Time Was...The Live Anthology

Performer: Wishbone Ash
Distributor: Navarre

Notes: Wishbone Ash: Martin Turner (bass guitar); Laurie Wisefield, Andy Powell, Ray Weston, Steve Upton, Ted Turner, Graham Maitland. Personnel: Laurie Wisefield, Andy Powell, Ted Turner (vocals, guitar); Martin Turner (vocals); Graham Maitland (keyboards); Steve Upton (drums, percussion); Ray Weston (drums). Liner Note Authors: Andy Powell; Malcolm Dome. Recording information: Canada (1970-1976); Davenport, U.S.A (1970-1976); Nagoya, Japan (1970-1976). Photographer: Hugh Gilmour. 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. ~ Thom Jurek

With their trademark twin-guitar sound and mix of hard-rock edge and prog-rock adventurousness, Wishbone Ash were one of the definitive British heavy-guitar bands of the 1970s. The early '70s were their period of greatest acclaim, but even after original guitarist/singer Ted Turner left in 1974, Wishbone Ash forged ahead with continued success for some time, moving their operations to the U.S. for a few years. Though they went through a dizzying array of lineups and styles over the course of their career, the band never really broke up, continuing to record and tour for decades.

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