Wishbone Ash: Wishbone Ash CD Track Listing

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Wishbone Ash Wishbone Ash (1970)
Originally Released 1970\nCD Edition Released October 13, 1992\n\nAMG EXPERT REVIEW: For a band that quickly evolved into a radio-friendly prog-leaning outfit, it's a wonder that Wishbone Ash started out as the boogie and blues-based group that this debut reveals. If the term "jam band" existed in 1970, Wishbone Ash surely would have been a major player in that genre. As it was, this album stacked up nicely when compared with other British hard rock releases that year. Not as complex or calculated as Led Zeppelin's Led Zeppelin III but definitely more focused than Mott the Hoople's Mad Shadows, Wishbone Ash more closely resembled Benefit by Jethro Tull, a group that hadn't yet adopted its own progressive elements. The dual lead guitar attack of Andy Powell and Ted Turner was a component that none of the above bands possessed, but unfortunately their (shared) lead vocals lacked the punch and authority necessary for hard rock bands to be taken seriously. So while they could rock as loudly and convincingly as virtually anyone, their lead singers, perhaps, held them back from being the force they should have been. The follow-up, Pilgrimage, took steps to rectify Wishbone Ash's odd position, but this album nevertheless opened eyes and ears and revealed to the rock & roll community a band with incredible potential and talent. -- Dave Sleger\n\nAMAZON.COM CUSTOMER REVIEW\nBuy It For The Guitar Work........Excellent Stuff, November 4, 2006\nReviewer: Lorin Schumacher "Budding Guitar God!" (USA)\nSparing you the redundancies....and any poetic landscape creations by said reviewer, let me spell it out for you very simply. If you are a guitarist, and particularly one who salivates over anything that's British blues in the vein of Danny Kirwan, Paul Kossoff, Peter Green, Peter Frampton, Mick Abrahams.....among the many others you already know about and enjoy, and you have never heard of Ted Turner and Andy Powell, then you will truely enjoy the music on this CD. Best way I can describe their playing is they deliver more of what gives you goose-bumps when listening.....More of what made you pickup the guitar.....more reasons for you to grab it while listening. Awesome tone from I believe a Les Paul and Strat. Excellent phrasing, slow build-up of melodic jamming, think drifting floating dreamy playing climaxing into hard driving harmonies like early Fleetwood Mac...If you dig the Kirwan/Green harmonies on some of their live stuff but wished they kept it going than you will get an idea what this cd contains. I hear uniqueness in Turner/Powell, but I hear shades of Green, stinging attack and vibrato of Kirwan, phrasing of early Frampton (think Guilded Splinters)and more. \nBuy it and immerse yourself.\n\nAMAZON.COM CUSTOMER REVIEW\na never ending delight, December 26, 2005\nReviewer: musik knutt (West Virginia)\nSome albums never seem to grow old, always sounding fresh. Derek & The Dominos 'Layla', The Beatles 'Abbey Road', The Rolling Stones 'Let It Bleed' are examples and if Wishbone Ash had received better or any? exposure in the States, their first album 'Wishbone Ash' would rank with those I mentioned as well as any others ever released. From the moment I heard the opening cut, I was hooked. Powered by twin lead guitarists Andy Powell and Ted Turner, with bassist Martin Turner *no relation to Ted* and tireless Steve Upton on drums, this 4 member band redefined rock. This debut album, along with the brilliant Argus, stand has two efforts appreciated by an almost cult following *I would guess that part of the reason this group lacked air play was their stubborn refusual to cut shorter tunes so that FM stations, trapped in AM mindsets, would give them cover...I'm glad they bucked the system in that regard*. For examples of this phenomenally talented group's live sound, I would suggest 'Live Dates' or 'Live In Chicago', where Andy and Ted were reunited. Last I heard, Andy still plows on. In fact, I heard Wishbone Ash just a few years ago with Andy and some very competent backups. Early in the 70's, I was lucky to see the original 4 twice in concert. Without hesitation, I would suggest that any serious lover of rock isn't truly serious without this MAJOR OPUS in their collection. Rolling Stone magazine a few years back selected their Top 20 Guitarists of all time: Andy and Ted were selected as a tandem. I think that alone speaks volumes. Unlike too many of today's guitarists with 3 power chords and incidental or accidental riffs?, Andy and Ted wove as one, would split off into twin melodic leads only to come back as one guitar in the hands of two masters. WISHBONE ASH are rock giants without peer...and sadly, without big time exposure.\n\nAMAZON.COM CUSTOMER REVIEW\nThe Most Underrated Musicians I've Ever Heard, January 16, 2005\nReviewer: Josh H. (Toledo, Oh (USA))\nOne of the many hidden gems of rock 'n roll, Wishbone Ash's debut is nothing short of breath-taking. Consider the fact that they had only been playing together for about a year, and that makes it even more remarkable. \n\nFirst of all, I consider Andy Powell and Ted Turner to be the two most gifted guitarists in all of rock music. For two guys who didn't make much of an impact, they could flat-out PLAY better than anyone else I've ever heard (yes, Hendrix included). Take the beginning of "Handy", for example. I have never heard any other players weave their guitars together and create such heart-breaking melodies. It's absolutely hypnotizing. The scorching solo on "Lady Whiskey" is another great example. \nMartin Turner proves to be a phenomenal bass player, complemented by Steve Upton to form one hell of a rhythm section. \n\nBLIND EYE: Their first single. A stomping boogie tune, the groove is just irresistible. Great, jazzy playing from Andy and Ted. Gotta love that stop/start structure. \n\nLADY WHISKEY: Built around a wonderful riff, resplendent with some thundering bass and ferocious guitar playing in the middle. \n\nERRORS OF MY WAY: Here, the band incorporates folk music into their sound, and the result is grand. Those vocal harmonies by Mart and Andy are just divine. Great, emotional guitar solo as well. \n\nQUEEN OF TORTURE: Now THIS is one rocking tune! Just listen to that riff. First solo is good, second one BURNS. \n\nHANDY: In my opinion, probably the best song on the album. This is one of the most unique songs I've ever heard by anyone. Kind of hard to categorize, it's kind of "psychedelic jazz". It begins with some glorious, un-accompanied bass playing. Let it be noted that I've rarely heard anyone else who can get such wonderful melodies from a bass guitar. Martin was really awesome. Then, Ted and Andy come in and play some of the most beautiful, dreamy, haunting melodies that have ever been recorded. The atmosphere they convey is astonishing. Then Martin comes in with another bass solo, and it turns into a mid-paced rocker with awesome guitar. Then there's a short drum solo (and a great one) before it turns into a pure jazz tune. The most amazing thing here is the guitar solo. Andy and Ted were only 19 or 20 at the time. The fact that somebody could play jazz THAT GOOD at such a young age is incredible. Jazz is one of the hardest styles to play on guitar, yet these guys rip it out like child's play. The licks are amazing - fast, stinging and amazingly fluid. Don't know if it's Ted or Andy, but it's killer nonetheless. The songs ends with some crazy scat-singing from Martin. One hell of a song. \n\nPHOENIX: Their show-stopper. This is the song that blew everyone away when they played it live. No doubt it's a masterpiece, the way it evolves from a slow, eerie ballad to an all-out guitar thunderstorm (courtesy of Ted Turner). Absolutely stunning. The lyrics, of course, are about the legendary fire bird Phoenix (from Greek mythology, I think), believed to have risen from ashes to fly again. This is, hands down, one of the greatest electric guitar pieces ever made. What Ted does here is amazing - going from lovely and serene to furious and gut-wrenching in a matter of seconds. His bends are almost tear-inducing, and that ear-melting lick at the 6:49 mark is especially devastating. Man, someone get an extinguisher 'cause that boy was ON FIRE!!! \n\nAll in all, one of the best albums I've ever heard. ARGUS is of course their most famous, but this one is equal to it.\n\nAMAZON.COM CUSTOMER REVIEW\nAn underrated classic, November 24, 2003\nReviewer: Michael L. Freeman (Chicago)\nThis album still sounds as fresh to me today as when I first heard it twenty years ago. Wishbone Ash remains a unique band with a unique sound. I recently saw them LIVE and was blown away. \nThis is hard British rock with some progressive rock influences and twin lead guitars. Unlike The Allman Brothers long songs like Handy and Phoenix are not improvised. The album begins with 4 straight up rockers originally on side 1 of the LP. Side 2 begins quietly with Handy, my personal favorite, which builds for 10 minutes to a satisfying climax. Phoenix is next another over 10 minute masterwork. If you don't like this, you don't like hard rock.\n\nAMAZON.COM CUSTOMER REVIEW\nA classic, October 14, 2003\nReviewer: A music fan\nThis was the first Wishbone Ash I bought on vinyl, when it came out first, very smooth beginning, gets even smoother into the first track then slowly builds up to heavier rock, but twin lead guitars? Novel for its day with bass trading off with them wonderful precision drumming from Upton, the bruford of his day?\nAtmospheric lyics in Pheonix, with wah wah effect, but still smooth and polished, A great Album, go and buy some good music!\n\nThe whole Album is quality instrumental rock.\n\nAMAZON.COM CUSTOMER REVIEW\nA real "Stoneage" gem!, August 13, 2003\nReviewer: Tom (Chicago subs)\n"Stoneage", is whay my son calls my old LP's. What a great work of art this LP is. I am currently replacing my old Lp's to disc and this band was my first priority. Dueling guitars, a tremendous bass, and vocals that are great. So much talent as musicians and writers all packaged together. I own the first 6 LP's and this one(1970), along with their 2nd (Pilgrimage 1971), and their 3rd (Argus 1972), are nothing short of 5 stars. As for Wishbone 4 (1973), to me, it is weak and sort of commercial. "Live Dates" is nice but several of the songs just don't do justice to their original recordings. I was fortunate to see this band about 2 years ago at the House of Blues and let me tell you, they are as good as they were way back in the early 70's.\n\nAMAZON.COM CUSTOMER REVIEW\nDueling guitar magic!, April 5, 2000\nReviewer: A music fan\nIncredible dueling guitar axework here. These guys invented the sound that would later give us Thin Lizzy, Iron Maiden and the like. In my opinion, this is Wishbone Ash's best album by far. Heavy in its own way but rocks nonetheless! I was blown away when I first heard it and still am today...\n\nAMAZON.COM CUSTOMER REVIEW\nBack When Rock Was Good, and Talent Was Prevalent, October 29, 1998\nReviewer: A music fan\nI stumbled across this album by dumb luck. It was playing in my uncle's car as we drove through Texas. Whew! Never had I heard the guitar used for such melody. Today's rock is just mind-numbing chords... but this, this is twin lead guitar, a sound most people never get to hear in its full glory. Want to? Check out track 6, "Phoenix."\nI highly recommend this to anyone who is a classic rock fan, or just enjoys long instrumental sections in their rock. Like Led Zeppelin, but aching for a little more guitar work? Check these guys out! Probably their best album, although "Argus" is right up there.\n\nAMAZON.COM CUSTOMER REVIEW\nFirst of the twin guitars, September 9, 1998\nReviewer: A music fan\nAnother case of superb performers that got very little recognition. If you are Michael Jackson or Madonna fan, this CD is not for you. This is a pure rock music with pleasant melodies and master musicians. I don't know of any other group that uses the technique of twin guitars. Just like harmony between two voices Powel and Turner are using two guitars, playing same melody in parallel tunes. At the same time , On other tracks, the other Turner is playing bass as the lead instrument while the twin guitars are accompanying him. The sound is the 70's sound when melody DID count and players actually had to be musicians and read notes. Wishbone Ash were unique in their style and if you are a 60-70's rock fan with fine ear for exceptional performers, this album is for you. I over used my LP, had to replace it and now I am on to the CD.\n\nHalf.com Album Notes\nThe debut album by the long running British rock institution finds their formula already in place - a little blues, a little folk, a little Yes style riffing, and some endearingly cosmic lyrics. The band's basis is the tag team guitars of Andy Powell and Ted Turner.\nIn what was a fairly innovative move in 1970 the two alternate harmony riffs a la the Allman Brothers ("Blind Eye") or play dueling solos in the manner of the San Francisco bands that preceded them. In fact, the album's centerpiece, the epic 10-minute "Phoenix," is precisely the sort of psychedelic jam that used to really wow them at the Fillmore during the Summer of Love--think the Grateful Dead with a tighter rhythm section.
This rock cd contains 6 tracks and runs 42min 23sec.
Freedb: 3509ed06
Buy: from Amazon.com

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