"The Boys Are Back in Town" is a song by Irish hard rock band Thin Lizzy. The song was originally released in 1976 as the first single from their album Jailbreak. It is considered by Rolling Stone to be the band's best song, placing it at No. 272 on the 2021 edition of the "500 Greatest Songs of All Time" list.[1]
There are many theories regarding the inspiration behind the lyrics to "The Boys Are Back in Town", although none has been verified.[2] One theory is that it is about a group of Manchester criminals collectively known as the Quality Street Gang.[3]
Single release informationedit
The original 1976 UK single release featured the 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, reaching No. 63 in the UK.[4] 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".
Shortly after the UK single release of "The Boys Are Back In Town" BBC Radio 1 Disc Jockey Tony Blackburn picked this single as his 'Record of the Week', receiving daily plays during his mid morning show.
Receptionedit
"It was 1976 and we were touring America", recalled Scott Gorham. "Jailbreak wasn't shifting and we weren't selling any tickets". The band were surprised to learn from their manager that "The Boys Are Back in Town" was becoming a hit record, especially as the track had not been among the ten songs originally chosen by the band for the album. "The Boys Are Back In Town" emerged from San Francisco and Northern California, gaining traction before reaching Louisville, Kentucky which followed shortly thereafter. Spearheading its breakthrough was David Forman, the Mercury Records promotion manager stationed in San Francisco. He dedicated substantial efforts to propel both the group and the song into the spotlight. KSAN radio on its very first day of release, embraced the track, initiating heavy rotation. Subsequently, KFRC, a dominant Top 40 station in San Francisco, followed suit, cementing the song's path to widespread recognition. [5][6]
It was given 499th position among the 2004 Rolling Stone's 500 Greatest Songs of All Time,[7] though was not included in the 2010 update. However, it re-entered the list in the 2021 update at an even higher position than before at number 272.[1]Rolling Stone praised lead singer and bassist Phil Lynott's "Gaelic soul" and said the "twin-guitar lead by Scott Gorham and Brian Robertson" was "crucial to the song's success".[8] In March 2005, Q magazine placed "The Boys Are Back in Town" at No. 38 in its list of the 100 Greatest Guitar Tracks.[9] The song won a 1976 NME Award for Best Single.[10]
Other Usesedit
At the 2012 Republican National Convention, the song was used to introduce then vice-presidential candidate Paul Ryan on stage. This unauthorised use of the song caused controversy. Both Lynott's mother, Philomena Lynott, and Thin Lizzy lead guitarist Gorham criticised its use, suggesting that Lynott would not have wanted his music used for any political purpose, including endorsing politicians, and furthermore would likely have objected to the policies of Ryan and his running mate Mitt Romney.[11][12]
‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.
Cover versionsedit
Happy Mondays versionedit
A cover version of The Boys Are Back in Town became the last Top 40 single for the Manchester rock band Happy Mondays when it peaked at number 24 in the UK Singles Chart in May 1999.[25][26] According to the band they did not think that their version was a straight cover, but a record "inspired by the Phil Lynott song, but doesn't sound a thing like the original".[27]
Referencesedit
^ ab"500 Best Songs of All Time". rollingstone.com. Rolling Stone. 15 September 2021. from the original on 17 September 2021. Retrieved 16 September 2021.
^"Phil Lynott's mother recalls exciting days in Manchester". Manchester Evening News. 28 February 2011. from the original on 14 June 2018. Retrieved 23 June 2018.
^"The Boys Are Back in Town (1991) Record details". 45cat.com. from the original on 7 September 2012. Retrieved 17 June 2011.
^Barton, Geoff, Dome, Malcolm, Kendall, Jo, Ling, Dave: "The night I set Phil Lynott's todger on fire and other stories"; Classic Rock #219, February 2016, p. 55
^Ling, Dave (26 March 2016). "Scott Gorham on 40 Years of Thin Lizzy's Jailbreak". Classic Rock. from the original on 31 December 2021. Retrieved 31 December 2021.
^. Rolling Stone. 9 December 2004. Archived from the original on 30 March 2009.
^. Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on 28 December 2006. Retrieved 27 July 2016.
^"Rocklist.net...Q Magazine Lists". Rocklistmusic.co.uk. from the original on 13 October 2018. Retrieved 27 July 2016.
^"1976 – NME". NME. 28 February 1976. from the original on 23 January 2018. Retrieved 22 January 2018.
^McDonald, Henry (3 September 2012). "Phil Lynott's mother objects to Mitt Romney using Thin Lizzy's music". The Guardian. from the original on 19 July 2017. Retrieved 16 December 2016.
^"Scott Gorham hits out at Mitt Romney's use of 'The Boys Are Back In Town' | Music | News". Hot Press. from the original on 20 May 2013. Retrieved 27 July 2016.
^"Comic Relief does Fame Academy – Home". BBC. 24 September 2014. from the original on 25 September 2015. Retrieved 27 July 2016.
^"boygenius Setlist". Setlist.fm. Retrieved 15 November 2023.[unreliable source?]
^. Australian-charts.com. Archived from the original on 2 June 2016. Retrieved 4 December 2016.
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This article is about the Thin Lizzy song For other uses see The Boys Are Back in Town disambiguation The Boys Are Back in Town is a song by Irish hard rock band Thin Lizzy The song was originally released in 1976 as the first single from their album Jailbreak It is considered by Rolling Stone to be the band s best song placing it at No 272 on the 2021 edition of the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time list 1 The Boys Are Back in Town 1991 Re release UK 7 singleSingle by Thin Lizzyfrom the album JailbreakB side Emerald or Jailbreak ReleasedApril 1976GenreHard rockLength4 29 album version 4 53 full version 3 11 single version LabelVertigo UK Mercury US Songwriter s Phil LynottProducer s John AlcockThin Lizzy singles chronology Wild One 1975 The Boys Are Back in Town 1976 Jailbreak 1976 Contents 1 Lyrical content 2 Single release information 3 Reception 4 Other Uses 5 Charts 5 1 Weekly charts 5 2 Year end charts 6 Certifications 7 Cover versions 7 1 Happy Mondays version 8 References 9 External linksLyrical content editThere are many theories regarding the inspiration behind the lyrics to The Boys Are Back in Town although none has been verified 2 One theory is that it is about a group of Manchester criminals collectively known as the Quality Street Gang 3 Single release information editThe original 1976 UK single release featured the 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 reaching No 63 in the UK 4 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 Shortly after the UK single release of The Boys Are Back In Town BBC Radio 1 Disc Jockey Tony Blackburn picked this single as his Record of the Week receiving daily plays during his mid morning show Reception edit It was 1976 and we were touring America recalled Scott Gorham Jailbreak wasn t shifting and we weren t selling any tickets The band were surprised to learn from their manager that The Boys Are Back in Town was becoming a hit record especially as the track had not been among the ten songs originally chosen by the band for the album The Boys Are Back In Town emerged from San Francisco and Northern California gaining traction before reaching Louisville Kentucky which followed shortly thereafter Spearheading its breakthrough was David Forman the Mercury Records promotion manager stationed in San Francisco He dedicated substantial efforts to propel both the group and the song into the spotlight KSAN radio on its very first day of release embraced the track initiating heavy rotation Subsequently KFRC a dominant Top 40 station in San Francisco followed suit cementing the song s path to widespread recognition 5 6 It was given 499th position among the 2004 Rolling Stone s 500 Greatest Songs of All Time 7 though was not included in the 2010 update However it re entered the list in the 2021 update at an even higher position than before at number 272 1 Rolling Stone praised lead singer and bassist Phil Lynott s Gaelic soul and said the twin guitar lead by Scott Gorham and Brian Robertson was crucial to the song s success 8 In March 2005 Q magazine placed The Boys Are Back in Town at No 38 in its list of the 100 Greatest Guitar Tracks 9 The song won a 1976 NME Award for Best Single 10 Other Uses editAt the 2012 Republican National Convention the song was used to introduce then vice presidential candidate Paul Ryan on stage This unauthorised use of the song caused controversy Both Lynott s mother Philomena Lynott and Thin Lizzy lead guitarist Gorham criticised its use suggesting that Lynott would not have wanted his music used for any political purpose including endorsing politicians and furthermore would likely have objected to the policies of Ryan and his running mate Mitt Romney 11 12 The song is played at most Irish Rugby matches 13 and has appeared in numerous commercials most recently in a 2019 ad for Applebee s television shows and feature films The song was used on various trailers for the Disney Pixar films Toy Story and Toy Story 2 and Rick and Morty s 4th season and is also heard in the 1990 action film Navy SEALs in the 1999 comedy film Detroit Rock City and in the video games Saint s Row IV and MLB The Show 23 American supergroup boygenius used the song as their walk on music for their 2023 tour 14 Charts editWeekly charts edit Weekly chart performance for The Boys Are Back in Town Chart 1976 1977 PeakpositionAustralian Singles Kent Music Report 15 55Canada Top Singles RPM 16 8Ireland IRMA 17 1UK Singles OCC 18 8US Billboard Hot 100 19 121991 reissue Weekly chart performance for The Boys Are Back in Town reissue Chart 1991 PeakpositionIreland IRMA 17 16UK Singles OCC 20 63 Year end charts edit Year end chart performance for The Boys Are Back in Town Chart 1976 PositionCanada Top Singles RPM 21 93US Billboard Hot 100 22 97US Cash Box 23 91Certifications editCertifications for The Boys Are Back in Town Region Certification Certified units salesUnited Kingdom BPI 24 Platinum 600 000 Sales streaming figures based on certification alone Cover versions editHappy Mondays version edit A cover version of The Boys Are Back in Town became the last Top 40 single for the Manchester rock band Happy Mondays when it peaked at number 24 in the UK Singles Chart in May 1999 25 26 According to the band they did not think that their version was a straight cover but a record inspired by the Phil Lynott song but doesn t sound a thing like the original 27 References edit a b 500 Best Songs of All Time rollingstone com Rolling Stone 15 September 2021 Archived from the original on 17 September 2021 Retrieved 16 September 2021 Bailie Stuart Jailbreak album sleeve notes Phil Lynott s mother recalls exciting days in Manchester Manchester Evening News 28 February 2011 Archived from the original on 14 June 2018 Retrieved 23 June 2018 The Boys Are Back in Town 1991 Record details 45cat com Archived from the original on 7 September 2012 Retrieved 17 June 2011 Barton Geoff Dome Malcolm Kendall Jo Ling Dave The night I set Phil Lynott s todger on fire and other stories Classic Rock 219 February 2016 p 55 Ling Dave 26 March 2016 Scott Gorham on 40 Years of Thin Lizzy s Jailbreak Classic Rock Archived from the original on 31 December 2021 Retrieved 31 December 2021 The RS 500 Greatest Songs of All Time 1 500 Rolling Stone 9 December 2004 Archived from the original on 30 March 2009 News Rolling Stone Archived from the original on 28 December 2006 Retrieved 27 July 2016 Rocklist net Q Magazine Lists Rocklistmusic co uk Archived from the original on 13 October 2018 Retrieved 27 July 2016 1976 NME NME 28 February 1976 Archived from the original on 23 January 2018 Retrieved 22 January 2018 McDonald Henry 3 September 2012 Phil Lynott s mother objects to Mitt Romney using Thin Lizzy s music The Guardian Archived from the original on 19 July 2017 Retrieved 16 December 2016 Scott Gorham hits out at Mitt Romney s use of The Boys Are Back In Town Music News Hot Press Archived from the original on 20 May 2013 Retrieved 27 July 2016 Comic Relief does Fame Academy Home BBC 24 September 2014 Archived from the original on 25 September 2015 Retrieved 27 July 2016 boygenius Setlist Setlist fm Retrieved 15 November 2023 unreliable source Forum 1970 ARIA Charts Special Occasion Charts Australian charts com Archived from the original on 2 June 2016 Retrieved 4 December 2016 Top RPM Singles Issue 4289a RPM Library and Archives Canada Retrieved 19 June 2023 a b The Irish Charts Search Results The Boys Are Back in Town Irish Singles Chart Retrieved 19 June 2023 Official Singles Chart Top 100 Official Charts Company Retrieved 19 June 2023 Thin Lizzy Chart History Hot 100 Billboard Retrieved 19 June 2023 Official Singles Chart Top 100 Official Charts Company Retrieved 19 June 2023 Top RPM Singles Issue 5173a RPM Library and Archives Canada Retrieved 19 June 2023 Top 100 Hits of 1976 Top 100 Songs of 1976 www musicoutfitters com Archived from the original on 7 March 2004 Retrieved 15 December 2016 Cash Box YE Pop Singles 1976 tropicalglen com Archived from the original on 20 October 2018 Retrieved 15 December 2016 British single certifications Thin Lizzy The Boys Are Back in Town British Phonographic Industry Retrieved 23 September 2022 Happy Mondays full Official Chart History Officialcharts com Archived from the original on 1 May 2021 Retrieved 7 December 2021 Strong Martin C 2000 The Great Rock Discography 5th ed Edinburgh Mojo Books pp 421 422 ISBN 1 84195 017 3 MONDAYS SKANK YOUR WAY IN MAY NME 14 March 1999 Archived from the original on 2 December 2021 Retrieved 7 December 2021 External links editThin Lizzy The Boys Are Back in Town on YouTube Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title The Boys Are Back in Town amp oldid 1189114902, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
