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Guess who just got back today? Well, September 27 is the date, but Thin Lizzy are releasing a box set chronicling one of their most pivotal years.

1976 will, across five CDs and a Blu-ray Disc, retell the story of the two albums the Irish rockers issued that year: Jailbreak and Johnny the Fox. Both albums have been newly remixed in stereo, 5.1 surround and Dolby Atmos by Richard Whittaker, under the supervision of guitarist Scott Gorham. The box also includes selections of unreleased material from each album’s sessions and an unissued live set from Cleveland’s Agora Ballroom. It’s all packed in a 10″ x 10″ box alongside a 40-page hardcover book offering new liner notes by writer Mark Blake and rare photos.

For Thin Lizzy – singer/bassist Phil Lynott, dueling guitarists Scott Gorham and Brian Robertson, and drummer Brian Downey – Jailbreak was a make-or-break album for the band. Their previous two efforts, 1974’s Nightlife and 1975’s Fighting, were deemed as commercially soft by their label Vertigo Records, and this was a chance to keep their contract. While some of the band came to regard the deeply-pored over and extensively rehearsed selections on the album a bit rigid, that energy unleashed on audiences like a bull in a china shop – and they responded in kind. Jailbreak launched the group into the U.K. Top 10 for the first time, and proved to be their American breakthrough, earning a gold record in America and making a hit out of “The Boys Are Back in Town” (U.K. No. 8, U.S. No. 12), arguably their signature song. The title track and “Cowboy Song” remain fan favorites and rock radio staples as well.

The band’s ambitious touring plans for Jailbreak were deflated when Lynott contracted hepatitis and spent time recuperating in a hospital in England. He found himself amassing a new bank of songs, written in recovery during the summer of ’76 and committed to tape at The Who’s Ramport Studios (the same site of the Jailbreak sessions, after a brief attempt to record in Munich proved unfruitful). Featuring a spate of tunes like “Don’t Believe a Word” and “Rocky” plus a beefed-up sound, courtesy of Fiachra Trench’s brass and string arrangements (and some percussion work from Lynott’s friend, Genesis drummer Phil Collins), Johnny the Fox nearly matched its predecessor on the British charts, peaking at No. 11 (with “Don’t Believe a Word” reaching No. 12 on the singles chart). The album would be the last with Robertson as a full-time member: he injured his hand in a bar brawl the night before a U.S. tour and only played on a few tracks on 1977’s Bad Reputation, though he was reinstated as a touring member until he departed in 1978.

In addition to the box set, Whittaker’s remixes of Jailbreak and Johnny the Fox will be pressed on colored vinyl. All three products are avaiable to pre-order at the links below, and will be available September 27. (As an Amazon affiliate, we earn from qualifying purchases.)

1976 (Vertigo/UMR, 2024)

5CD/Blu-ray: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada
Jailbreak Remix (Silver Vinyl LP): Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada
Johnny the Fox Remix (Brick Red Vinyl LP): Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada

CD 1: Jailbreak (in original and new remix by Richard Whittaker – original album released as Vertigo 9102 008 (U.K.)/Mercury SRM-1-1081 (U.S.), 1976)

1. Jailbreak
2. Angel from the Coast
3. Running Back
4. Romeo and the Lonely Girl
5. Warriors
6. The Boys Are Back in Town
7. Fight or Fall
8. Cowboy Song

CD 2: Johnny the Fox (in original and new remix by Richard Whittaker – original album released as Vertigo 9102 012 (U.K.)/Mercury SRM-1-1119 (U.S.), 1976)

1. Johnny
2. Rocky
3. Borderline
4. Don’t Believe a Word
5. Fool’s Gold
6. Johnny the Fox Meets Jimmy the Weed
7. Old Flame
8. Massacre
9. Sweet Marie
10. Boogie Woogie Dance

CD 3: Jailbreak Outtakes

1. Jailbreak (TK5 – Demo)
2. Angel from the Coast (Alternate Version)
3. Running Back (Demo)
4. Romeo and the Lonely Girl (Acoustic)
5. Warriors (Instrumental)
6. The Kid is Back (TK1)
7. Fight or Fall (Acoustic)
8. Cowboy Song (TK2 – Instrumental Demo)
9. Emerald (Alternate Version)
10. Brian’s Number (TK3 – Outtake)
11. Funky Job (Outtake)
12. Emerald (John Peel BBC Session – 2/12/1976)
13. Warriors (John Peel BBC Session – 2/12/1976)
14. Cowboy Song (John Peel BBC Session – 2/12/1976)
15. Jailbreak (John Peel BBC Session – 2/12/1976)

Tracks 12-15 released on At The BBC – Mercury 2782155 (U.K.), 2011

CD 4: Johnny the Fox Outtakes

1. Johnny (Instrumental T2)
2. Rocky (Alternate Version 2)
3. Borderline (4 Track Demo)
4. Don’t Believe a Word (Alternate Version 2)
5. Fool’s Gold (Demo)
6. Johnny the Fox Meets Jimmy the Weed (12″ Mix)
7. Old Flame (Alternate Version 2)
8. Little Big Horn
9. Sweet Marie (Demo)
10. Boogie Woogie Dance (Instrumental Outtake)
11. Biriani Tango (Instrumental Outtake)
12. Son of Warrior (Instrumental Outtake)
13. Jam a.k.a. Give It Up
14. Jam (improvised vocal off mic)
15. Don’t Believe a Word (John Peel BBC Session – 9/23/1976)
16. Johnny (John Peel BBC Session – 9/23/1976)
17. Fool’s Gold (John Peel BBC Session – 9/23/1976)
18. Johnny the Fox Meets Jimmy the Weed (John Peel BBC Session – 9/23/1976)

Tracks 15-18 released on At The BBC – Mercury 2782155 (U.K.), 2011

CD 5: Live at The Agora, Cleveland, OH – 5/11/1976 (recorded for WMMS-FM)

1. Jailbreak
2. The Boys Are Back in Town
3. For Those Who Love to Live
4. Wild One
5. Emerald
6. It’s Only Money
7. Romeo and the Lonely Girl
8. Blues Boy
9. Warrior
10. Rosalie + Cowgirl Song
11. Suicide
12. Angel from the Coast
13. Sha La La
14. Me and the Boys
15. The Rocker

Blu-ray: Dolby Atmos, 5.1 Surround, New Stereo and Original Stereo Mixes of studio albums (same contents as CD 1-2)