WISHBONE FOUR

Wishbone Four is an offering I consider to be among the band's "classics". If ever there was an album in search for an identity this is it. As it has already been said, there were some changes in sound after "Argus" but most of the songs here are really excellent. "So Many Things To Say" is a belting rocker that starts the album. The slide guitar is one of the noticable differences to their first three albums, but it is a memorable piece and the playing is top notch. At least this release gives us plenty of variety. The gentle folky ballad "Ballad of the Beacon" follows and it is one of the band's finest songs, with superb guitar playing throughout. Perhaps the rock and rolling "No Easy Road" doesn't fit in to the collection as well but it is hardly a bad one. Besides, there is plenty more quality to make up for it, such as the beautiful, sorrowful "Everybody Needs a Friend" and the stunning "Sorrel" which arguably takes the honours for musical craftsmanship, displaying what old fans loved about Wishbone Ash, thier folky vocal harmonies as well as harmonizing guitar riffs. "Rock And Roll Widow" signs off the album. Love this one too. It's a somewhat eerie rocker with more slide guitar. Great album.