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Rating: Living and dying in Chinatown...
A jungle waiting to be explored. The first gay-friendly clubs, peep shows, and brothels its vegetation. Underworld, corruption, early gangs, alcohol, and drugs (of all kinds) lurking dangers.
In short, the made-in-China district of London stepping into the new decade.
The prelude to the gestation of this "Chinatown" ('80) for Lizzy was not the happiest. The departure of "Robbo" Robertson, owner of 50% of the magical sound of riffing and explosive solos that trademarked T. L., was definitive. Internal frictions, kept in check until then, overcame reason. Various abuses were the right accomplices, dismantling the last inhibitions.
Lending a hand to replace him was his close friend Gary Moore, an Irishman from Belfast, (guess what) with him came the excellent "Black Rose"('79), then the quarrels and the desire to break out on his own thanks to the natural talent in his wrists and his purebred voice. So, back to square one.
To this, add the vicious atmosphere described at the beginning in which the album recordings were made.
But like in the old stories still heard around here, not all evil comes to harm; so much so that the blond Snowy White (then a session musician with Roger Waters), a skilled guitarist with a blues soul, found himself dueling in typical Lizzy style with Scott Gorham, within the grooves of what Phil Lynott himself admitted to be the make-or-break record. The Chinese microcosm, made up of a thousand contradictions (the work culture symbol of the lowest popular substratum contrasted with the lavishness of powerful "families" opposed and pursued by any means, especially illicit ones), was a cue and inspiration for Lynott, starting with the cover depicting the dragon king, an imperial symbol of China. But beware, not the five-claw one you find in history books, but with three (an evident reference to the triad, the feared Chinese mafia). The claw of death (the EVIL) amidst the other two symbolizing POWER and MONEY. After all, it was also what he saw every day in the cobblestone alleys of Soho, that ghetto city. It was the era of Kung-Fu movies and the widespread exploitation of the eastern lord. The title track is this and more, it's a totem erected to the twin guitars, which for Lizzy were a bit like tights for Batman (the '70s TV version) or, to stay a bit higher, like the vertical rise of buildings in Gothic style.
No need to say how important and fundamental they were for the hard rock movement or the NWOBHM about to explode. Who hasn't heard at least once "Killer On The Loose".
Going deeper:
The hymn to never give up, the energetic "We Will Be Strong" goes hand in hand with the explosive blues-rock of "Sugar Blues" which not so subtly hints at the Texan trio Gibbons-Hill-Beard, great love of the newcomer Snowy White. To reinforce an already self-assured band, the presence of Midge Ure on backing vocals and the introduction of the fifth element, only present so far in live concerts but already mentioned in the credits. I'm referring to the then, still underage, Darren Wharton (keyboards and vocals) also a friend of Lynott. (later author with Dare of the romantic masterpiece "Out Of The Silence").
The true greatness of Thin Lizzy was not (only) here but was to be sought in the far-sighted compositional approach and the blending of styles. A fruit-and-music crossing born from the perfect balance between typically English and American sounds. Two ways of interpreting rock that, in the seventies, were often in opposition. The bastard fruit of the union of two lead guitars. The American touch of Gorham and the malt-scented Scottish of Robertson and now in this "Chinatown" the all-British one of Snowy White (keep an eye on him now with his Blues Agency). That uniqueness given by the union of two elements so different (even on stage), was their strength, like the bastard mixture that flowed in the Brazilian-Irish veins of Phil Lynott. A unique character with dazzling charisma, whose pen revealed his dual nature of strength and disarming fragility. Needless to say, which of the two will have the upper hand on him, the evenings spent in the company of Sid Vicious, Johnny Thunder, and Co. did the rest. But even alone, he knew how to hurt himself well.
A modern poet, Lynott, able to extol the Celtic traditions of his Ireland as well as the urban tales of the suburban outskirts where the true hero is the one who survives. In Chinatown, more than in previous albums, there was focus on substance, the right mix of guitar intertwining without losing the melodic path dictated by good Scott Gorham, Lynott's narrating voice, and the drumming of Brian Downey, one of the most underrated rock drummers ever. References to American Indians "Genocide" (the natural continuation of "Massacre" from "Johnny The Fox" 1977) a recurring theme in the bassist's songwriting. Imagining the war drums and the ghosts of the natives haunting the chaotic streets of miniature China is still a spectacle.
Always transversal, never too hard to fit into the heavy trend (although live they were truly heavy), nor too FM oriented throughout their career, and this Chinatown is no exception. Sometimes epic, other times romantic, without ever straying into the garish or parody, and if you'll allow me, without ever having to dress up or paint their face.....
To the new generations flaunting black t-shirts of an Egyptian version Eddie or the futuristic one from Somewhere... I advise you to "get your hands dirty" but not to start with this "Chinatown" but to trace its evolution album by album to understand what is the weight and what is the legacy of the canvases you have on your shoulders.
In good faith, I tell you that if you find yourself in central London along Gerrard Street, and after a rickshaw ride you're asked for more than due, don't argue and pay because, as old Phil said: << When you are in Chinatown you better look around >>, I always do it and I'm still here to tell you about it.
Only now do I realize I have unnecessarily prolonged, wasting words to honor someone who perhaps did not ask for it. The last two verses of the famous "Warriors" (from "Jailbreak" 1976) were enough to explain Phil Lynott, his life, and his band: << My heart is ruled by Venus and my head by Mars >>.
Welcome to the Chinese New Year.
The opinion of commendatore Bossolazzi:
Frontmen like Filippo are not born that often and bands like Lizzy are born no more.
4 medlars to the album, maximum scores to everything else..... If it wasn't clear.
Tracklist Lyrics and Videos
02 Chinatown (04:41)
Living and dying
In chinatown
Yes they're living and dying down in old chinatown
You better look around
Man, you don't stand a chance if you go down in chinatown
Man, you don't stand a chance if you go down in chinatown
Laughing and crying you know it's a fact
They're not laughing they are crying
`cause they won't be back
Oh no you don't come back
Not from chinatown
Man, you don't stand a chance if you go down in chinatown
Man, you don't stand a chance if you go down in chinatown
Chinatown, it's a different scene
There are people there, they are so obscene
If you see what I mean
Then they've sold you the dream
Down in chinatown
What goes up it must come down
Living and dying
There is no release
Living and dying
There is no relief
There is no beliefs
Not in chinatown
Man, you don't stand a chance if you go down in chinatown
Man, you don't stand a chance if you go down in chinatown
03 Sweetheart (03:29)
If I was to stand in a General Election
Would you tell me about your close inspection
And how I never stood for detection
Or would you take another man?
If I told you I had the solution to starvation
All the nations would be their own salvation
And those that lead us lead us not into temptation
Or they pick another man?
Sweetheart
It's affecting me
Sweetheart
It's so effective
Sweetheart
Do you detect in me
A sacred sweetheart
If I told you about my plan would you believe me?
This is my body, my blood, would you receive me?
Or would you be the first to deceive me
And take another man
If I told you that I'm not the man to worry
Would you believe me when I said I was really sorry?
Or would you rush off in a hurry to take another man?
Sweetheart
Disconnect from me
Sweetheart
You have got no respect for me
Sweetheart
It's affecting me
My sacred sweetheart
And when you're troubled and when you're ill
You know I'll help, I always will
And when you're troubled and really down
You know I'll always be around
And when you're troubled and really broke
There is hope, there's hope, there's hope
Sweetheart
It's affecting me
Sweetheart
You've got no respect for me
Sweetheart
It's so effective
My sacred sweetheart
Sweetheart
Disconnect
Sweetheart
It's so effective
Sweetheart
It's affecting me
My sacred sweetheart
Sweetheart
Sweetheart
Sweetheart
05 Killer on the Loose (03:54)
Some people they call me Jack
Some people they call me insane
I'm looking for somebody
And I don't even know her name
I might be looking for you
Wherever you may be
For there is something I've got to do to you honey
And it's between you and me
Now you might think it's fun
Or maybe it's a joke
But you've got plenty of reason to worry honey
Cause you wouldn't stand a hope
There's a killer on the loose again
A killer on the loose
There's a killer on the loose again
A ladykiller on the loose
Now I'm not trying to be nasty
Or I'm not trying to make you scared
But there's a killer on the loose
Or haven't you heard
He'll be walking around this town
Just about midnight
Yes, that's Chinatown
That's right
That's right
Now you might think I'm messing
Or he don't exist
But honey I'm confessing
I'm a mad sexual rapist
There's a killer on the loose again
A killer on the loose
There's a killer on the loose again
A ladykiller on the loose
"I'll be standing in the shadows of love
Waiting for you
Don't unzip your zipper
`Cause you know I'm Jack the Ripper
Now don't wail, don't..."
There's a killer on the loose again
Standing in the shadows
A killer on the loose
There's a killer on the loose again
Coming to get you
A ladykiller on the loose
There's a killer on the loose again
Standing in the shadows of love
A killer on the loose
There's a killer on the loose again
A ladykiller on the loose
There's a killer on the loose again
Standing in the shadow
A killer on the loose, of love
There's a killer on the loose again
Oooh
A lady killer on the loose
You better watch out
There's a killer on the loose again
A killer on the loose
Play that back
Check it back
There's a killer on the loose
06 Having a Good Time (04:35)
Me and my buddies we're going to get drunk
We're going to go out on the town
We'll be checking it out, slipping it in
And stepping out of line
You know everybody likes to get a little crazy
In their own particular way
But my buddies and I we go over the top
And we're going over again today
We'll be having a good time
Passing the by-line
Having a good time
You know it's a rock and roll pastime
It might be typical, topical or maybe tropical
That doesn't mean anything
If you're political, practical
Then it's improbable, that you do anything
But me and my buddies we like to go crazy
We like to go over the hill
Hey, woman will you be there, because my buddies and I will
Having a good time
Passing the by-line
We'll be having a good time
It's a rock and roll pastime
"Hey, Snowy...play a bit for me
That was Snowy White
And he likes err...it in the night
The next to play
I must say, is Scott Gorham
And away..."
We'll be having a good time
Passing the by-line
Having a good time
It's a rock and roll pastime
Let's play that one more time
Hit me with that drum Brian
Hit me as hard as you can
Oh yes, that's they way I like it
Do it again, do it again, let's do it again
Having a good time
Oh yes I like this
Having a good time
Typical, topical, who cares?
Having a good time
Political, practical, impossible
Having a good time
Don't ask me why Jack?
Having a good time
Ho! Ho! Ho! Ho! Ho!
Having a good time
Having a wild time
Having a good time
I'm slipping on the inside
Having a good time
That's fine having a good time
Having a good time
Drinking Beaujolais
No that doesn't rhyme
Having a good time
I'm talking from the top of my head
Having a good time
To the bottom of your soul
07 Genocide (05:05)
When they try to tell you knowledge is a dangerous thing
"it's such a dangerous thing"
The people that have it are the people that sin
And the people that need it are the people that can never win
"they can never win"
Let me get you out of here little broken wing
There are people round here that are right
There are people round here that like to sleep at night
There are people round here that go slow
There are people round here that don't kindly to the killing of the buffalo
When they tear up all the treaties and break up all the plans
"they break up all the plans"
Did you do your duty and kill on command?
Did you know the redman used to roam this land?
"he used to roam this land"
Now the souls of lost warriors blow across the sands
People round here they get it right
People round here we like to sleep at night
There are people round here that go slow
People round here that don't take kindly to the killing of the buffalo, oh no
So listen to my story and listen to it well
"you better listen well"
Listen to the glory of the gory details of the tale I tell
Did you know the redman very well?
"i used to know him well"
Did you know the hunting ground before it became a hell?
There are people round here that are right
There are people round here that like to sleep at night
There are people round here I don't know
There are people round here that don't take kindly to the killing of the buffalo
The killing of the buffala-o
The killing of the buffala-o
The killing
The killing of the
The killing of the buffala-o
The killing of the buffala-o
The killing of the buffala-o
The killing of the buffala-o
The killing of the buffala-o
The killing
The killing
So listen to my story of genocide
How they were hunted and slaughtered till there was no place left to hide
Did you know the redman used to hold his head with pride?
Till every man, woman and child were destroyed
There are people round here that get it right
There are people round here that couldn't sleep at night
There are people round here I don't know
There are people round here that don't take kindly to the killing of the buffalo
There are people round here that understand
There are people round here that couldn't give a damn
There are people round here that go slow
There are people round here that don't take too kindly to the killing of the buffalo
The killing of the buffala-o
The killing of the buffala-o
The killing of the buffala-o
The killing of the buffala-o
The killing of the buffala-o
The killing
The killing of the
They're killing all the buffala-o
The killing of the buffala-o
The killing of the buffala-o
The killing of the buffala-o
The killing of the buffala-o
The killing
They're killing all the
They're killing all the buffala-o
The killing of the buffala-o
The killing of the buffala-o
The killing of the buffala-o
The killing of the buffala-o
The killing
The killing
The killing of the buffala-o
(repeat at random)
09 Hey You (05:07)
You're living in a small town
The people there are cold
Just living in a small town
Just doing as you're told
You move up to the jungle
You find that it's a hell
When you slip, you fall, you stumble
They lock you in a cell
Hey you, you've got it made
Hey you, you've got it made
Hey you, you've got it made
Hey you, all your friends told you in your small town
Hey you, you've got it made
Just living in your home town
Sometimes it's kinda cruel
Living in your home town
Where they treat you like a fool
You move up to the city
You find that it's tough
And it doesn't seem very pretty
Now you're sleeping in the rough
Hey you, you've got it made
Hey you, you've got it made
Hey you
You've got it made
Hey you
You're heading for the big time
Hey you, you've got it made
You're headed for a life of crime
Living in this jungle
It's like living in a hell
When you slip, you fall, you stumble
They lock you in a cell
You move out to the country
For something you have done
You're living in the country
Why don't you go back to where you come from?
Hey you, you've got it made
Hey you, you've got it made
Hey you, you've got it made
Hey you, you've got it made
Hey you, you've got it made
Forget all these backslappers
You don't stand a chance
Why don't you go home?
Go right back to where you come from
Don't get involved in this masquerade
This big city is going to eat you up
All the backslapping
Hey you, you've got it made
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