Britain’s Wishbone Ash started in 1969 and has released 25+ albums, with guitarist/singer Andy the sole member left from the original band.
We discuss “American Century” from their last studio album,
Blue Horizon (2014), “Master of Disguise” as released on
Bare Bones (1999) (the original version, which we also play some bits of, was from
Just Testing (1980), and “Roads of Day to Day,” a song recorded in 1970 as a demo before their first album and finally released on
First Light (2007). We conclude by listening to “In Crisis” from The
The Power Of Eternity (2007). Intro music: “Blowin’ Free” from
Argus (1972).
For more info, visit
wishboneash.com.
Here’s a 2007 live recording of “Roads of Day to Day,” and
here’s a live version of “Blowin’ Free.”
Here’s the lengthy, jam-based song “Phoenix” that Andy refers to in its original album form.
Here’s the original 1980 version of “Master of Disguise” with Martin Turner singing and Laurie Wisefield playing spastic wah-wah guitar.
Some quick chronology: The “classic” lineup featured Andy with Martin Turner (bass, main vocals, and most lyrics), Ted Turner (no relation; second guitar,
also lead vocals sometimes), and drummer (and sometimes lyricist) Steve Upton. Albums with this lineup are the most revered, especially 1972’s
Argus, which any classic rock fan should really memorize.
Here’s that band live. Ted left in 1974, so the very acrobatic
Laurie Wisefield became the second guitarist. This band fell apart in the early ’80s, with some different singers getting involved (including