The search was half of the fun on this week’s prompt. Memorizing musician’s and songwriter’s birthdays is not my area of expertise, so I went through the days in wikipedia until I hit on Phil. A few years or so ago, when I was listening to Spotify’s Release Radar, I came across a song by Thin Lizzy that I didn’t know, nor particularly care for, but I favorited it and put it on a playlist. Every time it rolled around it became more likeable, until it has become a song I really like. It shows me a side of Thin Lizzy I wasn’t familiar with, a softer side. First, here is a little information on Phil. I would encourage you to check out wikipedia for a lot more information on him and his musical history.

Philip “Phil” Parris Lynott, (b. 8/20/49 — d. 1/4/86) was an Irish musician who was the co-founder, lead vocalist, bassist, and primary songwriter of the hard rock band Thin Lizzy. He was noted for his distinctive pick-based style on the bass and for his imaginative lyrics, including working-class tales and numerous characters drawn from personal influences and Celtic culture.

Lynott was born in the West Midlands of England and grew up in Dublin with his grandparents. He remained close to his mother, Philomena, throughout his life. He fronted several bands as a lead vocalist, including Skid Row alongside Gary Moore, before learning the bass guitar and forming Thin Lizzy in 1969. After initial success with, “Whiskey in the Jar,” the band had several hits in the mid-1970s, such as “The Boys Are Back in Town,” “Jailbreak,” and “Waiting for an Alibi.” The band became a popular live attraction, combining Lynott’s vocal and songwriting skills with dual lead guitars. Towards the end of the 1970s, Lynott embarked upon a solo career and published two books of poetry. After Thin Lizzy disbanded, he assembled and fronted the band Grand Slam.

During the 1980s, Lynott increasingly suffered from drug addiction, particularly to heroin. He and Moore had one more chart success with “Out in the Fields” in 1985, before Lynott died of septicemia-induced pneumonia and heart failure early the following year. He remains a popular figure in rock music, and a statue in his memory was erected in Dublin in 2005.

“A Song for While I’m Away” is the 8th and last cut on Vagabonds of the Western World, which was Irish hard rock band, Thin Lizzy’s, third studio album, released in 1973. It was the band’s last album with original guitarist Eric Bell, as well as as a trio, and the first to feature the artwork of Jim Fitzpatrick, whose work would appear on many subsequent albums by the band.

Personnel:

Phillip Lynott – vocals, bass guitar, associate producer
Eric Bell – guitars, vocals
Brian Downey – drums, percussion
Fiachra Trench — string arrangement
Strings: Tony Harris – viola; Ian MacKinnon – violin; Don McVay – viola; Alan Merrick – violin; Paul Mosby – cor anglais, oboe; Peter Oxar – violin; Peter Poole – violin; Godfrey Salmon – violin; Alan Sloan – violin; Quentin Williams – cello

Source: wikipedia

While looking for the YouTube of the song, I found a full documentary on Phil Lynott! I am pleased to share it with you:

I see another doc, “Phil Lynott: Songs While I’m Away” was released about 4 years ago.

Jim Adams is the host of Song Lyric Sunday. This week Jim wants us to share music from a musician or songwriter who was born in August.