More good news for Philo fans - did you see the trailer yet? - as Universal Music have announced a massive boxset to celebrate fifty years of Thin Lizzy. And there's further reason to make a fist and shout "OLA!" given that it promises 74(!) unreleased tracks. Rock Legends covers every era of the band's storied career across its 6 CDs plus 1 DVD.

In what sounds like a very admirable package ("Any of the girls wanna little more Irish in them?"), "newly discovered tapes" mean demos, radio sessions, live tracks and that hoary old notion, 'single edits'. Why anyone would want shortened Lizzy cast-iron classics is beyond me, although this won't stop me queuing up. Scott Gorham is involved in putting the whole thing together so you know it's in good hands. Another Philo mate, artist and Mayor of Howth Jim Fitzpatrick contributes four prints, and there's some of Lynott's poetry as well.

The DVD looks good too. As well as the Bad Reputation documentary which went out on BBC Four a few years back, we get four songs - 'Jailbreak', 'Emerald', 'The Boys Are Back In Town', and 'Rosalie/Cowgirl Song' - that were recorded for Rod Stewart's A Night On The Town TV special in 1976. Just think about that for a minute, Rod and Philo and a night on the town. I'd say there wasn't a bottle of plonk to be had for a square mile.

Rock Legends is released on October 23rd, here's a demo of 'Jailbreak' as a taster.

And here's the full track list:

CD ONE The Singles

Whiskey in The Jar – 7″ Edit
Randolph’s Tango – Radio Edit
The Rocker – 7″ Edit
Little Darling – 7″ Single
Philomena – 7″ Single
Rosalie – 7″ Mix
Wild One – 7″ Single
The Boys Are Back in Town – 7” Edit
Jailbreak – 7” Edit
Don’t Believe A Word – 7″ Single
Dancing in The Moonlight – 7″ Single
Rosalie / Cowgirl’s Song – 7″ Single
Waiting for An Alibi – Extra Verse
Do Anything You Want To – 7″ Single
Sarah – 7″ Single
Chinatown – 7” DJ/Radio Edit
Killer on the Loose – 7″ Single
Trouble Boys – 7″ Single
Hollywood (Down on Your Luck) – 7” Edit
Cold Sweat – 7″ Single
Thunder and Lightning – 7” Edit
The Sun Goes Down – 7” Remix

CD TWO Decca Rarities

The Farmer – Debut 7″ single
I Need You – Debut 7″ single B-side
Whiskey in The Jar – Extended Version Rough Mix
Black Boys on The Corner – Rough Mix
Little Girl in Bloom – US Single Promo Edit
Gonna Creep Up on You – Acetate
Baby’s Been Messin’ – Acetate
1969 Rock + Intro – RTÉ Radio Session 16 January 1973
Buffalo Gal + Intro – RTÉ Radio Session 16 January 1973
Suicide + Intro – RRTÉ Radio Session 16 January 1973
Broken Dreams + Intro – RTÉ Radio Session 16 January 1973
Eddie’s Blues/Blue Shadows + Intro – RTÉ Radio Session 16 January 1973
Dublin + Intro – RTÉ Radio Session 16 January 1973
Ghetto Woman – RTÉ Radio Session 04 January 1974
Things Ain’t Working Out Down at The Farm – RTÉ Radio Session 04 January 1974
Going Down – RTÉ Radio Session 04 January 1974
Slow Blues – RTÉ Radio Session 04 January 1974

CD THREE Mercury Rarities

Rock and Roll with You – Instrumental Demo
Banshee – Demo
Dear Heart – Demo
Nightlife – Demo
Philomena – Demo
Cadillac – Instrumental Demo
For Those Who Love to Live – Demo
Freedom Song – Demo
Suicide – Demo
Silver Dollar – Demo
Jesse’s Song – Instrumental Demo
Kings Vengeance – Demo
Jailbreak – Demo
Cowboy Song – Demo

CD FOUR Mercury Rarities

The Boys Are Back in Town – Demo
Angel from The Coast – Demo
Running Back – Demo
Romeo and The Lonely Girl – Demo
Warriors – Demo
Emerald – Demo
Fool’s Gold – Demo
Weasel Rhapsody – Demo
Borderline – Demo
Johnny – Demo
Sweet Marie – Demo
Requiem for A Puffer (aka Rocky) – Alternate Vocal, “Rocky He’s A Roller”
Killer Without A Cause – Demo
Are You Ready – Demo
Blackmail – Demo
Hate – Demo

CD FIVE Mercury Rarities

S & M – Demo
Waiting for An Alibi – Demo
Got to Give It Up – Demo
Get Out of Here – Demo
Roisin Dubh (Black Rose) A Rock Legend – Demo
Part One: Shenandoah
Part Two: Will You Go Lassie Go
Part Three: Danny Boy
Part Four: The Mason’s Apron
We Will Be Strong – Demo
Sweetheart – Demo
Sugar Blues – Demo
Having A Good Time – Demo
It’s Going Wrong – Demo
I’m Gonna Leave This Town – Demo
Kill – Demo
In the Delta – Demo
Don’t Let Him Slip Away – Demo

CD SIX Chinatown Tour 1980

Are You Ready? – Hammersmith Day 2 (29/05/1980)
Hey You – Hammersmith Day 2 (29/05/1980)
Waiting for An Alibi – Hammersmith Day 2 (29/05/1980)
Jailbreak – Hammersmith Day 2 (29/05/1980)
Do Anything You Want to Do – Hammersmith Day 2 (29/05/1980)
Don’t Believe A Word – Tralee (12/04/1980)
Dear Miss Lonely Hearts – Hammersmith Day 2 (29/05/1980)
Got to Give It Up – Hammersmith Day 3 (30/05/1980)
Still in Love with You – Hammersmith Day 3 (30/05/1980)
Chinatown – Hammersmith Day 3 (30/05/1980)
The Boys Are Back in Town – Hammersmith Day 3 (30/05/1980)
Suicide -Hammersmith Day 3 (30/05/1980)
Sha La La – Hammersmith Day 2 (29/05/1980)
Rosalie – Hammersmith Day 2 (29/05/1980)
Whiskey in The Jar – Hammersmith Day 3 (30/05/1980)