While listening to The Garden Party, the 2CD Martin Turner set of live songs from the Wishbone Ash catalog, I was – once again – struck to notice that the Live Dates album from 1973 could actually be a Deluxe Edition from the Universal umbrella. I have sent a message to Martin Turner via his Facebook page to mention the potential project to him.
Martin Turner, has remastered Argus (I wish he could do the same for Wishbone Four, There’s The Rub, Pilgrimage, Wishbone Ash, Locked In (which I LOVE), New England, and even No Smoke Without Fire. But definitely, I believe that the one album with a real shot at presentation would be Live Dates.
The original album contains eleven live tracks over two LPs (or 2CDs back in the early days of the format). The cuts were culled from four shows that include Croydon Fairfield Hall, Reading University, Newcastle City Hall, and Portsmouth Guildhall, all recorded in June of 1973 for the album. One thing is for certain, those shows contained a hell of a lot more than just the eleven tracks selected.
What I think would be a great idea, is for SOMEONE (doesn’t matter who), to go into the archives, find the tapes for all the shows in those venues, and assemble a 3CD (maybe more) Deluxe Edition of Live Dates. Add in new remastering, an updated and expanded booklet with new photos, and some new notes, I have a feeling there would be a lot of generated goodness for the set. In fact, if I worked at Universal in their catalog division, I would be consistently recommending this as a reissue project.
If this gets ignored, maybe I’ll have a go at it! I really think it has legs.
Wishbone Ash fans, what do YOU think? (Pass this around!)
Live Dates, is my favorite Wishbone Ash Album. Would love to see a 5.1 release of this great old classic!
I agree! It’s an album that is as memorable as a studio issue. The things that could happen with this title are pleasant to think about! I’ve already put the bug in MT’s ear.
Before today I had never listened to Wishbone Ash. I downloaded the MCA Travelogue compilation from Rhapsody and loved it!
Well! I’m glad you found a new “old” band. They really were awesome. Allow me to point you toward Wishbone Four, although many might suggest Argus.
That would be amazing and the other titles you have suggested with Martin would be great, will it happen, let’s hope
[…] bug in Martin Turner, and Andy Powell’s ear, and written about this in a separate article (read here). I’d like to see the original album tracks remastered, and all tracks from those four shows […]
[…] quite simply make my stuffed collection of Wishbone Ash albums super complete. Here’s an article I wrote a few years back concerning this possibility. Live Dates is a collection of cherry-picked […]
Yep would love this especially a vinyl edition with all the trimmings
[…] On November 20, Chrysalis Records will revisit Strangers In The Night with an 8CD set that will provide the full concerts of both shows that were cherry-picked for the original set, then add four extra shows from that US Obsession tour that include stops at Columbus, OH, Cleveland, OH, Kenosha, WI, and Youngstown, OH. Now THAT’S exciting, especially for UFO fans. This is a concept that I have long championed for great live albums (especially for Wishbone Ash‘s exemplary Live Dates, which I’ve begged for, and have presented to various labels for years [read here]). […]