WISHBONE ASH

In the mid seventies I was ,err,in my mid teens and already had three wishbone ash lps in my collection,Four,Live Dates and Theres The Rub.Somehow about this time I acquired a cassette of Locked In.I still have this today sitting on a shelf in my shed like a morbid curiosity.To be fair the band were going through some tough times.Management and record label problems,gear getting stolen,up staged by Kiss at a major gig etc,but did the record buying public know this at the time?Tom Dowd was the label appointed producer and some of the blame must be directed at him.Its weak,lifeless and has that laid back AOR feel to it. I could say the same about Claptons 'Layla and OALS'.Yes ,I have opened a can of worms there,but I have never like Dowds rock productions and that includes Cream.Locked In has eight tracks with only opener 'Rest in Peace' having only some resemblance to past glories.Laurie Wise field sings lead vocals on half the tracks.Let's just say he should stick to the guitar which he does very well.But main vocalist Martin Turner is struggling particularly on the insipid ballad 'She was my Best Friend 'where he is distinctly off key.But most of all the songwriting is terrible.From a band that was on the verge of brilliance with 'Argus',Locked In is major let down.Things got better with the next album,'New England 'but they lost some ground.But strange as this may seem I reach for Locked In and give it a spin at least once month whereas Argus is lucky to get once every six months.I must be a masochist!

Maybe not the prog masterpiece it's made out to be, Argus is undoubtedly a rock classic with surprising depth. However, other than the finale of "Warrior/Throw Down The Sword," I don't hear much innovation or risk-taking from Wishbone Ash; Argus is universally recognized as their best album, and admittedly I am not familiar with any of their other work, but I only hear a marginally good prog album here. That being said, Argus is an exceptional Classic Rock album, far superior to most of the stuff you hear on classic rock radio, and gets heavy rotation when I am not in the mood for more cerebral material. Argus actually has a Southern Rock feel, and should appeal to fans of The Allman Brothers and Lynyrd Skynrd. Though four stars is probably appropriate, I can't get there given the strength of competition in the Prog-Related genre.

Despite its nearly ten-minute length, "Time Was" is mostly repetitive and even somewhat boring. The dreamy acoustic introduction features the strongest vocal harmonies on the album and deserves a longer exposition instead of the forced, jammy treatment it offers for the remaining bulk of the song. The dual-guitar attack of Andy Powell and Ted Turner makes its first appearance and despite my appreciation for the technique, it becomes stale fairly quickly. I did not grow up with Argus and have heard this device repeatedly throughout the course of my musical life so its groundbreaking nature is all but lost on me. I can imagine what it must have been like to hear something this intense in 1972, but time has not been so kind to "Time Was." "Sometime World" offers the same formula, beginning with a slow ballad that awkwardly transitions to a brisk rock exercise. Though I do enjoy Martin Turner's melodic and commanding bass line, it is really the only highlight of the song for me personally.

The lightweight "Blowin' Free" actually got some radio play back in the day but its staying power is nil. The vocal harmonies seem forced and out-of-place, or maybe just don't suit the song, but don't last too terribly long thankfully. Finally with "The King Will Come" Wishbone Ash begin to incorporate some of the lyrically thematic elements and sense of urgency that has helped it earn their place in the Prog Rock epoch. The song is simply awesome and marks a turning point within the album that never lets up until it's over. "Leaf and Stream" is a lush symphony of glistening guitars and a confident solo vocal courtesy of Mart Turner. The medley of "Warrior" and "Throw Down The Sword" is easily the highlight of Argus, the latter of which contains that now-famous twin guitar polyphony between Powell and Turner. The second side of Argus is much stronger than the first and is an essential listen for all rock music fans. As Prog-related albums go, Argus is good but ultimately not that important in the scheme of things.

A good collection of classic Wishbone Ash songs performed by the original lead singer/bassist and his current band. Regardless of the arguments between Martin Turner and Andy Powell as to whose band is the "Real Deal," it all comes down to whose sound do you prefer. I used to love the sound of Wishbone Ash in the 1970s and saw them live many times, and for me Martin Turner's Wishbone Ash reproduce that sound better than the "official" band led by Andy Powell.

This DVD was filmed in Leicester (I was in the audience). It starts with an obscure song, Time and Space, which was a bonus track on the No Smoke Without Fire CD. An unusual choice, but it's a good song and sets the scene for what is to come. Then we have the jazzy Vas Dis before one of the highlights of the show, four songs from the Wishbone Four album. The first half of the show ends with the magnum opus (and proggy) Phoenix, which includes a spoons solo (no one can accuse this band of not having fun!).

The second half of the show includes a performance of the entire Argus album, which is probably the only reason Wishbone Ash have been included in progarchives. This culminates in an impressive twin guitar ending to Throw Down The Sword (something never attempted by the original band, where Andy Powell played - and still plays - a single solo) followed by the rocking Blowin' Free.

If you like classic Wishbone Ash, and you don't think Martin Turner is a "Judas" for forming a rival band to Andy Powell's, I would very much recommend this DVD.

Just a "little bit" pregnant?

This album is a hybrid between Pop-Rock and slight remnants of early Ash. An album that goes nowhere really, neither here, nor there. Not strong enough to gain much recognition on Pop charts, yet the Prog elements (if any) are in short supply.

There is nothing really wrong here, but equally, nothing memorable either. In places the compositions evoke elements of weaker Pop attempts by Blackmore's DP, or Rainbow, at other times remind of Fleetwood Mac with one hand tied behind their backs. An obvious attempt at commercial appeal that would suit your local Inn for inoffensive background sound much more than serious music to pay attention to.

The vocals (or more like the voice) contain slight elements of early Ash, but that endearingly amateurish, folksy charm of 40 years ago don't really fit the compositions here. Yes, there are twin guitar fills to break the boredom of otherwise uneventful tracks, but not enough to lift the works above of a mediocre offering as a whole.

This album is devoid of innovation, lacking grunt and only Prog by association with early Ash. The reality is that after three repeated spins I am left with precious little nothing to remember of and it remains a non-event. In Pop-Rock terms, I'd rate it as a 3, but a Prog album it isn't. (IMO, the Ash should have permanently retired at least 25 years ago.)

(Since I wrote my initial opinion, I've listened to the album again and I arrived at a serious dislike of it. Definitely no room for it in my collection.)

This really is a superb album from the masters of classic rock. Not only is the musicianship of the very highest standard but the songs are all strong and leave you with a very contented smile on your face! This really does rate up there along with Wishbone's very best. Those twin guitars soar and battle and their trademark subtle / heavy light and shade riffs and melody make you want to reach for the nearest tennis racket, you'll need a partner to dual with for Big Issues. Other highlights included Man With No Name, Mud-Slick (with Deep Purples Don Airey) Can't Go It Alone (with Pat McManus) & Invisible Thread. Where this latest album really scores is the live feel the production has achieved which has too often been missed on past albums. If you've ever liked Wishbone Ash but at times may have doubted them, then as in the title of the opening song there really genuinely is REASON TO BELIEVE.........enjoy!

ARGUS has been widely celebrated as Wishbone Ash's triumph creatively and commercially, and it's a logical starting point for anyone interested in the band. For those curious enough to go for anything else in their discography as I did, their self-titled debut is a decent place to continue.

The content of the music here is rich in blues-rock soundscapes that utilize the twin guitar approach of Andy Powell and Ted Turner (not that other Ted Turner). The band sounds tamer than Led Zeppelin and not as evil sounding as Black Sabbath, so that may explain why Wishbone Ash may have been left behind in the rock world.

The first half of the album is more or less straight blues-rock song after blues-rock song with the opening cut ''Blind Eye'' having a noticeable shuffle rhythm to it (and an uncredited piano performance). They're all really good tracks with ''Queen of Torture'' being very fiery, and ''Errors of My Ways'' does well as a moving ballad type of song.

The second half is just two epics. The first, ''Handy'', sounds like a lack-of-structure blues jam centring around an uninteresting bass solo. There's a rub at the end when the band goes pure rock-n-roll for almost no reason. ''Phoenix'' does a much better job in the epic department in that it has this progressive climb effect to it. It doesn't hurt to lead the listener down different avenues of adventure in the instrumental sections.

Pure, simple blues based rock music. That is WISHBONE ASH the album in a nutshell.

It always seemed to have that concept or theme feel to it.

I guess I feel the need to review some of my old favorites being a newbie...

The progression and placing of most of the songs is what gives it a theme type quality and should help explain a little bit why this is in a prog review site as well as its use of the second lead guitar and some lengthy tracks, prog related is a perfect category for the Wishbone.

The opening track, Time Was brings us in quiet and builds to a good jam. Followed by Sometime World, which has nice harmonies and it also builds to a jamming end. The next song, Blowing Free, was somewhat of a hit in the UK, but is my least favorite of the album.

The remaining tracks for me is where the rubber meets the road towards concept. The King Will Come leads us marching in with some inter-weaving lead guitar work and some of the best bass work that you will hear (has chordish qualities) which continues throughout. The song changes pace a few times with distinct lead doubling. This is followed by a very good acoustic/electric harmonic driven piece which has very clean, beautiful picking.

The previous two tracks leads us into battle form with Warrior, which is strong lyrically as well as musically and leads perfectly into Throw Down the Sword. It is filled with appropiately fitting lyrics and the end soloing is Powell at his best with emotionally filled leads.

PS-I do hear some organ blending in at the end of Throw Down the Sword...

4 and a half stars to me, rounded down to 4.

Firstly, Warriors should perhaps be listed under 'live' albums although as it features so many different line-ups and music from so many periods of the bands career, I can understand why it's listed as a compilation.

Not too much to say really. This is a fine selection of tracks showing off the different facets of WA's work, from acoustic balladry to some searing guitar solo's / duets. I like this CD as there's plenty of material from what many would call their leaner, later years...........it's nice to put on an album that doesn't just feature Argus material and all the other ubiquitous selections. It's by no means a greatest hits package and all the better for it.

So, not a bad introduction to Wishbone Ash's rocky, slightly progressive, twin guitar sound. They were (are) never the greatest band in the world but they soared in places and this collection will pleasantly pass a couple of hours on a rainy Sunday :)

From the days that I first started buying Black Sabbath, Deep Purple and Led Zeppelin cassettes I can recall seeing Wishbone Ash albums at the record stores. However, their name never came up in the metal magazines I was reading and I never heard any of their songs on the rock radio station in Vancouver, so I never knew if I was missing out on something earth shaking or just standard 70s guitar rock.

It took my roamings on this site to bring that name to the forefront of my curiosity and at last I decided to get what seemed to be the seminal album by this band. During the first play I was surprised at the sound of the more rocking part of the track Time Was. It sounded very much like the sound of the power pop band Sloan circa 1992 and also like some other bands of the 90s. There's always someone who's done it previously it seems. The acoustic guitar on this album is very pretty and the dual electric guitar stands out as original for its time (I grew up with the dual guitars of Judas Priest and Iron Maiden so something a little more aggressive and progressive had already set the standard for me). I also enjoyed right of the bat the track The King Will Come particularly for the wah-wah guitar riff.

Good though the album was, I couldn't get as hotly excited about it as some other reviewers. Perhaps it was a case of place and time and personal experience, but for me it was just a good album. I picked out some titles that hadn't pricked up my ears yet and threw them on a playlist of other such songs and hit shuffle. Leaf and Stream came on and I was attentive throughout. I also tried to play the much praised Throw Down the Sword but after a few listens I can't recall the riff or melody without playing the track. So far there is little from this album that plays spontaneously in my head (a sign that the music has not yet ingrained itself) unlike some other albums I bought at the same time that do pop up in the random jukebox in my mind's ear.

I will keep listening. It's a good album. But I haven't found that much in the music that really strikes me as the prog flavour of the era. It's a mellower, more laidback approach to progressive music, and I can't help but think that the length of a couple of the songs are the most progressive parts of the album. That and the dual lead guitars, which the Yardbirds had done for a spell of a few months some years earlier. There really is always someone who's done it previously.

8/10

Argus is everything a fan could ask for hard rock - and add a few touches of prog and have at hand an album worthy of being on this site. I have a soft spot for these hard rock bands of the '70s and '80s, but I must confess it took for me to hear this album. Oh, what a mistake.

I never hear about Wishbone Ash were it not for ProgArchives, so for once I'm grateful this site exists in my life - if not for him I would not know 10% of the bands I know and love today. WA is no exception. While I do not share the opinion of those who claim to stand before a masterpiece I think is an injustice to give a low rating. The twin guitars of Andy Powell and Ted Turner are the highlights here of course, creating the best passages, but Martin Turner is a good singer and runs down a very present (see Something World, where he takes the lead in the second half of the song) and Steve Upton really shines with its drums.

As for music, I can say without fear that the first two really fascinate me more - I can clearly remember them for the rest of my life, while the same can not be said of the other songs (which does not diminish their value, shoulder). Time Was is really an epic nearing the 10 minutes who starts acoustically simple acoustic guitar and vocals, before evolving into a heavy guitar riff that dominates most of the rest of the music - and I have to say that his last two minutes are amazing! Sometime World follows the same modulation, with an introduction somewhat melancholy but from 2:24 it changes completely into something more lively and energetic. But do not be fooled by my words, anyone can prefer other songs, as they have the same style hard-rock classic that I know that many will enjoy.

4 stars!