Phil Lynott’s stature as one of rock’s great frontmen and songwriters has grown since his untimely death in 1986. His successful-at-the-time solo output, however, hasn’t received the same attention as his work with Thin Lizzy.
In some ways Yellow Pearl demonstrates why: well crafted, sophisticated songs dominate the collection, but only a few have anything approaching the Lizzy sound. For the most part, this work has a soft, pop-rock sensibility, at times leaning towards Dire Straits – which is perhaps unsurprising, as Mark Knopfler is among the famous guest stars to make an appearance.
Yellow Pearl does Phil Lynott a service, though, by removing him from the hard rock genre for which he was known. There was much more to him than the leather-trousered swagger he perfected with Lizzy, and this well-crafted, varied collection is a perfect starting point for those wishing to engage with one of the great mainstream songwriters of the early 80s. The immortal pairing of Lynott with Gary Moore on the überatmospheric Parisienne Walkways is the icing on the cake, though the pair’s Out In The Fields is an odd omission.
