The Contrarians Panel: Dark Horse Album #35 - Thin Lizzy Chinatown

Join the discussion! What is your assessment of Chinatown and your rating out of ten? Support us on Patreon or Ko-Fi: www.patreon.com/contrarians ko-fi.com/thecontrarians

Genocide (The Killing of the Buffalo) is however one of my five favorite songs in their entire catalog.

They did tour this album--I saw them at the Ontario Theatre in 1980 and met Phil. He gave me a poetry book and signed my ticket which of course I still have. He is a legend and the best this world has ever seen on bass and vocals. A consummate artiste.

I agree with Peter, the title track is a major standout when it comes to later Thin Lizzy.

I saw them live in 1978 with Gary Moore on guitar. They kicked ass that day. I would have loved for that line-up to have lasted longer.

Saw them on this tour at the Santa Monica Civic, third row up the middle, one of the best concerts I've ever seen and I've seen a few in my day.

HEY GUYS just found you and loved the idea of having guys who like (and know) rock music talking about a rock album. So much fun. I just found the "one guy talking at at time" not very dynamic for who is listening to the show. If I were you I would do this: go topic by topic and let everyone have a go at each topic. I think going song by song can be great. And in between the songs -- let's say every couple of songs -- you can do topics like "production", "state of the band at the time", "drums sound", "guitar sound", "lyrics", "rock scene at the time" and whatever other topics are related to the particular album you guys are reviewing. Well I just subscribed to your channel and i hope you guys keep rocking and rolling

I remember hearing Snowy White was replacing Gary Moore and thought it was joke. So, I was somewhat sceptical when the album came out, but I was totally wrong. It's one of my favourite Lizzy albums. I love it's bluesy feel.

I have always enjoyed the latter part of the Thin Lizzy catalogue a bit more than 'the classics'. A bit contrarian?!? ;) Probably I would rank the album Chinatown in top 3 overall. To me there are no weak tracks and the standout tracks are the title track, Hey You and Genocide, which I started appreciating only later on...

“Having A Good Time” splits opinion - I always wondered if Phil had intended to use this live, as a new ‘introducing the band’ number but I don’t think they ever did and it comes across as filler to me.

I am like David Botas and I found Lizzy later in life and oh boy how fantastic it was to find them and their music. One thing I could never ever understand is why on earth they completely ignored songs like Sweetheart and We Will Be Strong on their live shows, these have got to two of their finest tracks. And yeah Hey You sounds a bit flat and lifeless on the record but there is a version recorded in Cork (just search for hey you cork soundcheck 1980) that is just so good!

I was listening to this again a few weeks ago and would give it an 8/10. I was a drummer like Martin so agree on Brian Downey on this album. His drumming on the song Chinatown is exceptional.

I quite like Snowy White and his playing,but he wasn't quite the right guy on a vibe level. He was kinda like a rounded off square in a round hole. He's in there but...Certainly better in Lizzy than Robertson was in Motorhead as far as vibes go. Brian's playing is brilliant and Another Perfect Day is actually my fav Motorhead lp. But his attitude seemed to be difficult at best. Btw the one panelist is Irish so I'll give him a pass on the naff singing lol. Great episode on my favorite band. Cheers

Gets a 9,5 from me. Had this one since it’s release.

Always liked this album - it has some of Lizzy’s finest songs. Side 1 is much stronger than Side 2. Imho, if “Dear Miss Lonely Hearts” had been on Chinatown, instead of Solo in Soho, it would have boosted the album’s sales and stature.

Great Discussion! Thin Lizzy is my #3 top bands, and I love this whole catalog. as a kid getting The Boys Are Back In Town on 45 in 1976 and then the album I was hooked! so I was in deep when Chinatown came out. The only disappointment I had with this album back then that is was without Gary Moore! but I love this album and I give it a 8/10. I love Snowy White and what he brought to the band and more so on Renegade. and i agree that Don't Play Around should have been an album track along with Dear Miss Lonely Hearts which I would have switched out Hey You and made a perfect 10 track album.

7.5 is a fair rating for an album I don't go back to listen to much but enjoy for the most part. "Having A Good Time" is my favorite track off the album.

As mentioned, this album came out in 1980 and was overshadowed by all the other monumental albums released that year. Lots of new bands on the scene also grabbing the limelight. Unfortunately good as it was, this album wasn't as strong as was needed to get Thin Lizzy back their prominent place in the spotlight. UFO were also in a similar predicament in the same year.

Kirk Windstein from Crowbar has this album name (font and all) literally tattooed on his back.

Nice mention for Black Star Riders by The Music Nut. Kick ass band and lots of great records.