's right -- no "The Boys Are Back in Town," "Jailbreak," or "Bad Reputation"), as Colour Collection is comprised solely of highlights from Lizzy's early-'70s output. And it's this era that has been abused to death over the years with random compilations (seemingly averaging at least one a year). Sure, there are quite a few highlights here that show the late, great Phil Lynott blossoming into a great lyricist, including "Little Girl in Bloom," "Remembering," and "Dublin," as well as Lizzy's very first hits -- "Whiskey in the Jar" and "The Rocker." However, Colour Collection is certainly not recommended as a first Lizzy purchase, unless you already own a comp focusing on their latter period (such as 1991's Dedication) and are curious to inspect their early years, Colour Collection is a worthy follow-up purchase. Just make sure you don't already own the identical Classic Thin Lizzy: The Universal Master Collection. ~ Greg Prato|