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As Deep Purple were conquering America with their 'Burn' tour and blowing things apart at the California Jam festival in 1974, another British act were breaking records across the States. They had never enjoyed playing to such large audiences and in many places the venues were seeing their house attendances broken too. The band were riding the crest of a wave of popularity that saw them briefly in the top echelons of rock's royalty. They called themselves Wishbone Ash.
Two big-selling albums in the shape of 'Argus' and the double live set 'Live Dates' had catapulted this act into the limelight. But at the height of success came disaster. Ted Turner, one of the band's two guitarists left to pursue spiritual things up a South American mountain! They recruited Laurie Wisefield from Home and recorded 'There's the Rub' with a hard-hitting American sound. Into the late 70's they became one of the best live acts around.
But let's go back a couple of years to the recording of their third album for MCA which they called Argus. Andy Powell, the band's leading light explained to me that they were all dabbling with spiritual things and out of that came a song that has come to be a prerequisite for all their shows, The King Will Come. It wasn't until after I became a Christian that I realised the song is all about the second coming of Christ when he is to come as judge of the world. I should add quickly that they are not themselves Christians to the best of my knowledge. As a budding guitar player at school, I remember a classmate telling me that the day I could play the lead guitar parts on this song he would be very impressed. Indeed, it's the kind of song that one just can't but help falling in love with.
However, Argus is not a one song record. Ash are renowned for some stirring boogies and side one ends with Blowin' Free that is a real show stopper. The riff became a staple in guitar shops around the world as folks tried out new instruments. Also on side one are the wonderful Time Was and the incredible Sometime World where Martin Turner on bass scat sings a syncopated vocal on top of a very tricky bass line. Side two has the magical Leaf and Stream with its evocative lyrics …
The album ends with the slow and rather ponderous Throw Down the Sword which ends with two soloing guitars wheeling like birds in the heavens. It's a song that shouldn't work but it does and it continues to be one of the fans' favourites. And whilst I'm on the subject of guitar solos, that is what Wishbone Ash are all about, stylish guitar solos and lots of them. Unlike many other bands the two players always try and do something different. If they're both playing chords then one will find a different voicing on the guitar neck to add colour, or usually one will solo in counterpoint to the vocal line. The harmony breaks are amongst the best you will find anywhere. Underneath the guitarfest is the fine bass playing of Martin Turner and drumming of 'father' Steve Upton, both hugely underrated.
Thirty years later these songs still make up the backbone of the live shows, and if you find any Wishbone Ash albums in the local music store then Argus will be the one. I couldn't imagine life without these songs. As I have matured as a musician, both songwriter, player and arranger, I have had a growing respect for what these men achieved all those years ago. Sometimes I think that Wishbone Ash are my favourite band - until I play Deep Purple's Highway Star that is!