This mega-package from Madfish contains 11 CDs, a DVD and a 72-page hardback book with rare photos, session documentation from the BBC vaults and exclusive insights from the band. The audio recordings are high quality and whether you are fanatic of the band, a vaguely interested prog aficionado, or you fit somewhere in between, many, if not all, of the setlists contain something that will make you prick your ears up. The collection does the band proud and this is a substantial and influential body of work that is justifiably worthy of this deep level of curation.
However, it will set you back in the region of £150. Is it worth it if you are not already a fan? In pure music terms, probably not. On the downside there is a lot of repetition in the setlists and also plenty of filler material, but on the plus side, there is the book of course, and also the fact that this is mostly unreleased material containing some exceptional live performances. Overall, it is not as far off being value for money as you may initially think.
Wishbone Ash didn’t form until 1969 when the long-term musical partnership of Martin Turner and Steve Upton joined up with Ted Turner (no relation) and Andy Powell. If you aren’t familiar with the story, this was as a result of auditions organised by manager Miles Copeland III, and a reluctance to choose one over the other. Within the year they had rehearsed, begun writing and recording a debut album, supported for Deep Purple, and secured a quarter of a million dollar advance from MCA records. From the ashes of The Torinoes and Tanglewood, they literally rose like a phoenix, and from virtually nowhere became one of the hottest properties on the London blues/rock scene.
CD1 showcases their first BBC sessions, after what was obviously a successful appearance on BBC2’s “Disco 2” programme, a precursor of the Old Grey Whistle Test. John Peel and Bob Harris were early supporters of the band and the publicity did them no harm with the debut album peaking at number 29 in the charts in January 1971.
Hang on, did I say ‘blues/rock’? Of course, side one of ‘Wishbone Ash’ fitted the bill perfectly, but the second side of the eponymous debut album consisted of two ten-minute plus tracks Handy and Phoenix, showcasing more progressive tendencies, with Phoenix going on to become a prog rock classic and live staple, as testified by the seven audio versions included in this selection. The band seems to have a permanent Jekyll and Hyde complex in this respect, never full committing to one genre or the other. Sometimes that works for a band (Deep Purple being one example), but my lasting impression from this exercise is that Wishbone Ash was essentially a pub rock band that could have been one of the biggest progressive rock bands in the classic prog era. The band stuck to its roots in the end, leaving me, for one, thinking what could have been?
Martin Turner, and the rest of the band, had been so prolific in the early months of the band’s formation that the debut and the second album Pilgrimage were effectively joined at the hip and so the sessions on CD1 contain tracks from both of these albums. It’s notable that only one track Vas Dis is a cover version, and that The Pilgrim adds to the band’s contribution to the classic prog canon in fine style. The musicianship, and the breadth and depth of the song-writing, developed in such a short space in time, is quite remarkable.
CD2 finds the band promoting Argus their third, and ultimately most successful and enduring album. The development of the dual lead guitar partnership of Turner and Powell and the ambitious arrangements that they enabled meant that Argus was a truly progressive album, and one that would inspire a cohort of later bands. This is arguably the high point of the whole set, with these first two CDs capturing the musicality of the band superbly.
The first three tracks on CD3, from BBC sessions in 1972, sound flat and half-hearted, but this set is primarily of interest since it contains the “lost” 14 February 1974 BBC ‘In Concert’ show featuring the last recorded appearance by Ted Turner in the mark one line-up. The completists among you will not be disappointed, and for everyone else, by any measure this is a live show that is well worth a listen.
Disc 4 spans 1976/77, with Laurie Wisefield now fully integrated into the band. They had re-located to America in 1974 and continued to release albums at the rate of (at least) one a year. The newer tracks in the playlist for CD4 are taken from New England and Front Page News. With just the two old favourites added to the mix this certainly freshens up the listening experience. The wild and, to be fair, raggedy version of one of my personal favourites, Mother of Pearl, is a bonus. Laurie Wisefield admits to a Bowie (Fame period) style influence to the opening guitar riff, which is pretty obvious, now that it’s been mentioned, of course. What CD4 does show is that Wishbone Ash mark 2 still had much to offer, despite this version of the band also, seemingly, not knowing who their target audience was.
By the time we get to 1977 and the Glasgow Apollo concert recording on CD5 the format of each set starts to look familiar. We sort of know what we are going to get. The usual raucous blues rockers, a couple of the ‘best’ tracks from the most recent albums, and four or five of the crowd favourites. Now, if you were on a night out to take in some authentic rock tunes that is a sure-fire recipe for success. It’s just if you find yourself listening on repeat it can be a bit same-old. Having said that, these versions of Phoenix and Blowin’ Free are possibly the pick of the whole bunch up to now, so what the heck, let’s just enjoy and go with the flow.
The Hammersmith Odeon concert a year later, is spread over discs 6 and 7. I was just pondering, and enjoying, the complete lack of drum solos, when up pops F*U*B*B (otherwise known as F*cked Up Beyond Belief), which has been described as an instrumental blitzkrieg, and pretty much affects me the same way that a drum solo would. Other than that, this is just another day at the office for the band and crew. It does what it says on the tin. At this stage I am looking for more exciting signs of life amongst the newer tracks, but for me, unfortunately there isn’t really anything to shout about. That can never be said about the faithful fans however, who receive everything with the same enthusiastic fervour. I guess a lot of bands have to address the conundrum of whether to re-invent themselves or to stick with plan A, what I’m learning from this boxset is that Wishbone Ash were most definitely in the ‘Plan A’ camp.
CD7 is bulked up with four tracks from 1979, chosen, a bit annoyingly, so that Blowin’ Free appears not once, again, but twice, again. All together now…
I know, because I seen her,
her hair was golden brown,
blowin’ free like a cornfield”.
Just when I was wondering if I was going to make it to the end, up pops CD8, the 1980 10th Anniversary tour set, and a swift return to the Hammersmith Odeon. The set kicks off at a ferocious pace with a rare appearance of Doctor from 1973’s Wishbone Four album, and a version of Blind Eye that surprisingly surpasses the fresh and raw early take from CD1. The Way of the World is one of the more successful newer tracks that leans heavily on the progressive side, and this live version is delivered with imagination, spirit and no little venom. This subset of the playlist is a reminder that when the band was on their A-game they were exceptional. Inevitably though, they also have to showcase tracks from the latest album, in this case Just Testing, and leading off with the plodding Insomnia does them no favours. The set doesn’t catch fire again until the old favourites return. Notable for being the curtain call for the mark two version of the band, before Martin Turner parted company, this set has a similar significance for fans as does CD3.
Martin Turner’s bass duties were passed on briefly to John Wetton, but on CD9 it is ex-Spider from Mars man Trevor Bolder who takes the stage. In this case it is actually Martin’s vocal contributions that are more difficult to replace. The rest of the band, and Claire Hamill who joins as a guest on this tour, do their best but the outcome is not great. CD9 really didn’t do it for me, however the latter part of the 1981 concert runs onto CD10 and this version of Phoenix surpasses all those that have come before. The guitar playing is sublime, the measure of control and imagination shown by Steve Upton on drums is a masterclass and the transition between sections is flawlessly executed. Was this to be the last hurrah for the band? The unrecognisable AOR Friday Rock Show material from 1985 also included on CD10 suggested that it probably was.
Of course, history shows that where there is a will there is a way, and where there are ashes there will be phoenixes. The original band was reformed in 1987 for a Miles Copeland III project, and 1988 saw the old team on the road again to promote a new Wishbone Ash album Nouveau Calls. The focus of the project was instrumental pieces and, in this context, finally the band did get to explore some new sonic realms. Of the three tracks featured in this selection from the reformed band’s 1988 tour Tangible Evidence is the most interesting, it sounding like a deliberate piece of song-writing rather than experimental or sketchy noodling.
Ted Turner missed most of the rehearsals for the tour due to immigration problems so the band utilised Jamie Crompton for the first part of the set, with Ted taking over for the early years section. The gap years and the lack of rehearsal time means that the versions of the classics on CD11 are more notable for individual ‘limelight’ moments than the coherence of the songs. This is a historical record of a meaningful moment in the band’s history, but it is not the band at their best.
There are many positives to be taken from this boxset. The historical ‘one-off’ nature of the some of these discs is appetising for any music lover and the career-spanning coverage provides a back-story and a context for comparing and contrasting such a significant catalogue. The book is an important record of the time and fascinating for the insight provided by all the insiders. Although 1988 wasn’t the end of the road for the band, this package covers the most important period of the its history. Arguably, the band did lean too heavily on their early successes and this is a stumbling block, but you can’t argue with the fanbase, commercial success and longevity that Wishbone Ash sustains.
I have not had a copy of the DVD for this review, The blurb says ‘The bonus DVD clips feature 3 snapshots of a changing band, from the ’71 Old Grey Whistle Test and the ’77 Criteria Studio sessions in Miami, to a 1980 Guildford Civic Hall gig.’
TRACK LISTING
CD1
– John Peel/Sounds of the 70s/Top Gear 1970/71
01. Vas Dis (John Peel’s Sunday Concert 19/11/70) (4:24)
02. Phoenix (John Peel’s Sunday Concert 19/11/70) (14:13)
03. Where Were You Tomorrow (John Peel’s Sunday Concert 19/11/70) (6:23)
04. Queen of Torture (Sounds of the Seventies 1/1/71) (3:30)
05. Errors of my Way (Sounds of the Seventies 1/1/71) (6:38)
06. Blind Eye (Sounds of the Seventies 21/4/71) (3:52)
07. Lullaby (Sounds of the Seventies 21/4/71) (2:48)
08. The Pilgrim (Top Gear 5/7/71) (6:57)
09. Jail Bait (Top Gear 5/7/71) (4:54)
10. Lady Whiskey (Top Gear 5/7/71) (5:39)
11. Lullaby (Top Gear 5/7/71) (3:12)
12. Jail Bait (Sounds of the Seventies 1/11/71) (4:59)
13. The Pilgrim (Sounds of the Seventies 1/11/71) (8:39)
14. Lullaby (Sounds of the Seventies 1/11/71) (3:15)
CD2
– Paris Theatre 1972
01. Time Was (Paris Theatre London 25/5/72) (10:27)
02. Blowin’ Free (Paris Theatre London 25/5/72) (5:32)
03. Jail Bait (Paris Theatre London 25/5/72) (5:23)
04. The Pilgrim (Paris Theatre London 25/5/72) (10:25)
05. Warrior (Paris Theatre London 25/5/72) (5:40)
06. Throw Down The Sword (Paris Theatre London 25/5/72) (6:27)
07. The King Will Come (Paris Theatre London 25/5/72) (8:24)
08. Phoenix (Paris Theatre London 25/5/72) (19:35)
CD3
– Top Gear 1972/Paris Theatre 1974
01. Blowin’ Free (Top Gear 18/4/72) (6:47)
02. Warrior (Top Gear 18/4/72) (4:50)
03. The King Will Come (Top Gear 18/4/72) (6:10)
04. Ballad Of The Beacon (Paris Theatre London 14/2/74) (6:01)
05. Sometime World (Paris Theatre London 14/2/74) (7:36)
06. Rock ‘n Roll Widow (Paris Theatre London 14/2/74) (5:58)
07. Blowin’ Free (Paris Theatre London 14/2/74) (5:22)
08. Jail Bait (Paris Theatre London 14/2/74) (9:08)
09. Time Was (Paris Theatre London 14/2/74) (7:33)
10. Phoenix (Paris Theatre London 14/2/74) (18:34)
CD4
– Glasgow Apollo 1976/OGWT 1977
01. Runaway (John Peel Show 19/11/76) (3:36)
02. The King Will Come (John Peel Show 19/11/76) (7:39)
03. Lorelei (John Peel Show 19/11/76) (6:23)
04. Mother Of Pearl (John Peel Show 19/11/76) (6:01)
05. Blowin’ Free (John Peel Show 19/11/76) (5:56)
06. Come In From The Rain (Old Grey Whistle Test 11/10/77) (4:45)
07. Goodbye Baby Hello Friend (Old Grey Whistle Test 11/10/77) (3:35)
CD5
– Glasgow Apollo 1977
01. Blind Eye (Glasgow Apollo 17/10/77) (2:48)
02. Lady Whiskey (Glasgow Apollo 17/10/77) (2:50)
03. Warrior (Glasgow Apollo 17/10/77) (5:38)
04. Throw Down The Sword (Glasgow Apollo 17/10/77) (4:24)
05. Front Page News (Glasgow Apollo 17/10/77) (5:55)
06. Goodbye Baby Hello Friend (Glasgow Apollo 17/10/77) (5:31)
07. Come In From The Rain (Glasgow Apollo 17/10/77) (5:21)
08. Phoenix (Glasgow Apollo 17/10/77) (12:39)
09. Blowin’ Free (Glasgow Apollo 17/10/77) (6:37)
10. Bad Weather Blues (Glasgow Apollo 17/10/77) (8:26)
CD6
– Hammersmith Odeon 1978 (Part 1)
01. The King Will Come (Hammersmith Odeon 25/10/78 (part 1)) (6:55)
02. Warrior (Hammersmith Odeon 25/10/78 (part 1)) (6:11)
03. Errors Of My Way (Hammersmith Odeon 25/10/78 (part 1)) (6:28
04. You See Red (Hammersmith Odeon 25/10/78 (part 1)) (6:47)
05. F*U*B*B (Hammersmith Odeon 25/10/78 (part 1)) (10:05)
06. Front Page News (Hammersmith Odeon 25/10/78 (part 1)) (5:39)
07. The Way Of The World (Hammersmith Odeon 25/10/78 (part 1)) (10:22)
08. Phoenix (Hammersmith Odeon 25/10/78 (part 1)) (13:36)
09. Anger In Harmony (Hammersmith Odeon 25/10/78 (part 1)) (4:44)
10. Time Was (Hammersmith Odeon 25/10/78 (part 1)) (6:47)
CD7
– Hammersmith Odeon (Part 2)/Empire Pool 1979
01. Runaway (Hammersmith Odeon 25/10/78 (part 2)) (3:46)
02. Lady Whiskey (Hammersmith Odeon 25/10/78 (part 2)) (3:00)
03. Jail Bait (Hammersmith Odeon 25/10/78 (part 2)) (5:10)
04. Queen Of Torture (Hammersmith Odeon 25/10/78 (part 2)) (3:13)
05. Blowin’ Free (Hammersmith Odeon 25/10/78 (part 2)) (7:05)
06. Bad Weather Blues (Hammersmith Odeon 25/10/78 (part 2)) (8:57)
07. Blowin’ Free (Wembley Empire Pool 22/11/79) (7:04)
08. Living Proof (Wembley Empire Pool 22/11/79) (5:44)
09. Helpless (Wembley Empire Pool 22/11/79) (4:16)
10. Bad Weather Blues (Wembley Empire Pool 22/11/79) (9:07)
CD8
– Hammersmith Odeon 1980
01. Doctor (Hammersmith Odeon 2/2/80) (6:07)
02. Blind Eye (Hammersmith Odeon 2/2/80) (3:50)
03. The Way Of The World (Hammersmith Odeon 2/2/80) (9:15)
04. Insomnia (Hammersmith Odeon 2/2/80) (7:01)
05. Queen Of Torture (Hammersmith Odeon 2/2/80) (3:20)
06. Lifeline (Hammersmith Odeon 2/2/80) (7:13)
07. Living Proof (Hammersmith Odeon 2/2/80) (6:02)
08. Blowin’ Free (Hammersmith Odeon 2/2/80) (6:39)
09. Helpless (Hammersmith Odeon 2/2/80) (4:01)
10. Jail Bait (Hammersmith Odeon 2/2/80) (5:32)
11. Bad Weather Blues (Hammersmith Odeon 2/2/80) (9:30)
CD9
– Hammersmith Odeon 1981 (Part 1)
01. The King Will Come (Hammersmith Odeon 2/6/81 (part 1)) (6:31)
02. Lady Whiskey (Hammersmith Odeon 2/6/81 (part 1)) (3:27)
03. Where Is The Love (Hammersmith Odeon 2/6/81 (part 1)) (4:32)
04. Living Proof (Hammersmith Odeon 2/6/81 (part 1)) (5:57)
05. Underground (Hammersmith Odeon 2/6/81 (part 1)) (5:28)
06. Warrior (Hammersmith Odeon 2/6/81 (part 1)) (6:26)
07. Loaded (Hammersmith Odeon 2/6/81 (part 1)) (7:04)
08. Kicks On The Street (Hammersmith Odeon 2/6/81 (part 1)) (4:45)
09. Blowin’ Free (Hammersmith Odeon 2/6/81 (part 1)) (7:33)
10. Get Ready (Hammersmith Odeon 2/6/81 (part 1)) (4:28)
CD10
– Hammersmith Odeon (Part 2)/Friday Rock Show 1985
01. Phoenix (Hammersmith Odeon 2/6/81 (part 2)) (15:29)
02. Number The Brave (Hammersmith Odeon 2/6/81 (part2)) (5:41)
03. Helpless (Hammersmith Odeon 2/6/81 (part 2)) (7:16)
04. Long Live The Night (The Friday Rock Show 24/5/85) (3:47)
05. Love Is Blue (The Friday Rock Show 24/5/85) (4:07)
06. People in Motion (The Friday Rock Show 24/5/85) (3:54)
07. Cell Of Fame (The Friday Rock Show 24/5/85) (4:53)
CD11
– Hammersmith Odeon 1988
01. Tangible Evidence (Hammersmith Odeon 4/3/88) (3:55)
02. Living Proof (Hammersmith Odeon 4/3/88) (6:29)
03. Genevieve (Hammersmith Odeon 4/3/88) (3:57)
04. No More Lonely Nights (Hammersmith Odeon 4/3/88) (6:23)
05. The King Will Come (Hammersmith Odeon 4/3/88) (6:23)
06. Throw Down The Sword (Hammersmith Odeon 4/3/88) (5:22)
07. Clousseau (Hammersmith Odeon 4/3/88) (4:54)
08. In The Skin (Hammersmith Odeon 4/3/88) (6:03)
09. Phoenix (Hammersmith Odeon 4/3/88) (13:48)
10. Blowin’ Free (Hammersmith Odeon 4/3/88) (6:38)
11. Jail Bait (Hammersmith Odeon 4/3/88) (6:22)
12. Bad Weather Blues (Hammersmith Odeon 4/3/88) (6:52)
DVD
01. Vas Dis (take 1) (Old Grey Whistle Test 12/10/71) (4:50)
02. Vas Dis (take 2) (Old Grey Whistle Test 12/10/71) (4:48)
03. Jail Bait (take 1) (Old Grey Whistle Test 12/10/71) (1:10)
04. Jail Bait (take 2) (Old Grey Whistle Test 12/10/71) (5:00)
05. Jail Bait (take 3) (Old Grey Whistle Test 12/10/71) (0:59)
06. Jail Bait (take 4) (Old Grey Whistle Test 12/10/71) (5:30)
07. Come In From The Rain (Old Grey Whistle Test 11/10/77) (4:39)
08. Goodbye Baby Hello Friend (Old Grey Whistle Test 11/10/77) (3:29)
09. Helpless (Old Grey Whistle Test 13/5/80) (3:32)
10. Blowin` Free (Old Grey Whistle Test 13/5/80) (6:17)
MUSICIANS
Andy Powell – Lead Guitar, Vocals
Ted Turner – Lead Guitar, Vocals (CD 1, 2, 3 & 11)
Martin Turner – Bass, Vocals (CD 1-8 & 11)
Steve Upton – Drums
~ With:
Laurie Wisefield – Acoustic, Electric & Steel Guitars, Backing Vocals (CD 4 – 10)
Trevor Bolder – Bass (CD 9 & 10)
Claire Hamill – Backing Vocals (CD 9 & 10)
Jamie Crompton – Lead Guitar (CD 11)
ADDITIONAL INFO
Record Label: Madfish Music
Country of Origin: UK
Date of Release: 28th March 2025
LINKS
Wishbone Ash (Andy Powell) Website | Facebook | X | Instagram
Wishbone Ash (Martin Turner) Website | Facebook | YouTube | X | Instagram
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