Irish rock band Thin Lizzy was on the way to making a name for themselves after “Whiskey in the Jar,” with one of their underrated tracks, “Still in Love With You,” tagged among fans as one of the most romantic yet heartbreaking ballads.
Released as part of their fourth studio album, Nightlife, “Still in Love With You” wasn’t a success on the charts. In fact, it failed to enter any of the music charts when it was originally released by Thin Lizzy. It wasn’t until 1986 that the track gained chart popularity when it was covered by the R&B/soul band Sade in 2011 for their compilation album. Their cover landed around No. 6 on the Smooth Jazz Airplay and No. 55 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs.
The original track by Thin Lizzy is considered an underrated gem among fans that became a live show favorite. “Still in Love With You” also played a pivotal role in securing a recording contract with PolyGram Records the summer it was released in 1974.
Leading up to the release of the track and the album, the band’s founding guitarist Eric Bell left the band at the end of 1973 due to exhaustion from touring. He was briefly replaced by guitarist Gary Moore, who would also leave the band a few months later.
“Still in Love With You” is reported to have been a combination of frontman Phil Lynott‘s two songs, the ballad and his “I’ll Help You See It Through,” that he worked on for years. The ballad captured fan attention due to its themes of enduring love, longing, and persistence after heartbreak. Lynott’s own personal experience with relationships was behind the song’s inspiration, having once reported that his songs are often autobiographical.
When creating the track, it was originally meant as a duet between Lynott and Moore. Following Moore’s departure, the track was only credited on the album to Lynott, and Brian Robertson was recruited as his replacement. The guitarist would refuse to re-record Moore’s solo, feeling that he wouldn’t be able to improve upon it. At the time, Robertson was 17 years old, with the band’s manager having lied to the recording label, saying he had originally played the solo instead of Moore.
“Still in Love With You” became a signature track for Thin Lizzy and was played during live performances until they split in 1983. A landmark live version was recorded during their “Bad Reputation” tour for their 1978 Live and Dangerous album and clocked in at over seven minutes long. The band would reform for tribute tours in 2011, playing the ballad in honor of Lynott after he died in 1986.
Related: 1979 Rock Ballad, Inspired by a Real-Life Nightclub, Became a Nostalgic Soft Rock Classic
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