Wishbone Ash


Band members                          Related acts

  line up 1 (1969-75)

- Andy Powell -- guitar, vocals
- Martin Turner -- guitar, vocals

- Ted Turner -- guitars, vocals
- Steve Upton -- percussion, drums

 

  line up 2 (1975-81)

- Andy Powell -- guitar, vocals
- Martin Turner -- bass, guitar, vocals
- Steve Upton -- percussion, drums
NEW - Laurie Weisfield -- guitars, vocals (replaced Ted Turner)

 

  line up 3 (1981)

- Andy Powell -- guitar, vocals
- Steve Upton -- percussion, drums
- Laurie Weisfield -- guitars, vocals 

NEW - John Wetton -- bass (replaced Martin Turner)

 

  line up 4 (1981-83)

NEW - Trevor Boulder -- bass (replaced John Wetton)

- Andy Powell -- guitar, vocals
- Steve Upton -- percussion, drums
- Laurie Weisfield -- guitars, vocals 

 

 

 

Martin Turner (vocals, bass, 1969-80, 1987-91), Andy Powell (guitar, vocals), Ted Turner (guitar, vocals, 1969-74, 1988-94), Steve Upton (drums, 1969-90), Laurie Wisefield (guitar, vocals, 1974-85), Graham Maitland (keyboards, 1976), John Wetton (bass, vocals, 1980-81), Claire Hamill (vocals, 1981), Trevor Bolder (bass, 1981-83), Mervyn "Spam" Spencer (bass, 1983-86), James Crompton (guitar, 1985-88), Andy Pyle (bass, 1986-87, 1991-94), Robbie France (drums, 1990-91), Ray Weston (drums, 1991-94, 1998-2007), Joe Crabtree (drums, 2007-present), Dan C. Gillogly (keyboards, 1992), Roger Filgate (guitar, 1994-98), Tony Kishman (vocals, bass, 1994-98), Mike Sturgis (drums, 1994-98), Mark Birch (guitar, 1998-2001), Ben Granfelt (guitar, 2001-04), Bob Skeat (bass, 1998-present), Muddy Manninen (guitar, 2004-present)

 


- 21 Guns

- Alternative TV

- Asia (John Wetton)

- Big Daisy

- Blodwyn Pig

- Blue Law

- Blue Meanies

- Cash Pussies

- Diamond Head

- Glencoe

- Gringo Locos

- Home

- Juicy Lucy

- The Kinks

- The Ladder

- Pendragon

- Phenomena

- Psycho Motels

- Savoy Borwn

- Spiders from Mars (Trevor Boulder)

- Uriah Heep (Trevor Boulder)

- WIld Life

- World of Leather

 

 

 

 


 

Genre: rock

Rating: 3 stars ***

Title:  Live Dates

Company: C

Catalog: C
Year: 1974

Country/State: G

Grade (cover/record): VG+ / VG+

Comments: double LP; gatefold sleeve

Available: 1

Catalog ID: 6128

Price: $20.00

 

I own a bunch of there studio albums and will admit to being underwhelmed by most of them.  Mind you, there was no denying Wishbone Ash were a talented outfit, rather their strengths just never seem to come through on those studio albums.

 

"Live Dates" track listing:
(side 1)

1.) 

 

(side 2)
1.) 

 

 

No surprise -- in concert was the best way to hear Wishbone Ash, because the studio was just too sterile an environment, at least for their hardest-rocking stuff to take off. Anyone really into the group should own this record.

 

"Live Dates" is the only official album sized recording of the "Ash-Founder-Generation" to be released during its existing period.
And it's fantastic to hear the band play those tricky compositions. In 1973 it was state of the art of progressive hard rock. It's a pity they didn't take one concert on this double album but mixed several concerts from the 1973 tour. The tapes have been cutted too harsh and instead of having "Phoenix" doubled as a bonus track it would have been better to put one or two other songs from that period on.
Also, I think that the later Ash formation played more elegant than this original line-up. They sounded more modern in the upcoming years.
Nevertheless this 2-CD set is worth owning because it's a perfect journey into time. "Live Dates" perfectly preserves the ghost of the early 1970s.

P.S. Listen with incense sticks "patchouli style".

Charts: 82 [USA]
Musicians:
bass: Martin Turner
drums: Steve Upton
guitar: Andy Powell, Ted Turner
vocals: Andy Powell, Martin Turner, Ted Turner
Producer: Wishbone Ash
Engineer: Keith Harwood
Mastering: -
Cover: HIPGNOSIS, Colin Elgie
Photos: Aubrey Powell, Storm Thorgerson, Miles Copeland, Steve Upton, Jill Furmanovsky, Pauline Powell
Recording: Croydon - Fairfield Hall (1.1, 2.2, 2.3,  2.5) ; Newcastle - City Hall (1.2, 1.3); Reading - University (1.4, 1.5, 2.1, 2.4); Portsmouth - Guildhall (1.6), England, Juni 1973; Memphis, U.S.A. 1972 (1.7)
Composers: David Turner - Martin Turner - Andrew Powell - Steve Upton (1.1-1.5; 1.7; 2.1-2.5), Jimmy Reed (1.6)
Cover rating: ****

HEADLIGHTS: The King Will Come, Warrior, Throw Down the Sword, The Pilgrim, Blowin' Free, Phoenix [Croydon]
BACKLIGHTS: Baby What You Want Me to Do
MCD 10396/MCAD 2-10396 CD (1992) [Rating27647331]
rocketfrogs May 13, 2010 3.50 stars|
With only 3 studio albums under their belts a double-live album seems a tad premature, however the performances are excellent with a fine romp through the hits.
MCA2-8006 Vinyl LP (1973) [Rating29938196]
PGM Jun 06, 2009   |
Recorded during June 1973 in UK in several places.
MCA2-8006 Vinyl LP (1973) [Rating23018219]
Cephka Aug 03, 2008 2.00 stars|
I'm here to review one of the worst live albums of the seventies - made truly bad not by the material (two guitar soloists aside, this was no Thin Lizzy), but by lacklustre performances of the dynamic, majestic, obsessively paced songs by which the group shall stand or fall for rawk eternity. Even the 1980, borderline washed out MkII live album takes the prize - but why, if that's just sham-rock boogie lies?

The guitars are barely tuned, palely reproducing and occasionally faltering at the sterling passages of the winding and arcane tunnels of Argus, indifferently and indistinctly negotiating the early instrumental material, the drums clomp along in a mechanic manner like on Wishbone Four, and Martin Turner and his choirmate Andy Powell are both in bad, whiny voice.

Where the band unexpectedly shines are the lesser album tracks - Rock n Roll Widow is not improved but loses nothing of its slothful and fascinating aural vagueness, Ballad of the Beacons is helped by the reedy voices and squelchy guitar tone and explodes in a  blissful flurry of rolling solos, and the Everly Brothers cover is so wacked out it could pass for a field recording.

But that's all there is to show after two discs of Neil Young hijacking a band of guitar nerds and corrupting them into rich post-hippie obscurantists with nothing to lose but hair. Nah, that never happened, and this album, along with Wishbone Four, is the reason why. AND because their talent preceded their intelligence and their producer was a helluva guy - after all, their three really worthwhile albums were made in the same studio with the same man, who probably didn't allow them to smoke several kilos per day and then try to get that Trout Mask Replica wobble just right. I wish, actually.
MCA2-8006 Vinyl LP (1973) [Rating16971644]
Tovan Jun 21, 2008 2.50 stars|
Too slick. A couple of nice tracks though.
MCA2-8006 Vinyl LP (1973) [Rating15960443]
Wogbog Mar 11, 2008 2.50 stars|
a decent but not great or even good live recording of Wishbone Ash. Live Dates has those fucking guitar leads that do all sorts of wonderful things for my ears, but the vocals are too quiet, which makes me think "shut up and get to the guitar playing". The singing isn't great on the studio albums but here it is just dullll.

update: after listening to this a few more times i can't see myself ever choosing it over their studio stuff :\
MCA2-8006 Vinyl LP (1973) [Rating14253144]
astroman Nov 07, 2006 4.50 stars|
Still good after all these years
MCA2-8006 Vinyl LP (1973) [Rating6776001]
MRBLiNT Feb 22, 2006 4.50 stars|
British release on BGO Records 1995. Remastered from the original master tapes. Same art, expanded notes, no bonus tracks. BTW it rokkkks!!!!!!
BGOCD 293 CD (1995) [Rating4020305]
ekmanning5 Aug 10, 2005 4.00 stars|
If you cannot get out to see this fantastic band (yes they are still around, yes they still perform), the very least you can do is get a copy of Live Dates. This is Wishbone Ash at their peak. One thing the album can't give you however is the absolute excitement that these boys generated on stage. An incredibly talented band. Do yourself a favor; look up  their website, find out when and where they will be playing, and go see 'em!
MCA2-8006 Vinyl LP (1973) [Rating2505274]
rogerjones Jul 02, 2005 3.50 stars|
whatever happened to Wishbone Ash ? i really like this album. favourate track is "the king will come" but "rock and roll widow" is also much loved. i saw them live in Hammersmith oOdeon and thought they were great.

 

Quite a good live album. This is culled from the British tour to promote the Wishbone Four album. Strangely there are only two tracks from that album represented here. Side one is the best with the three tracks from Argus. Side three is also good 'cause it has "Blowin' Free" on it. I cannot abide "Baby What You Want Me To Do", you can almost feel the crowd falling asleep. I think Newcastle was probably the place to be during that tour. I myself saw them a year after this album at the Liverpool Empire. Pretty good but unfortunately without Ted Turner.
MCA2-8006 Vinyl LP (1973) [Rating2214939]
GibsonBoy Mar 11, 2005 5.00 stars|
Besides "Eat A Peach" this is one of
the better live albums out there.
"Blowin Free" "Ballad Of The Beacon"
"Throw Down The Sword". Awesome guitar
playing for a live album with very strong
vocals.Ted Turner was a very under rated guitarist.
MCA2-8006 Vinyl LP (1973) [Rating1706224]
bnoring Feb 03, 2005 3.00 stars|
Brian, what do you think of Wishbone Ash? "Oh, their pretty good". What's your favorite song by them? "Mmmm, I'm not sure, I usually only play their albums a couple of times". What album would you recommend by them? "Live Dates is pretty packed full of their classy guitar rock sound, although my copy skips really bad for some reason". That's a bummer. "Yeah."
MCA2-8006 Vinyl LP (1973) [Rating1548455]
timregler Jan 16, 2005 3.00 stars|
I really like Wishbone Ash in the studio, especially those excellent first four albums.  But maybe I expected too much with this live album.  Sure, there are plenty of guitar pyrotechnics, it just seems like there could have been more.  It seems like just when a solo takes off, they end it.  The lone exception to that rule is on "Phoenix" but alas, they take that to the other extreme, and make the song about 5 minutes longer that it needs to be.  This isn't a bad album by any means, but for me, I'm sticking with the studio versions.
MCA2-8006 Vinyl LP (1973) [Rating1464707]
Lemonhead Oct 19, 2004 4.00 stars|
Unknown rock from the seventies, part 2459....This decade is a real goldmine for uncovering overlooked goodies. Now Wishbone Ash are another of that very fine rockgroups that played for a committed fanbase (and they still do to this day), but never registered with the masses. This was, finally, a bit of loud rock stuff that intellectual students could warm up to.

With an era that defined the guitar as the king of instruments in popular music, what then makes Wishbone Ash special? To answer this I simply recommend this very album. It catches the band at their early peak and was recorded at different venues. Not only the sleeve design is fantastic, the performances are, too. Few rock groups of their time could sound that professional on stage. The style of the group changed a lot from the later seventies on, and so Live Dates is the best place to get all the important classics gathered together in often outstanding versions. This is a very melodious sound, elevated by extremely elaborate harmony guitars, always switching elegantly between epic hooks and fiery riffs. The bass deserves special mention, too, because it often joins the intermingled guitars to create a third harmony. Wonderful musicianship with a great desire for perfection and smartness, indeed. Whishbone Ash will probably appeal to hard-rock lovers as well as prog- and classic rock fans, because they have a bit of all of these genres on offer.

_Live Dates_ features a total of 11 tracks. So go and pick this one up to enjoy the uplifting celebration of "Blowing Free", the melodious rock of "The King will come", the astonishing preciseness on "The Pilgrim",  the slide madness on "Rock'n'Roll Widow" or the cathartic, epic rapture that is "Phoenix". Live albums are usually nice extras in a band's catalogue, but for Wishbone Ash it is their ultimate achievement. Give your air-guitar some new food!

Highlights: The King will come, Ballad of the Beacon, Rock'n'Roll Widow, The Pilgrim, Blowing Free.
Lowlights:-
MCA2-8006 Vinyl LP (1973) [Rating1188818]
energizer Jul 20, 2004 5.00 stars|
One of my first records (ca.1974).Still one of my favorites. It has a nice live-athmosphere and includes the best songs of Wishbone Ash, like The king will come, Warrior, Throw down the sword, Jailbait, etc.
buy if you can...
MCA2-8006 Vinyl LP (1973) [Rating940389]
Willyswing May 21, 2004 5.00 stars|
One of the best live albums ever, & my intro to Ash. Killer guitar play!
MCA2-8006 Vinyl LP (1973) [Rating826172]
PhilZ Apr 01, 2003 4.00 stars|
First official live album. With epileptic version of Phoenix. Good Ash is live Ash ! Essential.
I've had the good fortune to have seen Wishbone Ash in this configuration of musicians several times from arenas to a high school. Every performance was a bit different but uniformly excellent. Wishbone Ash comes from an era where it was expected that musicians have chops. The band one upped their 70's contemporaries by playing several styles of music from blues based boogie to progressive to folk. Often some jazz was thrown in for good measure.

This could spell a mess but Wishbone Ash was well grounded and had great style when playing and especially when guitarists Andy Powell and Ted Turner soloed.

Live Dates captures the sound and vibe of Wishbone Ash live. The stylistic diversity is quite clear from their take on boogie numbers including Jail Bait, Lady Whiskey and the cover of Baby What You Want Me To Do. These tracks are surrounded by the pop of Blowin' Free, the progressive rock of The Pilgrim, Phoenix, and Warrior along with the quieter English folk of Ballad Of The Beacon.

Wishbone Ash turned conventions upside down with Martin Turner's bass often carrying the melody of a song as guitars harmonized and set the rhythmic tone along with drummer Steve Upton.

Rather than perform carbon copies of album tracks Wishbone Ash frequently improvises or at the least revises solos and in some cases arrangements.

Besides being a great live album it is also a good place to start with Wishbone Ash. Soon after this part of the band's career guitarist Ted Turner left the band and the diversity of styles would become less pronounced.

If you want to get an idea of smart rock in the 70's this is a good place to start.of THE top guitar bands in the Europe of the 1970s, although they were and remain barely known in the US. They even became tax exiles and lived in the States at the end of the 70s. This album is one of the very best live albums from the 70s, if not ever, for classic two-guitar rock. This live album reflects the best tracks from their first set of albums with their original lineup complete with Andy Powell on his trademark Gibson Flying V, and Ted Turner with his Stratocaster or Les Paul. People struggle to pigeonhole this band - usually falling back on the "The English Allman Brothers" or similar. Unlike most guitar rock bands in the 70s Wishbone Ash are actually closer to progressive rock than either the blues based Led Zeppelin approach, or the heavy metal Deep Purple or UFO style or the blues-jazz of the Allmans. But they are more straightforward than say Gentle Giant or Jethro Tull. They represent I think a more mystical approach with the emphasis on melodic intertwining guitar leads and certainly, in their early days at least, long instrumentals. Not too loud, not too many guitar histrionics, but plenty of long, beautifully played, guitar lines and leads often with pseudo-mystical lyrics. A sort of less flashy Kansas. Anyway any person who appreciates guitar based bands and classic rock should listen to this album. The first three tracks in particular are absolute Wishbone classics, my favorite part is the stunning and haunting Ted Turner solo on "Lay Down the Sword". Just wonderful clean melodic and powerful lines that will be guaranteed to impress anyone.

"Phoenix" and "the Pilgrim" are both long, largely instrumental, tracks full of verve and interest, but not really jams like the Allmans do, nor are they blues based to any significant degree - just great and interesting instrumentals. "Lady Whiskey", and "Jailbait" were crowd favorites and are more typical bluesy rockers - to really enjoy these you have to have been there I think. "Ballad of the Beacon" is an English folk song with a great melody. Their one real bluesy number, the Everly Brothers' "Baby what you want me to do" is an interesting exercise in slide guitar playing and very good it is, even if it is anything but American blues.

I must also mention the outstanding rhythm section, particularly Martin Turner who holds it all together with his very melodic bass lines, lyrics, and singing. I recommend this album highly, especially as most Americans have never heard of this wonderful guitar band. This is the best introduction to their classic first period.know about Live at Leeds, Humble Pie Performance,
Allman Bros. at Fillmore East, Get your Ya Ya's out and the other classic live sets from the late 60's/early 70's. Two of my
favorites from that era are Ten Years After Recorded Live (anyone
remember the amazing "Help Me")? - and Wishbone Ash Live Dates.
It's worth having if only for Phoenix and The King Will Come.
On "The King" the band builds the song from the beginning and
then just about the time you are pulled in, they stop/start with the awesome Ted Turner stepping on a pedal and soloing away. Every time I play this song around a friend they are casually
listening to it until Ted takes off for the stratosphere. It's
always "who is THAT??" If you have any interest in rock music when it was actually played and not programmed by a suit and tie, you have to include this set in your collection. Turn it up to a suitable volume and enjoy, it will be one of your favorites.....

5.0 out of 5 stars An excellent LIVE album, February 19, 2005
By 

 discovered WA in the early 70s and would recommend any of their albums thru 1980..and this LIVE set is an excellent example of WA mkI for the sound that was WA....after the original lineup was split....the sound changed a tad with the switch from Ted Turner to Laurie Wisefield. The trademark WA sound was still unmistakable.

Martin Turners growling and snarling precision and thunderbird basses thundered as he meshed into a solid groove with Steve Uptons drumming.....I actually feel they premiered as a live act....so much raw energy and stamina emulated from these superb musicians....dual leads that seared.....never missing a note....and switching off on lead and rythym duties....(I always hated bands who had to dictate who was a lead or rythym guitarist..like it was a bad thing to be the lowly rythym guitarist?.) well...these guys moved beyond that...and the result on their discs is perfection....

Score this selection and you wont be disappointed.een called the English Allman Brothers and there are quite a few outward similarities. Two great live bands each with two superb guitarists and a tight, driving rhythm section cranking out music that acknowledges it's roots while constantly going beyond them. But while the roots of the early Allmans(before the untimely death of brother Duane)were firmly in Southern blues, Wishbone Ash finds their inspiration in the pre-Christian mysticism and eerie melodies found in English folk music. But make no mistake about it, this is tight, driving rock n' roll delivered by one of the best live bands of the 70's. If you go for guitar driven rock with a distinctly English flavor Live Dates will become one of your all time favorites.

Any exile from the 70's realized that some of the best live acts to grace the stage included Wishbone Ash. I was lucky enough to see them twice although the guitar pairing of Andy Powell and Ted Turner were the diamonds in the rough. When Laurie Wisefield replaced Turner, it took a little off the live act even though some of the later material (especially "There's the Rub") was excellent.
Live Dates was a compilation of Wishbones early albums and contains standards such as "The King Will Come", "Warrior" and probably one of the best guitar songs played out in the classic "Rock & Roll Widow". Listen to Powells flying "V" and Turners magic fingers perform the accented bird sounds as brother Martin (bass) and Steve Upton (drums) keep the beat steady. All the material played here is well written and performed. No filler in this double album (I still have the original vinyl).
No doubt that any guitar lover will cherish this recording for years to come. Don't hesitate, it's worth every penny.

The material here is better than their studio albums. I've seen them live and they are definitely a live band. This is good music.This album is on my "must have" list. Wishbone Ash is one of the rare bands that (to me) sounded even better live than in the studio. Their songs are melodic and their performance is powerful. They wrote the book on harmony guitar leads.

)   
This review is from: Live Dates (Audio CD)
This is , as others have noted a tremendous lp. Ash had tremendous talent and they played well together. Phoenix , The King Will Come , Handy, Lady Whiskey are


1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars A superb, timeless gem from an underrated Guitar Band., July 10, 1998
By A Customer
This review is from: Live Dates (Audio CD)
The melodic, dual, harmony guitar leads are the hallmark of this band, and the way they pull them off live is just remarkable. They seem to be one of those bands that achieves something special in thier live recordings that's absent from much of their studio work.

This band, and particularly this album, has it all. Power, melody, harmony, imagination, great guitar work as well as great vocal harmonies.

I can't believe this recording is nearly 24 years old! It continues to delight me even now. I can't imagine being without it in my collection!This was the first official and still the best live album Wishbone Ash has put out. It has the best songs from the first four albums. Tunes like "Rock And Roll Widow", "Blowin Free" and others will show you just how powerful this band is. After purchasing this, you will want the first four albums. This is simply a great album.

3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

My brother surprised me with this album for Christmas back in 1973. I was 16 at the time. Though I had seen the band's records in stores I had never heard them. Of course this album became an instant favorite (and Larry I am forever grateful).

The best thing is that after all this time this record is still a major source of inspiration. I especially love plugging in and blasting along with Andy's killer lead on Warrior. Damn, what a way to kick off a song.

Other faves are Blowin' Free, Ballad Of The Beacon and Throw Down The Sword. Great stuff.

4.0 out of 5 stars Live Dates: Great Live CD that deserved a bigger audience, May 21, 2006

Wishbone Ash deserved better, I thought this album would be there breakout in America and make them a superstar band. I rate this CD 4 1/2 stars. A great live collection that ranks up their with Humble Pie/Rockin the Fillmore, and the Allman Brothers Band at the Fillmore East. Live Dates holds it's own with the above mentioned bands.

This was recorded over June 1973 during their tour of England and featured their best lineup- Andy Powell, Steve Upton, and the Turners. Live Dates features the songs from their creative peak, and the audience is vocal throughout the duo guitar assault, responding to the incredible harmonics, interplay, melodies woven around each epic song.

I can only describe Wishbone Ash as being similar to progressive rock group Yes, subtracting the keyboards and then adding another lead guitarist. Martin Turner's vocals remind me a little of Jon Andersons' singing for Yes. This is a vague comparison for those who have never listened to Wishbone Ash.
The songs Phoenix and The Pilgrim are numbers that are paced like Yes tracks, layered with great guitar work, interwoven, with Andy Powell and David "Ted" Turner working together and not fighting against each other. Their improvisation on these tracks are tremendous, with Phoenix lasting 17 minutes, and The Pilgrim lasting just over 9 minutes long.

Disc One is centered around British mythology, legend of King Arthur themes, Lord of the Rings, it seems to me. The first 3 songs fit well together- The King Will Come, Warrior, and Throw Down The Sword, telling a story of battle in ancient England.

Rock n Roll Widow is the most commercial track on Disc One. I didn't care too much for the Everly Brothers' remake- Baby What You Want Me To Do. The most commercial tracks on Disc Two are- Jail Bait and Blowin' Free. The Pilgrim and Phoenix songs were previously mentioned above.

Had the original lineup stayed together, maybe they would have eventually taken America by storm. I could have pictured the Live Dates lineup recording songs for The Lord Of The Rings and Harry Potter soundtracks.




2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars EXCELLENT !!!, May 12, 1999
By A Customer
This review is from: Live Dates (Audio CD)
This album is a must for anyone who was around in the 70's. While deer hunting once I came upon a dump site w/ many an old album sitting in this heap. Right on top was the "Live Dates", I thought to myself, what sacrilege. I can guarantee many hours of listening After waiting for numerous ship dates (all of which passed) for this item, Amazon told me that my order must be canceled because they could no longer supply this item to buyers. So I had to purchase this item from a company in Japan for a much higher price. It is a fine item though. It does contain the photo book that was included in the US version of this album, back in 1973, all reduced in size, and the gatefold artwork is from the UK version. The sound is wonderful also, but it is on TWO CDs, not one like the BMG version. I had to purchase this one since I already had LIVE DATES TWO,(finally available after all these years), both of them make a matched set.
By 
good sounding cd . the cd captures a energenic crowd. if you only buy one wishbone ash.


5.0 out of 5 stars Wishbone ash Live dates, March 20, 2010
Live Dates
Great live recording of a much overlooked dual lead guitar british blues and hard rock band. Saw them recently and they are still better than most of the groups out there today. Andy Powell and Ted Turner recorded some great dual lead guitar riffs on Argus album
including their one of many classic albums "Pilgramage". They will be touring in April 2010. Make it a point to see them. RonnieM

Side One
1. King Will Come
2. Warrior
3. Throw Down the Sword
Side Two
4. Rock 'N' Roll Widow
5. Ballad of the Beacon
6. Baby, What You Want Me to Do
Side Three
7. Pilgrim
8. Blowin' Free
9. Jail Bait
Side Four
10. Lady Whiskey
11. Phoenix

  Live Dates (Audio CD)
Their best tracks live seeing it was recorded a while back, recording live music has come a long way since then and I feel this was well done for its time I am playing this through top quality hi fi equipment it sounds great. They are still out there.
)   
This review is from: Live Dates (Audio CD)
This is by far the best CD of wishbone ash I have come accross.
the version of the King will come is by far the best. I cannot get enough of this CD the guitar work and drumming are out of the top draw.
Simply outstanding. This album has been in my top 5 favorite albums since it came out in 1974. I have every note of every song memorized. The new CD edition includes a bonus cut of Phoenix which was not included in the vinyl version. It's interesting to see the difference between the two versions.
This album is highly recommended. Listen to it with headphones on for the full effect of the twin lead guitars (Andy Powell on 1 channel and Ted Turner on the other).
4.0 out of 5 stars Great music. Not so-great sound., December 28, 2005
I love this live set but just wish the CD sounded brighter and richer. Still highly recommended, but the mastering makes the recording sound a bit dated.

 


Genre: rock

Rating: 3 stars ***

Title:  Hot Ash

Company: MCA

Catalog: MCA-5283
Year:
 1981

Country/State: UK

Grade (cover/record): VG+ / VG+

Comments: minor cut out notch lower edge

Available: 1

Catalog ID: 6299

Price: $10.00

 

 

I'm not sure what MCA marketing was thinking about when they decided to raid the vaults for another Wishbone Ash live set.  Pulling together eight tracks from across the band's mid-to-late 1970s career didn't seem like a particular smart marketing move and certainly didn't deserve much in the way of creativity ...  Oh, for a moment I forgot this was an MCA product.  That explains most of the marketing (or lack thereof).  I actually remember picking this set up for the weird cover art.   I couldn't figure out why the image was so ill-focused.  Only later did it dawn on me this was one of those 3-D pictures (no you didn't get 3-D glasses with the album.).  I also remember the first time I heard the set thinking the fans were yelling "we want ass ...).   So much for first impressions.  At least to my ears quite a few of the performances sounded so polished I was left to wonder whether they'd been subjected to considerable post-production work.   Tracks like 'Blowin' Free', 'Living Proof' and 'Goodbye Baby Hello Friend' literally sounded like studio material with very little in the way of in-concert rawness.

 

- Originally featured on 1972's "Argus", as mentioned above, I have no idea how much post-production work went into the set, but judging by the smoothness and overall caliber of this version, it sure sounded like their in-concert version underwent some at least some studio polishing.  Regardless, the song served as a wonderful introduction to their classic twin lead guitar repertoire.  YouTube has a nice 1973 era concert performance of the track at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EeY9IRnVmk8   rating: **** stars

- 'Living Proof' came from Wishbone Ash mark II and the album "Just Testing" LP.  Anyone critical of the band's early-1980s repertoire should probably re-evaluate their position after hearing this one,  A fantastic mixture of the band's hard rock guitars, surprisingly catchy vocals, and a great Martin Turner bass line, this one must have been nirvana to hear in a live setting.   rating: **** stars

- People end to overlook the fact these guys were capable of more than mind numbing hard rock and 'Goodbye Baby Hello Friend' serves as the perfect example of just how commercial and radio friendly they could be.   rating: **** stars

- The first disappointment and the first track that really sounded like it was recorded live, 'Bad Weather Blues' was a pedestrian, seemingly endless blues-rocker.  The song was originally recorded for inclusion on 1975's "Locked In", but didn't make the final cut (big surprise).  MCA subsequently released a limited edition, extended live version of the song coupled with the song 'You See Red.'   This version was apparently recorded at a 1977 concert in Sheffield, England.   rating: ** stars

- Supposedly inspired by a female friend/heroin addict the Turner brothers knew, I think 'Doctor' came off of 1973's "Wishbone Ash".  Abandoning their progressive leanings, this one found the band cruising along with a conventional rock feel.  Have to admit the lyric was quite disturbing ...  Clearly recorded at a concert, this one doesn't seem to have had much in the way or post-production help and it sounded all the better for that.   rating: *** stars

- Classic Ash ...  to my ears 'Way of the World' served to highlight just how melodic the band's twin led guitar line up could be.  Starting out with one of their nicest melodies, the dark and haunting song morphed into an equally impressive rocker with some great lead guitar moves.  It's one of my favorite Wishbone performances.  rating: **** stars

- The album's shorted performance, 'Helpless' was also he most pedestrian number.  Forgettable.   rating: ** stars

- Pulled from "Wishbone Four", 'No Easy Road' showed the band in prime boogie-rock mode.  The life-is-tough-on-the-road lyric may not have been the most original thing you've ever heard and the song may have sounded a bit like a good Foghat performance, but that's not a bad thing.  Besides, the lead guitar was wonderful.   rating: *** stars

 

Not a bad place to start if you're mildly curious about the band.  They also deserved some credit for bucking the double live set trend and opting to release a single set concert documentary.  (I know they'd already covered the double live set with 1974's "Live Dates".)   The cover featured an interesting 3-D cover (no you didn't get 3-D glasses with the album) and given the limited promotion support the collection received (to say nothing of the fact it was yet another live set), it actually sold fairly well, peaking at # 192 on the US charts.

 

"Hot Ash" track listing:
(side 1)

1.) Blowin' Free   (Andy Powell - Martin Turner - Ted Turner - Steve Upton) - 6:17
2.) Living Proof   (
Laurie Weisfield - C. Hamill) - 5:45
3.) Goodbye Baby Hello Friend
   (Laurie Weisfield) - 5:21
4.) Bad Weather Blues   (
Andy Powell - Martin Turner - Laurie Weisfield - Steve Upton) - 

 

(side 2)
1.) 
Doctor   (Andy Powell - Martin Turner - Ted Turner - Steve Upton) - 5:09
2.) Way of the World
   (Laurie Weisfield) - 10:05
3.) Helpless   (P. Kenderick) - 3:35
4.) No Easy Road   (Martin Turner) - 6:38

 

 

 

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