Wishbone Ash can trace its origins back to Torquay, Devon, England, a seaside resort in the southwest of the country. It was there that Martin Turner and Steve Upton first performed together; Turner on bass, Upton on drums, before moving to London in 1969 to seek fame and fortune. In the capital the decision was made to place an advertisement for a keyboard player and a lead guitarist. The resulting audition threw up two guitar leads, but nobody could decide who to choose and the trademark twin-lead sound of Wishbone Ash was born.
Ted (David) Turner and Andy Powell soon went through the poverty and growing pains of a new band, but were fortunate that Miles Copeland was championing their cause and a fairly rapid progression was achieved. The first Album, Wishbone Ash, was released in December 1970 and their second, Pilgrimage, surfaced just six months later to reach #6 in the NME charts. Great things were just 11 months away with the release of Argus (1972) -- possibly the band's best album; certainly their most commercially successful -- which reached #2 in the UK charts and went gold. Argus is considered to be one of the great rock classics of all time. The next album, Wishbone Four, only 12 months later, went silver.
After these early highs, Ted Turner decided that he had had enough, and left the band to be replaced by Laurie Wisefield. Although Laurie’s style was not to everyone’s taste, he was generally well liked by the fans and brought a slightly harder edge to the folk-tinged progressive rock that was the Wishbone Ash formula. Wisefield was a dynamic player and became an excellent partner to Andy -- they were to play together for a very successful 11 years and the MKII version of the band is very well thought of for most of its output. About this time the band became more influenced by America and would eventually move there.
The next album, There's The Rub (1974), was recorded in Florida and produced by Eagles producer Bill Szymczyk. Once again it was to do well, achieving silver disc status. There's the Rub included the instrumental piece F.U.B.B. Steve Upton was arrested in New Zealand for announcing at a concert it's full title. In New Zealand, swearing in public is a criminal offense, and when Upton announced the title at an outdoor concert, a woman sunbathing in her garden nearby complained to the mayor. Upton spent the night in jail, and the album reached #3 in New Zealand due to the publicity.
It was inevitable that a turkey was due and to fans Locked In (1976) fit this bill. This record was not released -- it escaped! Fortunately things were much better with the quality of the following albums and although the high chart positions were gone, the fans were enjoying some competent, well-crafted output.
After 11 years in the band, Martin Turner decided to leave. This move began a period of frequent changes of bass player with the likes of John Wetton and Trevor Bolder being two of the better known; however, Wishbone Ash always has attracted musicians of the highest order. A much more controversial move was the introduction of Clair Hamill to fill in some of the vocal talent Martin had taken away with him. Clair was not popular with the fans which was perhaps a little unfair. She had contributed backing vocals on Just Testing (Turner's last album (1980), which he had also produced) and had co-written the excellent Living Proof, which is still a crowd favourite today. Her stay was short-lived with Andy Powell taking on more vocal duties. Wisefield left in late 1985 and the band continued to tour with various replacements, but were very much in limbo until 1987 when a miracle occurred. Miles Copland persuaded the original lineup to reform for a project for a music charity that he was helping, and a Hammersmith Odeon concert which the BBC recorded resulted. The project produced an instrumental album Nouveau Calls (1987), which was very well received. Even better received was the fact that three years of the original lineup were to follow.
Just when things were going so well, Steve Upton decided to quit the business entirely in 1990, to be replaced by Ray Weston. Martin Turner carried on for another year before leaving to pursue a solo career, and Ted left two years later. The next five years saw lots of personnel changes, but eventually resulted in a good period of stability with Ray Weston returning and Bob Skeet joining on bass in 1998.
The new millennium has also seen stability in respect of Andy's guitar partner, with the last 6 years being filled by Ben Granfelt and subsequently Muddy Manninen, both of whom come from Finland. 2005 saw Wishbone Ash celebrate their 35th year. 2006 heralded the new album Clan Destiny (the first featuring Muddy as guitarist). 2007 saw the exit of long-term drummer Ray Weston, due to the increasingly hectic pace of band life. Joe Crabtree (formerly of The David Cross band) stepped up to fill his place. With regard to new releases, 2007 saw First Light, which features original recordings of the songs featured on their debut album, as well as some outtakes. Also released that year was the new album The Power of Eternity (partly featuring Joe Crabtree on drums), which coincided with the Autumn tour.
Wishbone Ash are still performing 150 gigs a year in the U.S. and Europe. They get very supportive crowds with good numbers turning out all over Europe -- the U.S. tends to attract smaller audiences, but very committed fans. If you want to hear classic Wishbone Ash, get ahold of Argus. Visit their web site www.wishboneash.com, where tour dates and albums, etc. can be obtained.
Sorrel
Wishbone Ash Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
He found her wandering astray
She came to show him of her beauty
That many passersby don't see
Would you be taking in
Such frail-looking lady
The sadness of her lone display
Dressed in yellow fire burning
Sorrow was her only feeling
For she could have no living shame
Take thee care and time
To sow your own true seed
The summers end will bring your leaving
Then he journeyed for a long ways
And she was never in his mind
Came he home to just a memory
For the lady she had died
The lyrics of Wishbone Ash's song "Sorrel" tell the story of a man who stumbles upon a "frail-looking lady" wandering in a garden in the Southland. Despite her outward appearance, the man senses the beauty within her that others seem to overlook. The woman's only feeling is sorrow, as she can have no "living shame," implying that she is possibly a ghost or a spirit. The man is urged to take care and time to sow his own "true seed." However, he later journeys away and forgets about her, only to return home to find that she has died, leaving him with just a memory.
The song addresses themes of mortality, regret, and the human tendency to overlook the beauty that surrounds us. The ambiguous nature of the woman's existence and the man's inability to fully grasp her beauty could also be interpreted as a commentary on fleeting moments and our inability to fully appreciate them.
Overall, "Sorrel" is a haunting and melancholic piece that showcases Wishbone Ash's lyrical depth and musical prowess.
Line by Line Meaning
In a garden of the southland
The story begins in a beautiful garden located in the southern region.
He found her wandering astray
The singer discovers a lady walking alone in the garden, seemingly lost.
She came to show him of her beauty
The lady approaches him, eager to share her exquisite features with him.
That many passersby don't see
She reveals that her beauty is often overlooked by others who pass her by.
Would you be taking in
She questions if he is willing to accept her for who she is.
Such frail-looking lady
She acknowledges that she may appear weak, but there is more to her than meets the eye.
The sadness of her lone display
The lady feels melancholic and isolated in her solitude.
Dressed in yellow fire burning
Her attire is a bright yellow, like the flames of a fire.
The corner dweller on the lane
She resides in a small corner of the garden, away from the hustle and bustle of life.
Sorrow was her only feeling
The lady experiences deep sadness and nothing else.
For she could have no living shame
She feels that there is nothing for her to be ashamed of in her life.
Take thee care and time
She warns him to be attentive and patient.
To sow your own true seed
She advises him to cultivate his own genuine personality.
The summers end will bring your leaving
She predicts that he will eventually have to depart when summer ends.
Then he journeyed for a long ways
The singer embarks on a long journey.
And she was never in his mind
He forgets about the lady as he goes through his travels.
Came he home to just a memory
Upon his return, he reminisces about the lady he met but left behind in the garden.
For the lady she had died
Sadly, the lady passed away, leaving behind only a memory of a fleeting encounter in the garden of the southland.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: ANDREW POWELL, DAVID TURNER, MARTIN TURNER, STEVE UPTON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
すぎたにのぶゆき
@Tony Anderton さん。
Yes 1976. Koukaidou-Hiroshima🍀
You came Hiroshima !
Thank you very match 🥀
I like a George Harrison and
Eric Claptn !
I see live in Hiroshima Japan.
1991 !
Nice songs While my guitar,,, !
Thank you🍀
rockable55
Martin's bass is exquisite!
evelien witteveen.
@EddieDaRooster do u have tabs by any chance? i’m currently learning the bass line by ear but it’s kinda hard for me
EddieDaRooster
Used this Martin Turner bass line to help learn the bass guitar when I was about 14-15. Played it over and over and over and over and over. Always felt kinda accomplished :D (of course I didn't approach his playing but hey, I was playing a super cool W.A. bass line!)
EddieDaRooster
Yet another great band introduced to me by my older brother! Heard him play the 8-track so much that it caught me. Internet and Youtube so cool to be able to hear it again ...
Used this Martin Turner bass line to help learn the bass guitar. Played it over and over and over and over and over.
Duane Goodson
What an exquisite song the musical arrangements, vocals, drums, guitars all blend seamlessly into an interlaced direction that displays musical perfection.
Keith Turner
This is such a powerful song I wish it had been on Argus .... it shows their ability to take folk songs and turn out fantastic arrangements like this haunting and bitter sweet song just like the herb itself
mags jay
they started out with doing electric folk and Andy and Martin fought as to their future, Big fights, Andy went to the usa Martin stayed here, it’s a bloody book mate
mags jay
underrated, ignored, badly managed, they still live in various ways, look them up people .
Andy and Martin will welcome you as dyed in the wool fans, go talk to them, they live their music as you do.
Tony Anderton
@Querious Well done, Cemal; you're a true and loyal fan. Best wishes from England.
ejayman
Albeit in separate forms ('Wishbone Ash' and 'Martin Turner's Wishbone Ash', respectively). Shame really, I was born long after their heyday but from reading some interviews with Martin Turner, the likelyhood of a reconciliation is practically zero :(