John Sykes Thin Lizzy/Ultimate Rare Track Compilation 1982-1985 Soundboard Edition

The wildly popular John Sykes’ ultimate collection of rare tracks, “HIDDEN TREASURES,” is now available with the Thin Lizzy edition! “HIDDEN TREASURES” is a soundboard collection of precious recordings left behind by the genius guitarist during his lifetime. It includes rare takes scattered across various best-of albums and singles, unreleased tracks that were never officially released, and demo versions of album tracks. This compilation brings together all the takes not heard on the original albums. This latest release is the “John Sykes & Phil Lynott Collaboration Edition” of this popular series. This 43-track, 3-CD set features unmatched recordings from the currently smash-hit “DELUXE EDITION”! The best way to appreciate the power of this rare track collection is to explore its contents in detail. Rather than presenting a diverse collection of recordings in a disorganized manner, this album is organized into six sections. Let’s take a look at each one individually. DISC 1: A Best-of Collection Featuring Only the Best Versions. This album features a comprehensive collection of rare tracks from the THIN LIZZY era, but it’s not just a collection; it’s designed to be “cool to listen to” and “really enjoyable.” The concept of the first disc, Disc 1, is “The Best of Rare Tracks.” While rare tracks tend to feature endless renditions of the same song, Disc 1 carefully selects the best takes and most enjoyable versions of each song. Like a regular music album, this best-of collection offers a seamless listening experience without duplicates. Demo Version: “THUNDER AND LIGHTNING” (9 tracks + 1 song) This release opens with “Another THUNDER AND LIGHTNING,” a demo version of the classic album, reassembled in the same order. While a “THUNDER AND LIGHTNING” demo has been released previously, this is a completely different experience. While it’s (almost) the same take, the sound is incomparably better. This is a fully official upgrade master, equivalent to the official deluxe edition. However, it’s not exactly the same as the Dela Eddie version. While the track order itself is the same as “THUNDER AND LIGHTNING,” the performance itself is even more different on “The Sun Goes Down (with Acoustic Guitar Demo).” The arrangement and take are different from the Dela Eddie version, featuring Sykes’ acoustic guitar. Additionally, there’s the unreleased track “Don’t Let It Slip Away (Demo),” born during the “THUNDER AND LIGHTNING” sessions. This is also a completely different, fully official-quality version. The next section is “Non-Album Tracks.” While the expected “Please Don’t Leave Me (Original Version)” is nothing special, the other two tracks are extremely rare and well-known. First, there’s “Why Don’t You Call Me (Demo 1982).” This catchy, excellent track was written for the B-side of the single “Please Don’t Leave Me.” The repeated chorus feels unfinished, but with a little more refinement, it could have become a masterpiece. The album’s rarest track is “Samantha (Demo 1985).” This demo was recorded in 1985, after Bain joined Whitesnake, and is a ballad dedicated to Jimmy Bain’s daughter, Samantha (then 4 years old). The two-track GasTank session, featuring a super-star cast, concludes Disc 1 with a live studio performance from an appearance on Rick Wakeman’s TV show “GasTank.” While there’s some TV-like applause at the beginning and between tracks, this is essentially a studio session without an audience. This is not a broadcast airplay, but an official rare track from the official CD. Apparently invited by Phil, Sykes performed a splendid rendition of “Growing Up” and “The Man’s A Fool” from “The Philip Lynott Album” with fellow show hosts Rick and Tony Ashton. He also showcased some of Sykes’ signature soloing. (Incidentally, footage of this session remains and can be enjoyed on the pro-shot masterpiece “Irish Tour ’83.”) DISC 2: A Collection of Alternate Versions Comprehensively Examining Minor Differences Next up is “Alternate Versions.” While Disc 1 was a carefully curated collection that even those unfamiliar with rare tracks can enjoy, this collection offers a collection of “alternate versions” that explore the subtle differences between the same songs. The first half of Disc 2 features rare tracks (seven takes) from official compilations and singles. These are not unfinished demos or live performances, but fully completed versions that differ from the album versions. The album also includes “Cold Sweat (7″ Single Version),” which was previously thought to be the same as the album due to its uncredited nature, and the shortened “Thunder And Lightning (7″ Single Edit),” but the most interesting and diverse track is “The Sun Goes Down.” Each track features a different mix, with Sykes’ acoustic guitar playing and bold vocal processing, making for a more discernible difference. The second half of the five alternate demo collection features alternate versions of the demos. This includes the same “The Sun Goes Down (Demo)” as the Dela Eddie version, as well as two longer versions of “Don’t Let It Slip Away (Alternate Demo)” that appeared on the Shades album. Also included are two “John Sykes Guitar Demos,” featuring Sykes’ aggressive riffs, which, while not strictly alternate versions, are included. This completes the entire Thin Lizzy era demo collection as it is known today. As with all of the audio tracks featured on this album, even tracks like “Don’t Let It Slip Away (Alternate Demo)” and “John Sykes Guitar Demo,” which share the same master as the Shades release, have been meticulously mastered and polished. Pitch and noise processing has been meticulously refined, further enhancing the album’s overall integrity and overall integrity, ensuring a lasting archive. DISC 3: A Collection Tracking the Development of a Masterpiece ▼”The Sun Goes Down” Composition Demo (16 Takes) The final disc, Disc 3, offers even more immersive audio. This is the composition demo for the classic “The Sun Goes Down.” Digitalized directly from the master cassette owned by Phil Lynott, this masterpiece is also the same audio source featured on “Phil Lynott Personal Demos & Outtakes,” but it has also been meticulously polished and polished. The high-end cut on one channel has been adjusted to enhance the stereo image, optimizing the sound’s potential and ensuring a truly unified soundscape. This latest, updated version is now available for permanent preservation. The amazing thing about this recording is that it allows us to follow Phil’s compositional process, step by step. The tape begins with the nearly completed “Version 1,” but “Version 2” is likely the earliest. He experiments with the basic drum machine programming, and then adds bass on “Version 3.” He continues to add rhythm guitar, partial choruses, spoken word parts, and decorative strings, gradually evolving the song. Particularly impressive is “Version 13” onward. Sykes adds an acoustic guitar obblithe, a deeply moving phrasing. He also improvises multiple times, revealing Sykes’s talent as a master improviser. This treasure trove spans 43 tracks and 3 hours, 15 minutes, and 16 seconds. Disc 1 is a best-of compilation that will get anyone excited, Disc 2 is an intermediate level that explores the subtle differences, and Disc 3 delves deeper into the behind-the-scenes compositional process. Enjoyable for anyone at any level, this album only gets more interesting the further you delve into it. A masterpiece that’s both a perfect collection and a musical work of art. THIN LIZZY’s ultimate collection of rare tracks. Comprehensive coverage of detailed takes not found on the official full album, all in the highest quality. The ingenious structure ensures that anyone can get excited: “DISC 1” is a “best-of” compilation, “DISC 2 is a collection of alternate versions” that explores the subtle differences, and “DISC 3 is a composition demo” that’s perfect for deeper research. Enjoyable for anyone at any level, this three-disc set is both a perfect collection and a musical work of art. Ultimate Rare Track Compilation 1982-1985 STEREO SBD Disc 1: THE BEST OF RARE TRACKS (68:29) ‘THUNDER AND LIGHTNING’ DEMOS 1. Thunder And Lightning (Demo) 2. This Is The One (Demo) 3. The Sun Goes Down (with Acoustic Guitar Demo) 4. The Holy War (Demo) 5. Cold Sweat (Demo) 6. Someday She Is Going To Hit Back (Instrumental Demo) 7. Baby Please Don’t Go (Demo) 8. Bad Habits (Demo) 9. Heart Attack (Demo) 10. Don’t Let It Slip Away (Demo) OTHER SONGS 11. Please Don’t Leave Me (Original Version) 12. Why Don’t You Call Me (Demo 1982) 13. Samantha (Demo 1985) GASTANK TRACKS 14. Growing Up (with Rick Wakeman & Tony Ashton) 15. The Man’s A Fool (with Rick Wakeman & Tony Ashton) Disc 2: ALTERNATE VERSIONS (57:32) ALTERNATE TRACKS 1. Please Don’t Leave Me (Short Version) 2. Please Don’t Leave Me (Instrumental Version) 3. Cold Sweat (7″ Single Version) 4. Thunder And Lightning (7″ Single Edit) 5. The Sun Goes Down (7″ Single Remix) 6. The Sun Goes Down (12″ Single Extended Version) 7. The Sun Goes Down (12″ Single Phil Lynott Remix) ALTERNATE DEMOS 8. The Sun Goes Down (Demo) 9. Don’t Let It Slip Away (Alternate Demo #1) 10. Don’t Let It Slip Away (Alternate Demo #2) 11. John Sykes Guitar Demo (Take #1) 12. John Sykes Guitar Demo (Take #2) Disc 3: SONG WRITING DEMOS (69:14) ‘THE SUN GOES DOWN’ SESSION 1. The Sun Goes Down (Version 1 with Acoustic Guitar) 2. The Sun Goes Down (Version 2) 3. The Sun Goes Down (Version 3) 4. The Sun Goes Down (Version 4) 5. The Sun Goes Down (Version 5) 6. The Sun Goes Down (Version 6 with Acoustic Guitar) 7. The Sun Goes Down (Version 7) 8. The Sun Goes Down (Version 8 with Acoustic Guitar) 9. The Sun Goes Down (Version 9) 10. The Sun Goes Down (Version 10) 11. The Sun Goes Down (Version 11) 12. The Sun Goes Down (Version 12) 13. The Sun Goes Down (Version 13 with Acoustic Guitar) 14. The Sun Goes Down (Version 14 with Acoustic Guitar) 15. The Sun Goes Down (Version 15 with Acoustic Guitar) 16. The Sun Goes Down (Version 16 with Acoustic Guitar) STEREO SOUNDBOARD RECORDING