Wishbone Ash founding member, bassist, and vocalist Martin Turner has been out of that band for quite some time, but he continues to go out and perform material from his former group in front of live audiences around the world. Here we have a collection of both his New Live Dates Volumes 1 and 2, originally released in 2006 & 2007 at live shows only, now together in one packed 2CD set for an official mainstream release. The line-up for Turner's band here includes guitarists Ray Hatfield & Keith Buck, plus drummer Rob Hewins, as well as a special guest appearance by another original Ash member, Ted Turner on guitar & vocals.
Recorded at various venues on the 2006 UK tour, the audio quality here is quite good and the band are in fine form, performing many familiar Wishbone Ash classics as well as some more obscure tracks. Of the well known pieces, you can expect rocking versions of "Blind Eye", "Blowin' Free", "Runaway", "Warrior", "FUBB", "Front Page News", and "Jailbait", but the real treat is hearing some of the lesser known album cuts like "Say Goodbye", "Diamond Jack", "Lifeline", "Master of Disguise", and one of my personal favorites, "Living Proof". Martin still sounds great vocally, and his beefy bass lines pump underneath the sizzling twin guitar of Hatfield & Buck. While neither are Andy Powell, Ted Turner, or Laurie Wisefield, they more than hold their own throughout this set and the songs remain faithful to the originals.
Whether you remain loyal to Andy Powell's official version of Wishbone Ash or Martin Turner's solo band performing Ash material (though he and his band released a great set of all new material in 2015), the good news is the songs of this often underrated band are still out there for live audiences to enjoy. It's doubtful after all that's happened that the classic members will reunite once again, but the music lives on.
See more about this release on our recent YouTube show!
Track Listing
DISC ONE
1) Doctor
2) Blind Eye
3) Lorelei
4) Walking the Reeperbahn
5) Outward Bound
6) Persephone
7) Front Page News
8) Runaway
9) Baby The Angels Are Here
10) Warrior
11) Lifeline
12) Silver Shoes
13) Cosmic Jazz
DISC TWO
1) Diamond Jack
2) Master of Disguise
3) Say Goodbye
4) FUBB
5) Come In From the Rain
6) Living Proof
7) Blowin' Free
8) Flesh and Steel
9) Standing in the Rain
10) Why Don't We
11) Jailbait
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