When Brian Downey, Eric Bell and Phil Lynott were pushed into recording traditional Irish tune Whiskey In The Jar in 1972, they’d already been going three years, had released two albums and were showing little sign of scoring that elusive hit single. The song, which folklorists have traced back as far as the 17th century, is a tribute to a lovelorn Irish highwayman who robs a British army captain, only to later find his victim’s been cavorting with his lady.
While the ditty was one of the big Irish standards by the time Thin Lizzy came to cover it, no version had ever sounded anywhere near as rocky as their arrangement.
