Argus is a great album, from start to finish, by far the best from Wishbone Ash, and yes, you really should check it out. I think you would really like it. Great guitar work, majestic themes and melodies. Leaf and stream is more acoustic than the rest of the album, although they weave acoustic elements throughout the more rocking songs as well. Highlights include Time Was, Blowin Free, and Throw Down the Sword. A 70’s classic.
Fully agree, Argus is definitely in my top 10 Albums. I have seen them live about a dozen times. The first time was the tour to support the release of Argus.My favourite track from Argus is Throw down the sword. They're usually more hard rock than acoustic..
Hi Shufflers. Dave from Over There. Wishbone Ash was one of my favourite early 70s bands. They're a British blues-rock combo, so this is a quieter interlude in their most successful album Argus (which borders on prog). They also pioneered the twin guitar format, and I think Andy Powell and Ted Turner had a brilliant chemistry between them. Some blissful guitar licks here (from Ted I think). I agree about the Genesis vibe here, and as you say, Jana, there are no drums here, which is ironic as this song was written by the drummer, Steve Upton.
Saw this band live last Oct in Swansea South Wales, UK., had a great time. Met the crew after the show including the lead guitarist Mark Abrahams, very friendly, had a nice convo. Hope to see them again This Oct
This comes from Wishbone Ash's classic 1972 album 'Argus', the first album I ever bought and STILL to this day in my top 10 albums of all time. This song is actually the soft soothing ballad on the album used to 'take a breath' from the rockier tracks that surround it. Wishbone Ash had two lead guitarists, cited as one of the first bands to feature and exploit that glorious sound. If you want to dip into other tracks on the album I would recommend 'Sometime World' and 'Throw Down The Sword', which IMO is the finest way to close out a great album I have ever heard. Glad you had fun listening to 'The Ash'.
Another Funday Sunday Prog Listen in the Books! I knew of Wishbone Ash but never heard anything by them until I heard their 80’s Album Noveau Calls in a Record Store. I liked what I heard and had to make the purchase. Uriah Heep: Stealin- Easy Living & The Wizard
Voted LP of the year by the UK music press in 1972...didn't Close to the Edge come out that year? It really is THAT good..Concept LP (side 2) About being called up to go to war back in the Olden Days, this track is him reflecting on his life before the battle ,It is followed by Epic WARRIOR and Oh...only the best dual Guitar solo ever in Throw down the Sword..It is Fabulous
These guys can really rock when they want too . Pioneers of the twin guitar sound imitated by so many , Iron Maiden Judas Priest , Thin Zlizzy to name bit a few ..!! Ps youll love the rest of the albim i promse , great songs with some blistering guitar work yet always melodious . Martin Turnet has a great individual bass sound .. Enjoy the ride !!!
Love this song, but it fits in the whole album. It's not the most representative of the band. Yes we give you a break. You can't know anything but go and listen to the whole Argus album, the guitars are excellent, it's a classic album.
I just came across your channel and have some thoughts. I hope you get to read this comment. This was the worst track as an introduction to WA. It hardly represents them and is a bit of an outlier on this album (even though I still like it). I want to give you some background. WA themselves are a bit of an outlier and I will tell you why. They are not prog as you would generally tend to define it. Yes they are blues influenced for sure, like most other rock bands of this era BUT I think that where most of their influence comes from is quite surprising. The Renaissance and in particular Baroque classical music (at least on this album). I know, I know, this sounds insane, but hear me out. If you listen to this whole album from start to finish a few times, it is there in the themes, but moreso in the musicians. There are many places on the album where (especially Andy Powell) the guitars use classical construction and/or techniques. Granted I have not heard every musician ever, but the only other guitarist I have heard that comes near this would be Ritchie Blackmore (through parts of his career), so in my eyes WA occupies a unique place in music since nothing really sounds like them, as they in turn do not really sound like anything else. With this I want to implore you to try this whole album regardless of any of their other work. This album contains two of the best guitar solos ever recorded, the second of which is a "counterpoint" of two guitars both playing solo at the same time, through similar melodies that weave into and out of each other. Argus is easily one of the greatest albums ever made but the band is so obscure that hardly anyone even know it exists, which out to be a crime against humanity. To put it into perspective, I am a prog fan myself, and Argus is better than anything Yes, King Crimson or Rush ever put out, and beaten ONLY by one Genesis album.
Thank you for this comment! It is one of the downfalls of the format that we 'shuffle' into random songs that people have suggested without knowing how representative they might be of that band. I'm a big Prog fan, so most of the time I have a good idea of whether it will be a strong selection or not, but Wishbone Ash is one of the few bands I'm not as familiar with, so I just went with this song choice... But, I respect what you've said here and definitely plan to give the whole Argus album a listen! Unfortunately it is hard to convince my wife to film a whole album listen for the channel, but I will certainly listen off-camera...and we have "The King Will Come" also in our shuffle, so hopefully that'll come up in a future episode, which I'm guessing may be a bit better of an introduction?
@@NathanOnShuffle thanks for the reply. I did not take a dig about the choice, of course I realise it would be impossible to know if you had no idea about the band. The point I was trying to make was just that what sets them apart is not found so much in Leaf and Stream. For sure, do it in your own time, it would probably be more enjoyable than while filming. King will Come was kinda their "hit" and is their most known song I would say. My choice would have been Sometime World. Nevertheless, listening to the album in full though will capture the theme. It is a type of thematic concept album after all and is kinda meant to loosely fit together as a whole. PS. The album ends at "Throw down the sword". Any tracks after that is not part of the actual album.
The album Argus is pure gold.
Argus is a great album, from start to finish, by far the best from Wishbone Ash, and yes, you really should check it out. I think you would really like it. Great guitar work, majestic themes and melodies. Leaf and stream is more acoustic than the rest of the album, although they weave acoustic elements throughout the more rocking songs as well. Highlights include Time Was, Blowin Free, and Throw Down the Sword. A 70’s classic.
Fully agree, Argus is definitely in my top 10 Albums. I have seen them live about a dozen times. The first time was the tour to support the release of Argus.My favourite track from Argus is Throw down the sword. They're usually more hard rock than acoustic..
Great song from their best album. First album is also right up there!
Gorgeous track and written by the drummer - with no drums? Beautiful from beginning to end, true music.
Wishbone Ash still Tours!
They will be appearing at a Theater in PA on 3/22.
Hi Shufflers. Dave from Over There. Wishbone Ash was one of my favourite early 70s bands. They're a British blues-rock combo, so this is a quieter interlude in their most successful album Argus (which borders on prog). They also pioneered the twin guitar format, and I think Andy Powell and Ted Turner had a brilliant chemistry between them. Some blissful guitar licks here (from Ted I think). I agree about the Genesis vibe here, and as you say, Jana, there are no drums here, which is ironic as this song was written by the drummer, Steve Upton.
Saw this band live last Oct in Swansea South Wales, UK., had a great time. Met the crew after the show including the lead guitarist Mark Abrahams, very friendly, had a nice convo. Hope to see them again This Oct
The whole album, Argus, is phenomenal.
This is a beautiful song to make love to. In the outdoors with stars above.
This comes from Wishbone Ash's classic 1972 album 'Argus', the first album I ever bought and STILL to this day in my top 10 albums of all time. This song is actually the soft soothing ballad on the album used to 'take a breath' from the rockier tracks that surround it. Wishbone Ash had two lead guitarists, cited as one of the first bands to feature and exploit that glorious sound. If you want to dip into other tracks on the album I would recommend 'Sometime World' and 'Throw Down The Sword', which IMO is the finest way to close out a great album I have ever heard.
Glad you had fun listening to 'The Ash'.
Another Funday Sunday Prog Listen in the Books!
I knew of Wishbone Ash but never heard anything by them until I heard their 80’s Album Noveau Calls in a Record Store.
I liked what I heard and had to make the purchase.
Uriah Heep: Stealin- Easy Living & The Wizard
Wishbone Ash are the band in the world if you lived in the 70,s still going strong in 2024 guitarist is so underrated now cheers
Love this album, seen them several times...so good...The King Will Come...is amazing!!! You will go back again and again im sure!!!
Voted LP of the year by the UK music press in 1972...didn't Close to the Edge come out that year? It really is THAT good..Concept LP (side 2) About being called up to go to war back in the Olden Days, this track is him reflecting on his life before the battle ,It is followed by Epic WARRIOR and Oh...only the best dual Guitar solo ever in Throw down the Sword..It is Fabulous
72 is definitely a good year for prog. They pull in some Hackett mojo at times with the guitar accents that are filtered in the songs.
These guys can really rock when they want too . Pioneers of the twin guitar sound imitated by so many , Iron Maiden Judas Priest , Thin Zlizzy to name bit a few ..!! Ps youll love the rest of the albim i promse , great songs with some blistering guitar work yet always melodious . Martin Turnet has a great individual bass sound .. Enjoy the ride !!!
Listening to Prog /songs/ has kind of a bad smell... One should listen to Prog /albums/... :)
Caught a like anyway.
Regards. 👍
Love this song, but it fits in the whole album. It's not the most representative of the band. Yes we give you a break. You can't know anything but go and listen to the whole Argus album, the guitars are excellent, it's a classic album.
I just came across your channel and have some thoughts. I hope you get to read this comment. This was the worst track as an introduction to WA. It hardly represents them and is a bit of an outlier on this album (even though I still like it). I want to give you some background. WA themselves are a bit of an outlier and I will tell you why. They are not prog as you would generally tend to define it. Yes they are blues influenced for sure, like most other rock bands of this era BUT I think that where most of their influence comes from is quite surprising. The Renaissance and in particular Baroque classical music (at least on this album). I know, I know, this sounds insane, but hear me out. If you listen to this whole album from start to finish a few times, it is there in the themes, but moreso in the musicians. There are many places on the album where (especially Andy Powell) the guitars use classical construction and/or techniques. Granted I have not heard every musician ever, but the only other guitarist I have heard that comes near this would be Ritchie Blackmore (through parts of his career), so in my eyes WA occupies a unique place in music since nothing really sounds like them, as they in turn do not really sound like anything else. With this I want to implore you to try this whole album regardless of any of their other work. This album contains two of the best guitar solos ever recorded, the second of which is a "counterpoint" of two guitars both playing solo at the same time, through similar melodies that weave into and out of each other. Argus is easily one of the greatest albums ever made but the band is so obscure that hardly anyone even know it exists, which out to be a crime against humanity. To put it into perspective, I am a prog fan myself, and Argus is better than anything Yes, King Crimson or Rush ever put out, and beaten ONLY by one Genesis album.
Thank you for this comment! It is one of the downfalls of the format that we 'shuffle' into random songs that people have suggested without knowing how representative they might be of that band. I'm a big Prog fan, so most of the time I have a good idea of whether it will be a strong selection or not, but Wishbone Ash is one of the few bands I'm not as familiar with, so I just went with this song choice...
But, I respect what you've said here and definitely plan to give the whole Argus album a listen! Unfortunately it is hard to convince my wife to film a whole album listen for the channel, but I will certainly listen off-camera...and we have "The King Will Come" also in our shuffle, so hopefully that'll come up in a future episode, which I'm guessing may be a bit better of an introduction?
@@NathanOnShuffle thanks for the reply. I did not take a dig about the choice, of course I realise it would be impossible to know if you had no idea about the band. The point I was trying to make was just that what sets them apart is not found so much in Leaf and Stream. For sure, do it in your own time, it would probably be more enjoyable than while filming. King will Come was kinda their "hit" and is their most known song I would say. My choice would have been Sometime World. Nevertheless, listening to the album in full though will capture the theme. It is a type of thematic concept album after all and is kinda meant to loosely fit together as a whole. PS. The album ends at "Throw down the sword". Any tracks after that is not part of the actual album.