Thin Lizzy - Cowboy Song

 
Mercury 73841, 1976

The third single from their breakthrough LP Jailbreak. This is a US-only release, I've come to find out. It didn't crack the top 40, but I do remember hearing it on WLS-AM at the time, so kudos to their American label for stepping to the plate for this song.

This was the one that got me, and it's still my favorite Thin Lizzy track. It's amazing how much Van Morrison you can pack into a hard rock song without sounding anything like Van Morrison.

The edit does get a bit choppy in the middle, but it keeps all the best parts.

Bobby Bare / Johnny Cash sides

Here's a few Country sides, both of them crossover hits in their day:


Bobby Bare - 500 Miles Away From Home

 
RCA 47-8238, 1963

An overplayed folk tune by the mid '60s to be sure, apparently "written" by dozens of people over several decades. Bobby Bare's rewrite has a vaguely hippie vibe to it which I like a lot. I imagine the protagonist being the same guy who later got a ride from Red Sovine's "Big Joe and Phantom 309".




Johnny Cash - Tennessee Flat-Top Box

 
Columbia 4-42147, 1961

One of my favorite Johnny Cash singles. It's great songwriting, and a rare treat to hear Johnny take the guitar lead.

The Byrds - Eight Miles High

 
Sundazed 238, 2011

This is Sundazed's Record Store Day / Black Friday release of the original "Hollywood" version of this tune, recorded in late '65 when Gene Clark was still with the band.



This recording has been available in remixed form since the '80s, but this is the first time the original mono mix has ever been used.

Lifeguards - Product Head

 
Serious Business SBR44, 2011

This is what it might sound like if Paul McCartney fronted Wire in the '80s. Or something like that.



Different mix from the Waving At The Astronauts CD version, with a longer (and much cooler) fade-out.