Dedication: The Very Best of Thin Lizzy by Thin Lizzy (CD, Apr-1991, Mercury)

Viewed strictly from a Top 40 perspective, Thin Lizzy — the hard-rocking Irish guitar band that made 14 albums before the 1986 death of singer/bassist Phil Lynott — was a one-hit wonder. Few Americans are likely to remember much beyond ''The Boys Are Back in Town'' and maybe ''Jailbreak,'' a similarly taut dramatic tale from the 1976 LP of the same name. Dedication, a commendable effort to telescope Lizzy's history, collects 18 tracks, but the inadequately annotated 76-minute compilation ignores entire albums, omits crucial songs, and avoids concert material by what was a sensational and well-documented live band. (Check 1978's ''Live and Dangerous,'' available on CD, for the proof.) Ironically, the clarity of digital remastering leaves a lot of the early work sounding woefully underproduced, reinforcing the impression that only the band's commercial successes of the mid-'70s are essential listening

This is a nice collection.I had previously only owned the album,"Jailbreak" by Thin Lizzy,so it was nice to get this which gives a complete overview of their entire career.It's really too bad about frontman Phil Lynott.Like so many other rock stars,he died too young.Who knows what he would be doing if he were alive today.Unfortunately,here in America,not much is known about Thin Lizzy,aside from their hit,"The Boys Are Back in Town."If you like that song,I recommend purchasing this CD and checking out the band's other great songs.You won't be disappointed.