How many records have Thin Lizzy sold worldwide?

karaokeman

Someone cited this in an earlier thread in the music forum. Its Wikipedia I know, but most of the examples are well sourced. The "Music of Ireland" page listed the 5 top selling Irish acts of all time, which according to wiki is;

1. U2 - 170 million records
2. Enya - 80 million records
3. Van Morrison - 55 million records
4. The Cranberries - 50 million records
5. Westlife - 44 million records

I know that Thin Lizzy should belong on this list, but I can't find it sourced anywhere as to how many records they have sold. They've been around since 1969 and have had some huge international hits so I imagine it must be 100 million+.

RayCon

karaokeman wrote: »

I imagine it must be 100 million+.

No chance .... Lizzy never cracked America.

Motley Crue

I've heard it said before that Thin Lizzy had a lot of trouble making albums, both commercially and financially, and that even when they were making some of their most iconic albums in the later stages of their career they weren't flushed by any stretch of the imagination

It's well known for example that Lizzy's 1970 single "The Farmer/I Need You” only sold, exactly, 283 copies and is now considered a collector's item - their guitarist left the band before the single so there was a greater share of profits for the remaining members.

Live and Dangerous is a Platinum album, but remains their only one, whereas four of their albums (Jailbreak, Johnny The Fox, Bad Reputation and Black Rose) are certified Gold.

Disappointing sales of both 'Renegade' and Phil's second solo album precipitated a farewell tour to coincide with the release of 'Thunder And Lighting'. Both the new album and the live dates in fact proved extremely popular and caused a resurgence of interest in the group. Their last UK date was in Reading in 1983 - but although their music has lived on it has taken a long time in order for the music to garner real sales and earn the band members what they deserved

JBnaglfar

Motley Crue wrote: »

Live and Dangerous is a Platinum album, but remains their only one, whereas four of their albums (Jailbreak, Johnny The Fox, Bad Reputation and Black Rose) are certified Gold.

Just to add to this, Live and Dangerous was platinum in the UK which means it sold more than 300,000. UK gold requirement is 100,000. Jailbreak is their only album to go gold in the US, which means it sold between 500,000 and 1 million.

Great band, but not a chance they sold 100 million+.

mike65

Accurate sales are pretty hard to come by, I'd say you'd be talking no more than 15 million tops. As mentioned they never got the chance to crack the States and so create a feedback loop with the rest of the world (a phenomenon not much mentioned is how when acts do well in the USA having already established themselves in Europe sales in Europe then move up a gear in a virtuous circle, AC/DC and Der Scorpions are good examples).

They only released a handful of albums once they made the breakthrough and then were gone, if every new album from Jailbreak (1976) to Thunder and Lightning (1983) sold a million copies in total to the present day they'd have been doing well.

Kess73

There was an article in a music mag last year, maybe Classic Rock, that had them heading towards the 10 million mark as of late 2010. It sounds about right to me as Thin Lizzy were never a big selling band even at their peak.

karaokeman

mike65 wrote: »

I'd say you'd be talking no more than 15 million tops

Unlikely, Snow Patrol never really cracked the states either and have had 10 million total record sales since 1994.

Thin Lizzy obviously have been around an extra 25 years on top of that so I could see them having a few more than 15 million. Chasing Cars also isn't exactly as famous as The Boys Are Back In Town, one song that did do well in the states.

Good points mentioned about accurate record sales and the fact TZ were not entirely successful in the mainstream US market.

JBnaglfar

karaokeman wrote: »

Unlikely, Snow Patrol never really cracked the states either and have had 10 million total record sales since 1994.

I just had a look at their (Snow Patrol's) wikipedia discography page. They have had albums go multi platinum in the UK and one platinum in the US. Unfortunately Thin Lizzy's page is not even close.

Gmol

karaokeman wrote: »

Someone cited this in an earlier thread in the music forum. Its Wikipedia I know, but most of the examples are well sourced. The "Music of Ireland" page listed the 5 top selling Irish acts of all time, which according to wiki is;

1. U2 - 170 million records
2. Enya - 80 million records
3. Van Morrison - 55 million records
4. The Cranberries - 50 million records
5. Westlife - 44 million records

I know that Thin Lizzy should belong on this list, but I can't find it sourced anywhere as to how many records they have sold. They've been around since 1969 and have had some huge international hits so I imagine it must be 100 million+.

It's shocking they're not in that list.

LH Pathe

doesn't surprise me if Lizzy have sold little more than 10mil total - as for breaking America, they're notoriously oblivious to most things not homegrown or just struggle to accept it. nothing to sing about sales-wise for thin lezzy, karaokeman..

Someone should tiger kidnap pestlife. 44mil ransom

Motley Crue

karaokeman wrote: »

4. The Cranberries - 50 million records

I'm, quite literally, astonished that The Cranberries have sold that many albums?

Is that all off the back of Zombie and Linger? Just found out they're planning a new album for next year....

headmaster

Right fella's,
who's the bright spark here with all these facts and figures? Check out how many records/albums, or whatever you call them have Foster and Allen sold worldwide. I think you might get a bit of a surprise!!

JBnaglfar

headmaster wrote: »

Right fella's,
who's the bright spark here with all these facts and figures? Check out how many records/albums, or whatever you call them have Foster and Allen sold worldwide. I think you might get a bit of a surprise!!

19 million according to their wikipedia page. Is that right?

McDave

When you read Lizzy/Lynott bios it becomes pretty clear that they fell short in production values for many of their albums, and blew clear opportunities to tour excellent albums that might have cracked the US. After a certain point drug abuse was undermining their output. Eventually their record companies and key personnel (most notably Chris O'Donnell) just gave up on them.

Although a great band, who I continue to love, Lizzy wrecked their career at practically every available turn. If they've sold 10 million units, imagine how many they'd have shipped had they really had their act together, extending their recording and touring career. Easily 50 million.

dasdog

Motley Crue wrote: »

I'm, quite literally, astonished that The Cranberries have sold that many albums?

The Cranberries were HUGE for a relatively short time frame.

McDave wrote: »

Although a great band, who I continue to love, Lizzy wrecked their career at practically every available turn. If they've sold 10 million units, imagine how many they'd have shipped had they really had their act together, extending their recording and touring career. Easily 50 million.

They were rarely off the self destruct button. Scandanavia, the US/UK, Japan and Ireland probably account for most of their sales. Jailbreak was their only gold album in the US (the measure is 500k+ units) so 10 million worldwide sounds about right.

thinlizzyguide.com might have some info or links.

headmaster

JBnaglfar wrote: »

19 million according to their wikipedia page. Is that right?

JB,
thanks for that. I don't know, but i was once at an event where it was stated that they had sold as many as the beatles. Even the figure you've given sounds amazing for what many people would consider "not with it". Just goes to show, it takes all kinds. Thanks again.

LH Pathe

The beatles comparison with sales is cringeworthy stuff consider say the cure and slayer mainstream megastars with a bigger global reach than lizzy and they've only sold about 16 mil each I think.. anything over 20mil is likely reaching out to the wrong people imo. 19 mil would be respectable enough for a certified classic rock outfit, look at pink floyd's album sales it's obscene, I respect their legacy but in my experience it's mostly chill-out music for skanks. dark side/the wall.. they'd not even heard of syd Barrett!

MagicMarker

LH Pathe wrote: »

The beatles comparison with sales is cringeworthy stuff consider say the cure and slayer mainstream megastars with a bigger global reach than lizzy and they've only sold about 16 mil each I think.. anything over 20mil is likely reaching out to the wrong people imo. 19 mil would be respectable enough for a certified classic rock outfit, look at pink floyd's album sales it's obscene, I respect their legacy but in my experience it's mostly chill-out music for skanks. dark side/the wall.. they'd not even heard of syd Barrett!

Jesus what a retarded post on so many levels.

LH Pathe

On so many levels you don't know where to begin?

am always up for a debate but if you give me nothing to work with you'll be thought of as nothing in return, tragic talker

LH Pathe

Motley Crue wrote: »

karaokeman wrote: »

4. The Cranberries - 50 million records

I'm, quite literally, astonished that The Cranberries have sold that many albums?

Is that all off the back of Zombie and Linger? Just found out they're planning a new album for next year....

yep, sold that many of a single album in particular. MTV had real impact back in the day as one all encompassing station. successful back to back promos could catapult you in to the financial stratosphere! but rarely on such a level.. obscene sales

MagicMarker

LH Pathe wrote: »

On so many levels you don't know where to begin?

am always up for a debate but if you give me nothing to work with you'll be thought of as nothing in return, tragic talker

Anyone who says something that retarded isn't worth debating with, you'll just drag me down to your level and beat me with experience.

LH Pathe

MagicMarker wrote: »

LH Pathe wrote: »

On so many levels you don't know where to begin?

am always up for a debate but if you give me nothing to work with you'll be thought of as nothing in return, tragic talker

Anyone who says something that retarded isn't worth debating with, you'll just drag me down to your level and beat me with experience.

thought as much. but when I tell you I don't even wish to be read by, let alone engage with a man u fan with a curious amount of posts in relatively short space of time then we'll see who is a wanton net bitch who is unjustly up emselves, k? back up your own shìte when quoting anothers at least in future, but do-not engage with me again.

f*cking troll muppet with no other input.. excuse

Malice

As a staunch Liverpool supporter I'm obviously pre-disposed to dislike Man Utd fans but having said that, insulting other users is not on. The general rule is attack the post, not the poster.

Now karaokeman appears to have gotten his answer so I am closing this thread.