Twin Guitar Goodness

We continue our look back at the music of 50 years ago………

Before there were the twin guitar attacks of Lynyrd Skynyrd & The Outlaws…there was Wishbone Ash. Their 1972 LP “Argus” was a magnificent example of the ringing dual lead guitars from Andy Powell and Ted Turner. Along with Martin Turner on bass & vocals and Steve Upton on drums they delivered an LP that became a classic, not only for prog fans…but mainstream rock fans as well.

That’s why it’s so shocking to me to look back and see that this LP really was a stiff in America when it was released. While it rose to #3 on the UK charts it only made it to #169 in the States.

We didn’t care. I remember hearing “Blowin Free” somewhere and was immediatly taken by the sound. You could tell they had been listening to early Fleetwood Mac but really did forge their own sound. English prog-rock without synths or keyboards? Indeed, It can be done. And done well.

If you only know this album by “Blowin Free” or maybe “The Warrior”…check out “Time Was” or “Sometime World”. Side one really is a monster.

And the medieval themes of Side 2 should satisfy that prog-rock fan lurking in your brain.

This can be one of those rock albums that can be in a regular rotation on your turntable. Just great stuff!