Wishbone Ash rose promisingly through the ranks after the release of their debut in 1970. however that promise was, it wasn’t until Argus that the band took off. Wishbone Ash captivated audiences with not only their brilliant ability to create enduring and influential songs and style, they also endeared their live audience with a strong live presence. It is their classic eras with two distinct lineups that brought together the talents of Martin Turner, Steve Upton, Andy Powell, Ted Turner, and eventually, Laurie Wisefield. Over time, those two lineups created ten memorable albums from 19701 to 1980, and reunited for two more for their once manager’s label, IRS Records. (That manager was Miles Copeland, III).
Reported first by the fine DMME site by Dmitry M. Epstein, the news is too good to not bring it to a few new corners of the ‘net. On March 28, Madfish Records, producers of the finest boxsets known in the Rock kingdom, will unleash an 11CD/DVD Box for Wishbone Ash that will centralize on their live performances from 1970 through 1988. The set will be called At The BBC 1970-1988.
This live At The BBC: 1970-1988 will contain 119 performance tracks, with 10 of those featuring on the DVD that will cover various takes and performances from The Old Grey Whistle Test BBC show in the UK. The music is newly remastered and some of it has never been heard before (other than by the attendees, of course). The box is pricey and will likely appeal only to devout Wishbone Ash fans. But if that’s you, then you will also get a 72-page book filled with all sorts of goodness.
At The BBC: 1970-1988 – Wishbone Ash
CD1 (John Peel/Sounds of the 70s/Top Gear 1970-1971)
01 Vas Dis (John Peel’s Sunday Concert – November 11, 1970)
02 Phoenix (John Peel’s Sunday Concert – November 19, 1970)
03 Where Were You Tomorrow (John Peel’s Sunday Concert – November19, 1970)
04 Queen of Torture (Sounds of the Seventies – January 1, 1971
05 Errors of my Way (Sounds of the Seventies – January 1, 1971
06 Blind Eye (Sounds of the Seventies – April 21, 1971)
07 Lullaby (Sounds of the Seventies – April 21, 1971)
08 The Pilgrim (Top Gear – July 5, 1971)
09 Jail Bait (Top Gear – July 5, 1971)
10 Lady Whiskey (Top Gear – July 5, 1971)
11 Lullaby (Top Gear – July 5, 1971)
12 Jail Bait (Sounds of the Seventies – November 1, 1971)
13 The Pilgrim (Sounds of the Seventies – November 1, 1971)
14 Lullaby (Sounds of the Seventies – November 1, 1971)
CD2 (Paris Theatre – London – May 25, 1972)
01.Time Was
02.Blowin’ Free
03.Jail Bait
04.The Pilgrim
05.Warrior
06.Throw Down The Sword
07.The King Will Come
08.Phoenix
CD3 (Top Gear – 1972/Paris Theatre – 1974)
01 Blowin’ Free (Top Gear – April 18, 1972)
02 Warrior (Top Gear – April 18, 1972)
03 The King Will Come (Top Gear – April 18, 1972)
04 Ballad Of The Beacon (Paris Theatre – February 14, 1974)
05 Sometime World (Paris Theatre – February 14, 1974)
06 Rock ‘n Roll Widow (Paris Theatre – February 14, 1974)
07 Blowin’ Free (Paris Theatre – February 14, 1974)
08 Jail Bait (Paris Theatre – February 14, 1974)
09 Time Was (Paris Theatre – February 14, 1974)
10 Phoenix (Paris Theatre – February 14, 1974)
CD4 (John Peel Show – Glasgow Apollo 1976/Old Grey Whistle Test – 1977)
01 Runaway (John Peel Show – November 19, 1976)
02 The King Will Come (John Peel Show – November 19, 1976)
03 Lorelei (John Peel Show – November 19, 1976)
04 Mother Of Pearl (John Peel Show – November 19, 1976)
05 Blowin’ Free (John Peel Show – November 19, 1976)
06 Come In From The Rain (Old Grey Whistle Test – October 11, 1977)
07 Goodbye Baby Hello Friend (Old Grey Whistle Test – October 11, 1977)
CD5 (Glasgow Apollo – October 17, 1977)
01 Blind Eye
02 Lady Whiskey
03 Warrior
04 Throw Down The Sword
05 Front Page News
06 Goodbye Baby Hello Friend
07 Come In From The Rain
08 Phoenix
09 Blowin’ Free
10 Bad Weather Blues
CD6 (Hammersmith Odeon – October 25, 1978, Part 1)
01 The King Will Come
02 Warrior
03 Errors Of My Way
04 You See Red
05 F*U*B*B
06 Front Page News
07 The Way Of The World
08 Phoenix
09 Anger In Harmony
10 Time Was
CD7 (Hammersmith Odeon – October 25, 1978, Part 2/ Empire Pool – Wembley – November 22, 1979)
Hammersmith Odeon – October 25, 1978, Part 2
01 Runaway
02 Lady Whiskey
03 Jail Bait
04 Queen Of Torture
05 Blowin’ Free
06 Bad Weather Blues
Empire Pool – Wembley – November 22, 1979
07 Blowin’ Free
08 Living Proof
09 Helpless
10 Bad Weather Blues
CD8 (Hammersmith Odeon – February 2, 1980)
01 Doctor
02 Blind Eye
03 The Way Of The World
04 Insomnia
05 Queen Of Torture
06 Lifeline
07 Living Proof
08 Blowin’ Free
09 Helpless
10 Jail Bait
11 Bad Weather Blues
CD9 (Hammersmith Odeon June 2, 1981, Part 1)
01 The King Will Come
02 Lady Whiskey
03 Where Is The Love
04 Living Proof
05 Underground
06 Warrior
07 Loaded
08 Kicks On The Street
09 Blowin’ Free
10 Get Ready
CD10 (Hammersmith Odeon June 2, 1981, Part 2/Friday Rock Show – May 24, 1985)
Hammersmith Odeon June 2, 1981, Part 2
01 Phoenix
02 Number The Brave
03 Helpless
Friday Rock Show – May 24, 1985
04 Long Live The Night
05 Love Is Blue
06 People in Motion
07 Cell Of Fame
CD11 – (Hammersmith Odeon – March 4, 1988)
01 Tangible Evidence
02 Living Proof
03 Genevieve
04 No More Lonely Nights
05 The King Will Come
06 Throw Down The Sword
07 Clousseau
08 In The Skin
09 Phoenix
10 Blowin’ Free
11 Jail Bait
12 Bad Weather Blues
DVD (Old Grey Whistle Test)
October 12, 1971
01 Vas Dis (take 1)
02 Vas Dis (take 2)
03 Jail Bait (take 1)
04 Jail Bait (take 2)
05 Jail Bait (take 3)
06 Jail Bait (take 4)
October 11, 1977
07 Come In From The Rain
08 Goodbye Baby Hello Friend
May 13, 1980
09 Helpless
10 Blowin` Free