10 Overlooked Masterpiece Songs By Legendary Rock Bands

10. Honesty Is No Excuse - Thin Lizzy

An absolutely beautiful rock tune from Ireland's finest here, taken from their 1971 self-titled debut album. Phil Lynott (surely one of the greatest voices in rock history) wrote the majority of the material for that record which, although not as packed full of obvious hits as their later releases, contains plenty of thoughtful and wonderful compositions.

The band took their musical inspiration from a wide range of sources, including rock 'n roll, blues, psychedelia, traditional folk and, of course, heavy rock. Lynott, whose health tragically declined until his death, less than two decades later, was also one of the most cerebral and inventive song-writers in the genre.

Honesty Is No Excuse provides the perfect canvas for his talents. Rolling out on acoustic guitar and singing keyboards, the songs hooks from its opening seconds. Pulsing bass underpins this ballad, or poem, if you like, before Brian Downey's expressive drumming and Eric Bell's inspired guitar solos expand the sonic tapestry in something quite unforgettable.