Vagabonds of the Western World

Reception

Eduardo Rivadavia of Allmusic describes the album as "brimming with attitude and dangerous swagger", and Thin Lizzy's "first sonically satisfying album", with "The Rocker" their "first bona fide classic". He describes "Little Girl in Bloom" as "absolutely flawless", but criticises "The Hero and The Madman" and "Slow Blues" as "overblown" and "tepid" respectively.

Pete Pardo of Sea of Tranquility stated that Vagabonds of the Western World was "filled with blistering blues-rock, folky/psychedelic tinged numbers, and dark, moody, and atmospheric tracks that bridged rock and jazz influences into a hauntingly new sound." He also praised the bonus material on the remastered release, such as the "red hot" version of "Suicide".

Track listing

All tracks written by Phil Lynott, except as indicated.

Side one

1. "Mama Nature Said" – 4:52
2. "The Hero and the Madman" – 6:08
3. "Slow Blues" (Brian Downey, Lynott) – 5:14
4. "The Rocker" (Eric Bell, Downey, Lynott) – 5:12

Side two

1. "Vagabond of the Western World" – 4:44
2. "Little Girl in Bloom" – 5:12
3. "Gonna Creep Up on You" (Bell, Lynott) – 3:27
4. "A Song for While I'm Away" – 5:10

When the album was repackaged for CD in 1991, it included the respective A and B-sides of the two singles released at around the same time. "Whiskey in the Jar" was Lizzy's first hit.

1. "Whiskey in the Jar" (Traditional arr. Bell, Downey, Lynott) – 5:44
2. "Black Boys on the Corner" – 3:21
3. "Randolph's Tango" – 3:49
4. "Broken Dreams" (Bell, Downey, Lynott) – 4:26

Remastered and expanded release

On 11 October 2010 Vagabonds of the Western World was reissued as a 2CD deluxe edition. This version was remastered with bonus tracks. The original album and bonus material is featured on disc 1, while disc 2 features bonus material.

The track listing is as follows: Disc 1:

1. "Mama Nature Said"
2. "The Hero and the Madman"
3. "Slow Blues" (Downey, Lynott)
4. "The Rocker" (Bell, Downey, Lynott)
5. "Vagabond of the Western World"
6. "Little Girl in Bloom"
7. "Gonna Creep Up on You" (Bell, Lynott)
8. "A Song for While I'm Away"
9. "Randolph's Tango"
10. "Broken Dreams"
11. "The Rocker" (Single version)
12. "Here I Go Again"
13. "Cruising in the Lizzymobile" (Bell, Downey, Lynott)
14. "Little Darling"
15. "Sitamoia" (Downey)
16. "Slow Blues" (1977 Overdubbed and remixed version)
17. "Randolph's Tango" (Radio promo edit)
18. "Whiskey in the Jar" (Promotional edited version)

Disc 2:

1. "The Rocker" (BBC Radio One in Concert)
2. "Things Ain't Working Out Down at the Farm" (Lynott) (BBC Radio One in Concert)
3. "Slow Blues" (BBC Radio One in Concert)
4. "Gonna Creep Up on You" (BBC Radio One in Concert)
5. "Suicide" (BBC Radio One in Concert)
6. "Vagabond of the Western World" (BBC Radio One John Peel Session)
7. "Gonna Creep Up on You" (BBC Radio One John Peel Session)
8. "Little Girl in Bloom" (BBC Radio One Rock On Session)
9. "Sitamoia" (Downey) (BBC Radio One Bob Harris Session)
10. "Little Darling" (BBC Radio One Bob Harris Session)
11. "Slow Blues" (BBC Radio One Bob Harris Session)
12. "Showdown" (Lynott) (BBC Radio One Bob Harris Session)
13. "Black Boys on the Corner" (BBC Radio One John Peel Session)

Singles

"Whisky in the Jar" / "Black Boys on the Corner" – 3 November 1972

"Randolph's Tango" / "Broken Dreams" – 4 May 1973

"The Rocker" / "Here I Go Again" – 9 November 1973

In Germany, the B-side was "A Ride in the Lizzy Mobile".

"Little Darling" / "Buffalo Gal" – 11 April 1974

In the USA, the B-side was "The Rocker".

Personnel

Thin Lizzy

Philip Lynott – bass guitar, vocals

Eric Bell – guitars

Brian Downey – drums, percussion

Additional personnel

Kid Jensen – voice on "The Hero and the Madman"

Jan Schelhaas – organ on "Mama Nature Said" and "The Hero and the Madman"

Fiachra Trench – string arrangement on "A Song for While I'm Away"

Technical

Nick Tauber - producer

Mick Rock, John Thomson - photography

Derek Varnals, Alan Harris, John Fuller - engineers

Alan Leaming, Dave Baker, Pete Swetenham - assistant engineers

Jim Fitzpatrick - artwork, design

Rodney Matthews - design