Madfish/Snapper Music [Release date 14.04.23]

In his Best of two decades listing our Melodic Rock Editor Andy Nathan (and big Wishbone Ash fan) included the gig at a country house in Buckinghamshire in 2012. Andy wrote: “Given the enmity between Martin (Turner) and Andy Powell, it was the nearest we will ever come to the reunion dreamed of by Wishbone fans.”

And that hope, sadly, has persisted at least since the acrimonious fight over the band name in 2013 although the two main movers and shakers had separated at least two decades earlier.

It is Martin Turner who has brought his production skills to the remixed/remastered version of the band’s classic third album now re-imagined as part of a lavish limited edition box set.

The ubiquitous re-cycling includes the newly refashioned album in replica sleeve on vinyl and CD, and several contemporaneous live recordings (highlights on coloured vinyl, two CDs and a DVD from French and Swiss TV) together with an informative 48 page booklet to which all band members have contributed. And there’s a red vinyl single ‘No Easy Way’ and ‘Blowin’ Free’.

In his ‘Introduction’ to the band Andy Nathan rightly elevated ‘Argus’ noting: “Its mixture of rock, blues and English folk influences was an inspiration on many musicians that followed and even the helmeted mythical character looking out from the cover is thought by some to have been a template for Darth Vader!” Perhaps it was also a portent of the need for protection in a convoluted legal case. The memorable cover image used film props and the new essay reveals the identity of the “warrior”.

The album does stand proud in the Wishbone lexicon, and it still sounds relevant perhaps because it is more timeless than what came later, with the band’s willingness to embrace various musical styles whether it be American AOR or even dance vibes.

As Andy Powell told me in 2012 one of his career high points had to be ‘Argus’ “Even as we move forward in time that really was a special album and it coincided with us playing much larger venues especially in the States where we were playing stadiums. And I think that album was written for that kind of venue.”

And the live albums included here certainly reflect that. Live at Alexandra Palace was recorded in December 1973 whilst the complete Memphis radio broadcast comes from August 1972 (originally circulated to FM radio stations on three track EP and included on the 2002 “expanded” version of ‘Argus’). Perhaps all that is missing, for completism, is the contemporary BBC Radio 1 In Concert or the ‘On Air’ recordings from this period.

As Martin Turner told Pete Feenstra in 2018, he used biblical imagery to inspire the album standout ‘The King Will Come’ but it was Steve Upton who came up with the second verse lyrics. Needless to say, in 2023 re-mastered format it still sounds pretty damn fine and may even be improved. Andy Nathan summed up: “The album has a magical sense of light and shade as quiet passages and lyrical meditations on themes such as the passage of time and war intertwine with soaring, lengthy yet always melodic solos.”

The following album ‘Wishbone IV’ was self-produced and moved away from the ‘Argus’ style. As Turner continued: “It was rougher, more mainstream rock” no doubt to further appeal to American audiences and FM Radio. As the decade progressed it also appeared that some of the band members sought greater commercial success and the elusive “hit” single.

Collectors should note that in addition to the 2002 reissue, remixed by … Martin Turner, (which is the version used here) there is a 2007 “deluxe” version. During research for the latest release four demo tracks were discovered and are included as bonuses. The only thing missing might be a 5.1 surround sound or high resolution mix. Maybe for the 60th?

You could say that this package is the poor relation to the 30-CD “Vintage Years” box set, also released by Madfish, in 2018 (when of course a remastered ‘Argus’ was included).

But for those who just want to focus on a halcyon period in the band’s history, step right up. ****

Review by David Randall

The Best of 2023

An introduction to… (Feature, 2020)

Featured Artist: JOSH TAERK

Since early 2020 Josh has been entertaining us with exclusive monthly live sessions, streamed via Facebook.

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David Randall presents a weekly show on Get Ready to ROCK! Radio, Sundays at 22:00 GMT, repeated on Mondays and Fridays), when he invites listeners to ‘Assume The Position’. The show signposts forthcoming gigs and tours and latest additions at getreadytorock.com. First broadcast on 1 December 2024.

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Power Plays w/c 9 December 2024

In this sequence we play ‘The Best of 2024′ GRTR! reviewer selections

Featured Albums w/c 9 December 2024

09:00-12:00 The Best of 2024 (Melodic Rock)
12:00-13:00 The Best of 2003-2024 (Melodic Hard Rock)
14:00-16:00 The Best of 2024 (Singer Songwriter)