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"The Boys Are Back in Town" is a single from Irish hard rock/proto-metal band Thin Lizzy. The song came out in 1976 on their album Jailbreak. It was honoured with the 499th position among Rolling Stone's 500 Greatest Songs of All Time.[1] Rolling Stone praised lead singer Phil Lynott's "Gaelic soul" and called the "twin-guitar lead by Scott Gorham and Brian Robertson" used "crucial to the song's success".[2] The song is played after most Republic of Ireland football matches.[3] In March 2005, Q magazine placed "The Boys Are Back in Town" at number 38 in its list of the 100 Greatest Guitar Tracks.[4]
[edit] Charts
| Single |
UK |
US |
IRL |
| "The Boys Are Back in Town" (1976) |
8[3] |
12[2] |
1[3] |
[edit] Single release information
The original 1976 UK single release featured album track "Emerald" as a B-side, although in some territories "Jailbreak" was chosen. The single was remixed and re-released in several formats in March 1991, after the success of the "Dedication" single, but failed to chart. The 12" EP featured the extra tracks "Johnny the Fox Meets Jimmy the Weed", "Black Boys on the Corner" and a live version of "Me and the Boys".
[edit] Use in movies, TV, and commercials
[edit] Covers
[edit] Other uses
- The song was used on Top Gear when the presenters took over BBC Southern Counties Radio for their afternoon Drive Time Radio Show and played it.
- The song was used as the introduction to the men's Powerball event on the UK Gladiators.
- The chorus from the song is played when Luton Town F.C, Oxford United F.C. and King's Lynn F.C run out at the start of a game.
- The British rock band Oasis used this song as their stage entry music song in 1995.
- The song was sung karaoke-style in the pilot of the television show October Road (TV series).
- The song is used whenever Ryan ten Doeschate comes out to bat for Essex County Cricket Club.
- According to the book 'Phil Lynott: The Rocker', the melodic guitar lick in the intro and chorus was modeled on a brass riff in the Bruce Springsteen song "Kittys Back."
- The song is used on the Dublin Radio Station, '98FM' when they advertise for Dublin GAA games.
- The song is often used by US Navy ships as the morning song upon returning from a deployment
- Sandi Patty as an extra on Pierce's comedy release, "Have I Got a Story for You".
[edit] References
- ^ The RS 500 Greatest Songs of All Time : Rolling Stone
- ^ a b The Boys Are Back in Town : Rolling Stone
- ^ a b c BBC - Comic Relief does Fame Academy - Home
- ^ Q lists - page3
