Solo in Soho explained

Solo in Soho
Type:	studio
Artist:	Philip Lynott
Cover:	Soloinsoho.jpg
Caption:	Cover photo by John Swannell
Released:	18 April 1980^[1] May 1980 (Japan)
Recorded:	Winter 1979 - early 1980
Studio:	Good Earth Studios, Soho, London, Compass Point Studios, Nassau, The Bahamas
Genre:	Rock
Length:	35:47
Label:	Vertigo (Europe and Japan) Mercury (Canada) Warner Bros. (US)
Producer:	Philip Lynott, Kit Woolven
Next Title:	The Philip Lynott Album
Next Year:	1982

Solo in Soho is the debut solo album by Irish rock singer Philip Lynott, released while he was still in Thin Lizzy. Current and former Lizzy members guested on the album, including Scott Gorham, Brian Downey, Snowy White, and Gary Moore. Brian Robertson also contributed to the writing of one of the tracks, "Girls".

Guest musicians

Dire Straits frontman Mark Knopfler plays on the single "King's Call", a lament to Elvis Presley. Huey Lewis plays harmonica on "Tattoo (Giving It All Up for Love)" and "Ode to a Black Man". Lewis later covered "Tattoo" on the 1982 Huey Lewis and the News album Picture This, titled "Giving It All Up for Love".

Yellow Pearl

"Yellow Pearl" was released as a single in two remixed versions; the first of these was later used as the theme tune from 1981 until 1986 for the popular BBC TV music programme Top of the Pops. This version was later included on Lynott's second solo album, The Philip Lynott Album.

Critical reception

Billboard's reviewer left positive review on an album by saying that Lynott's "lyrics have special appeal". He resumed: "There is nothing here even vaguely similar to the dramatic rock energy of "The Boys Are Back in Town" yet this is a bold and interesting batch of tunes aided by uncluttered arrangements and sound playing".^[2]

Track listing

All songs by Philip Lynott, except where noted.

Side one

1. "Dear Miss Lonely Hearts" (Lynott, Jimmy Bain) – 4:11
2. "King's Call" – 3:40
3. "A Child's Lullaby" – 2:43
4. "Tattoo (Giving It All Up for Love)" – 3:21
5. "Solo in Soho" – 4:15

Side two

6. "Girls" (Lynott, Bain, Brian Robertson) – 4:00
7. "Yellow Pearl" (Lynott, Midge Ure) – 4:06
8. "Ode to a Black Man" – 4:06
9. "Jamaican Rum" – 2:43
10. "Talk in 79" – 3:00

Singles

• "Dear Miss Lonely Hearts" / "Solo in Soho" – 7" / 12" (1980)
• "King's Call" / "Ode to a Black Man" – 7" (1980)
• "Yellow Pearl" / "Girls" – 7" / 12" (1981)

Personnel

• Philip Lynott – bass guitar, rhythm guitar, keyboards, Minimoog, vocoder, string machine, percussion, vocals, producer
• Scott Gorham – guitars (tracks 1, 4, 8)
• Snowy White – guitars (tracks 1, 5)
• Mark Knopfler – electric guitar (track 2)
• Gary Moore – guitar (track 9)
• Jerome Rimson – bass guitar (track 5)
• Huey Lewis – harmonica (tracks 4, 8)
• Fiachra Trench – string and brass arrangements (tracks 3, 4)
• Jimmy Bain – piano, Minimoog, string machine (track 6)
• Billy Currie – ARP synthesizer (track 7)
• Midge Ure – ARP synthesizer, Minimoog, string machine (track 7)
• Brian Downey – drums, percussion (track 1, 2, 4, 5, 7, 9)
• Bob Benberg – drums, percussion (track 6)
• Mark Nauseef - drums, percussion (tracks 8, 10)
• Tony Charles – steel drums (track 9)
• Andy Duncan – percussion (tracks 3 and 5)
• Julia – backing vocals (track 5)
• Lena – backing vocals (track 6, 7)
• Sophie, Margi, Silver, Christine – backing vocals (track 6)

Production

• Kit Woolven – producer, engineer
• Tony Visconti, "Flash" Gordon Fordyce, Will Reid-Dick – engineers
• Ian Cooper – mastering
• Chris O'Donnell – art direction
• Linda Sutton, Roger Cooper – artwork and design
• John Swannell – photography

Charts

Album

Year	Chart	Position
1980	Swedish Albums Chart^[3]	6
	Norwegian Albums Chart^[4]	22
	UK Albums Chart^[5]	28

Singles

Year	Single	Chart	Position
1980	"Dear Miss Lonely Heart"	Irish Singles Chart^[6]	6
		UK Singles Chart	37
	"King's Call"	Irish Singles Chart	20
		UK Singles Chart	35
1987		Dutch MegaCharts^[7]	38
1981	"Yellow Pearl"	Irish Singles Chart	25
		UK Singles Chart	56

Notes and References

1. Book: Popoff . Martin . Martin Popoff . We Will Be Strong: Thin Lizzy 76–81 . Power Chord Press . 2012 . 978-0-9811057-7-2 . 204.
2. Review: Philip Lynott – Solo in Soho. Billboard. 17 May 1980. 11 February 2022. 92. 20. 66. New York. Billboard Publications Inc.. World Radio History. 0006-2510. https://web.archive.org/web/20220208161609/https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Billboard/80s/1980/BB-1980-05-17.pdf. 8 February 2022.
3. Web site: Phil Lynott - Solo in Soho (Album) . 29 June 2018. Swedishcharts.com . .
4. Web site: Phil Lynott - Solo in Soho (Album) . 29 June 2018. Norwegiancharts.com . .
5. Web site: Phil Lynott Official Charts . . 29 June 2018 .
6. Web site: The Irish Cahrts: search for Philip Lynott . . 29 June 2018 .
7. Web site: Philip Lynott - King's Call . 29 June 2018. Hitparade.ch . . Dutch.