Ash The File

During the early and mid-'70s, Wishbone Ash were among England's most popular hard rock acts. The band's sound was rooted in energetic hard rock, with a strong progressive rock influence in their extended compositions, inventive melodic sense, and the epic-scale soloing from their various guitarists (most notably Andy Powell, the group's sole constant member). Despite extensive personnel changes throughout their existence, Wishbone Ash maintained a distinct sound and a prolific longevity that earned them a lasting following.

Time Was, Wishbone Ash's two CD-live anthology, was assembled by the band and the labels Castle and Sanctuary. Consisting of two previously released live recordings, only half of this is even worth hearing. The first disc, Live: Time Line, sounds like a bunch of geezers on their last legs and features only guitarist Andy Powell and bassist Martin Turner from the original lineup. Poorly recorded, tiredly played and utterly boring, it sounds more like a corner bar Wishbone Ash tribute band than the real thing – which of course it's not. In fact, the only case that ever needs to be made for bands not reuniting is this one. Disc two, originally issued as King Will Come: Live, is prime Ash. Recorded in the U.S. and Canada from 1973 through '76, at the height of their powers, this date showcases a restless, hungry, fully adventurous unit with Powell, Turner, drummer Steve Upton, keyboardist Graham Maitland and guitarist Laurie Wisefield. While the recording itself isn't stellar it's far more than passable and will be a welcome addition to the catalog for punters who didn't get it the first time around. The title track, "Blowin; Free," "The Warrior," "Balled of the Beacon," "Doctor," and "Moonshine" are all here, as well as nine others. This set makes plain the reason they ordered the performances in reverse: if King Will Come: Live had been first, no one would have ever even played Live: Time Line. As it is, folks who encounter Live: Time Line first may feel so ripped off by its horror, they may never stumble upon the treasure that is King Will Come: Live.

During the early and mid-'70s, Wishbone Ash were among England's most popular hard rock acts. The band's sound was rooted in energetic hard rock, with a strong progressive rock influence in their extended compositions, inventive melodic sense, and the epic-scale soloing from their various guitarists (most notably Andy Powell, the group's sole constant member). Despite extensive personnel changes throughout their existence, Wishbone Ash maintained a distinct sound and a prolific longevity that earned them a lasting following.

In September 2023, it will be exactly 50 years since the British rock band Wishbone Ash released "Live Dates," the most commercially successful album of their career.

Classic Rock leaderrs Wishbone Ash have been hitting the tarmac for ove 50 years now and with the success of their latest album Coat of Arms we are pleased to release the second in the highly successful Roadworks Live series.

Pentecost 2015 have Andy Powell and his men played in 3 days concerts at Le Triton in Paris, during which they presented songs from different stages of her long career, have not often heard or seen the even die WBA fans and the and the band their long history summarized excellently.