The twin leads in this song are the best lead duet ever recorded. This band has 2 lead guitarists, this is not twin soloing there are other band members playing at same time. Wishbone Ash has many duets between lead guitars throughout their recordings. This one is their finest. The hair on my neck still stands up with the chill up my spine every time I hear it since first hearing it over 60yrs ago. These 2 boys are absolute masters.
Interesting story behind this song. They recorded Andy Powell’s guitar solo twice, thinking they would chose whichever one was the better of the two. On playback in the studio, the engineer accidentally played them at the same time, on top of each other. The artist who designed the album cover was in the room at the time and said “I really like that, use both”. So the solo at the end was originally meant to be just one guitar. A great example of a happy accident. Andy Powell and Martin Turner both describe this in their respective autobiographies.
What a phenomenal solo by Andy Powell at the end, the perfect way to end a phenomenal album! Yes, as someone else mentioned in their comment below, the solo was a combination of two different takes of the same solo played simultaneously, which really works a treat! Andy Powell and Ted Turner have got to be among the most underrated guitarists in rock history, they are never ever mentioned in lists or articles about the great guitarists....but boy what phenomenally talented players they both were, as was Laurie Wisefield who replaced Ted Turner on the There's The Rub album (my personal favorite album of the band, and one you definitely need to check out!)
Harmony vocals and harmony guitars for the perfect ending to the perfect album. I haven't listened to it for a while until you did these videos. I have to start listening to it again. Thank you for reviewing the album. My favourite track has always been The King Will Come but it would still have been an amazing album without it.
Wishbone Ash turned me on to their music with the first album. The songs Phoenix and Handy were the first time I had heard dual lead guitars. I believe Wishbone Ash was the first group to do this. Their strength was always the instrumental sections of each song. The first 4 albums are really good.
Hi Justin. Dave from The Smoke. It's now After The Ordeal, and the band finish off the album with both Ted Turner and Andy Powell letting loose on the guitar - magical. Glad you noticed the organ - this is played by John Tout of Renaissance. Andy repaid the favour the following year by playing lead guitar on the Ashes Are Burning title track. P.S. my song ref After The Ordeal is of course by Genesis.
So I'd just quickly like to mention that this song does not actually have that fade in, as it transitions staight from the previous track. Warrior and Throw Down the Sword are really one split song and it is probably best to listen to them back to back. That being said I've really enjoyed following these reactions since your first reaction of Time Was (a song you might want to revisit with the context of the entire album) and hope to see more Wishbone in the future! Their eponymous debut album and Live Dates 2 (double LP version) are especially recommended alongside Argus, as these are my favourite three albums of all time. Like seriously, music does not get much better than this shit :)))
I just now, after fifty years,noticed how that line 'There were times when I stood at deaths door" the first time around, just stands there alone. Everyone who has been to the edge knows that is all that needs to be said.
Late morning today, had storm damage to fix. Just got through with your first post, the beautiful Symphony #9. Now I'm about to Throw Down the Sword, and picking up a guitar and plugging in the cord. Playing along with Wishbone, I'm never bored. 11 days and I'll see and hear this band again, moving forward, always toward----The End. Peace and Love.
Great track, great album. The live version of this song was one of the key tracks that made me pick up a guitar all those decades ago. I would agree to disagree with you regarding the fade-in. The fade-in is fine but the compressor you have on your mic made a right mess of it. Like others, I hope you get the chance to cover other Ash albums. The first two are great, as is There's The Rub. It would be worth your while to get a listen to the track Way Of The World. As for my favourite Argus track ... these days it would definitely be Sometime World.
As a note, the dual solo was two different solo takes by Andy Powell. I think it's really interesting to hear the points where the two solos come together and where they diverge.
I hope you continue to do more of Wishbone Ash. There are some epic songs on their first album and I really like Wishbone Four. My favorites from that are So Many Things to Say, Sorrell, Ballad of the Beacon and No Easy Road. Actually, I like the whole album.
A satisfying conclusion to one of the all-time great albums. Sadly as one critic remarked, it's not so much streets ahead of their other stuff as an entire A to Z.
Bit harsh of that critic, Richard. Although Argus is my favourite, the first two albums are not far behind. I was disappointed with Wishbone Four, and then the classic twin guitar team was broken up.
To change slightly what I said before, I think the _Live Dates_ versions of these three songs ("The King Will Come," "Warrior," and "Throw Down the Sword") are even better than the studio versions, and they did a great live "Blowin' Free" as well. There was a video up for a long time of them doing "Warrior" and "Blowin' Free" on _Rock Concert_ that was great even though the video quality was bad (low resolution version of what was obviously a VHS copy). It's too bad that Martin Turner (bass) and Andy Powell (lead guitar) apparently have a relationship that's just about as rancorous as the one between John Fogerty, Stu Cook, and Doug Clifford.
I personally like "The King Will Come" and "Warrior" better on the "Live Dates" album "Throw Down The Sword" is ok as a studio recording. Generally I prefer the studio version of a song (better sound, that´s how the song was meant), but Wishbone Ash is clearly a live band. It's the same with Cream. Compared to the live version on "Cream Live Vol.II", the studio recording of "Sunshine Of Your Love" can almost be described as lame. I feel the same way about "Mississippi Queen" by Mountain. The live version on "Twin Peaks" beats the studio recording by far.
You might look for an album "Wild Turkey" also prog rock, also several-warrior songs, "One Sole Survivor", "Sanctuary", Battle hymn", "Sentinel". Very good, steady, not-flashy music, but it drills its way into your mind. Never were a big hit, which is our loss.
I have to announce that on any fade-in debate you'd be completely wrong! Ever since I first heard this when it came out I've always thought that in the context of the track sequence and the twin guitar intro theme to the song the fade-in is very tasteful and just PERFECT; adding to the overall ambience of the piece. With the military snare getting louder it gives me the impression of a battle-weary army slowly approaching home.. 😉
From a different perspective, the lyrics of the song could even be considered as a moment of a persons last breaths. Standing before the gates of death [but not for the first time]. Reflecting upon your life and accepting the final end in peace.
Contrary to the majority who consider Argus and the two previous albums as 'classics', I am mixed listening to this first part of Wishbone Ash's career and I've always preferred their albums with Laurie Wisefield (who replaced Ted Turner after his departure in May 1974). Justin, check out their fifth studio album There's the Rub (which is their first with Wisefield) to hear the slight shift in musical direction at that time.
Please can you check out some Simple Minds stuff, and especially the album "New gold dream". It's a fantastic album in my opinion, and very underrated, it has pop rock, instrumentals, some progressive rock touches in two or three tracks, experimental things for 1982 (the year it was released). This album deserves a check
Thinking about it, it was logical to conclude that you'd already recorded both of the last tracks separately, and so couldn't just do them both together. This is the best track on the album, for me.
You're not the only reactor to criticise fade-in/fade-outs but you're all wrong! Some songs suit them and others have pointed out the connection between this song and the previous. This is a classic album and I hate to be unoriginal but the best song is The King Will Come. Pick any of the other first four albums to continue - They're all good.
As has been said many times, you needed to run Warrior and Throw Down together. They are both parts of the same story. In this case your criticism of a ‘fade-in’ is way wide of the mark as by playing them separately you completely neutered the intended effect and ruined the atmosphere 🤔🤷♂️
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The twin leads in this song are the best lead duet ever recorded. This band has 2 lead guitarists, this is not twin soloing there are other band members playing at same time. Wishbone Ash has many duets between lead guitars throughout their recordings. This one is their finest. The hair on my neck still stands up with the chill up my spine every time I hear it since first hearing it over 60yrs ago. These 2 boys are absolute masters.
The fade in is perfect. Just like when ever anyone is gathering thought from remembered times gelling into bedrock reality
Interesting story behind this song. They recorded Andy Powell’s guitar solo twice, thinking they would chose whichever one was the better of the two. On playback in the studio, the engineer accidentally played them at the same time, on top of each other. The artist who designed the album cover was in the room at the time and said “I really like that, use both”. So the solo at the end was originally meant to be just one guitar. A great example of a happy accident. Andy Powell and Martin Turner both describe this in their respective autobiographies.
One of rocks greatest dual guitar solos.
Probably one of the best medieval albums ever made
This, my good man is THE pinnacle of the album.
What a phenomenal solo by Andy Powell at the end, the perfect way to end a phenomenal album! Yes, as someone else mentioned in their comment below, the solo was a combination of two different takes of the same solo played simultaneously, which really works a treat! Andy Powell and Ted Turner have got to be among the most underrated guitarists in rock history, they are never ever mentioned in lists or articles about the great guitarists....but boy what phenomenally talented players they both were, as was Laurie Wisefield who replaced Ted Turner on the There's The Rub album (my personal favorite album of the band, and one you definitely need to check out!)
Youre right JP. Its world weariness theyre expressing.
Harmony vocals and harmony guitars for the perfect ending to the perfect album. I haven't listened to it for a while until you did these videos. I have to start listening to it again. Thank you for reviewing the album. My favourite track has always been The King Will Come but it would still have been an amazing album without it.
Wishbone Ash turned me on to their music with the first album. The songs Phoenix and Handy were the first time I had heard dual lead guitars. I believe Wishbone Ash was the first group to do this. Their strength was always the instrumental sections of each song. The first 4 albums are really good.
Hi Justin. Dave from The Smoke. It's now After The Ordeal, and the band finish off the album with both Ted Turner and Andy Powell letting loose on the guitar - magical. Glad you noticed the organ - this is played by John Tout of Renaissance. Andy repaid the favour the following year by playing lead guitar on the Ashes Are Burning title track.
P.S. my song ref After The Ordeal is of course by Genesis.
I saw what ya did there. 👍
So I'd just quickly like to mention that this song does not actually have that fade in, as it transitions staight from the previous track. Warrior and Throw Down the Sword are really one split song and it is probably best to listen to them back to back.
That being said I've really enjoyed following these reactions since your first reaction of Time Was (a song you might want to revisit with the context of the entire album) and hope to see more Wishbone in the future! Their eponymous debut album and Live Dates 2 (double LP version) are especially recommended alongside Argus, as these are my favourite three albums of all time.
Like seriously, music does not get much better than this shit :)))
Twin soloing? Isn't that a duet :)
I just now, after fifty years,noticed how that line 'There were times when I stood at deaths door" the first time around, just stands there alone. Everyone who has been to the edge knows that is all that needs to be said.
For whom the bell tolls, as it were
We used to trip to this LP back then. Wonderful times.
See if you can find a pic of the gatefold cover. If you see both sides as one picture, you’ll see what the figure on the front is looking at. ✌️
Great album. Time to back track to their first album. Handy and Phoenix are gems.
Not only these two songs. Personally I prefer their debut over Argus a little bit because I love all the 6 songs on that album.
don't forget, 'there's the rub'!!! 'persephone' is a brilliant track!!
Late morning today, had storm damage to fix. Just got through with your first post, the beautiful Symphony #9. Now I'm about to Throw Down the Sword, and picking up a guitar and plugging in the cord. Playing along with Wishbone, I'm never bored. 11 days and I'll see and hear this band again, moving forward, always toward----The End. Peace and Love.
Great track, great album. The live version of this song was one of the key tracks that made me pick up a guitar all those decades ago. I would agree to disagree with you regarding the fade-in. The fade-in is fine but the compressor you have on your mic made a right mess of it. Like others, I hope you get the chance to cover other Ash albums. The first two are great, as is There's The Rub. It would be worth your while to get a listen to the track Way Of The World. As for my favourite Argus track ... these days it would definitely be Sometime World.
As a note, the dual solo was two different solo takes by Andy Powell. I think it's really interesting to hear the points where the two solos come together and where they diverge.
I hope you continue to do more of Wishbone Ash. There are some epic songs on their first album and I really like Wishbone Four. My favorites from that are So Many Things to Say, Sorrell, Ballad of the Beacon and No Easy Road. Actually, I like the whole album.
A satisfying conclusion to one of the all-time great albums. Sadly as one critic remarked, it's not so much streets ahead of their other stuff as an entire A to Z.
Their first two records are great, and they had some cool stuff after Argus, but this was definitely their peak.
Bit harsh of that critic, Richard. Although Argus is my favourite, the first two albums are not far behind. I was disappointed with Wishbone Four, and then the classic twin guitar team was broken up.
John tout (from Renaissance) on organ.
To change slightly what I said before, I think the _Live Dates_ versions of these three songs ("The King Will Come," "Warrior," and "Throw Down the Sword") are even better than the studio versions, and they did a great live "Blowin' Free" as well. There was a video up for a long time of them doing "Warrior" and "Blowin' Free" on _Rock Concert_ that was great even though the video quality was bad (low resolution version of what was obviously a VHS copy). It's too bad that Martin Turner (bass) and Andy Powell (lead guitar) apparently have a relationship that's just about as rancorous as the one between John Fogerty, Stu Cook, and Doug Clifford.
I think the fade-in works because of the suspense created by the sustained drum roll.
I personally like "The King Will Come" and "Warrior" better on the "Live Dates" album "Throw Down The Sword" is ok as a studio recording. Generally I prefer the studio version of a song (better sound, that´s how the song was meant), but Wishbone Ash is clearly a live band. It's the same with Cream. Compared to the live version on "Cream Live Vol.II", the studio recording of "Sunshine Of Your Love" can almost be described as lame. I feel the same way about "Mississippi Queen" by Mountain. The live version on "Twin Peaks" beats the studio recording by far.
Hearing Wishbone Ash live in 1973 was tremendous. Indoor gig. Loudest thing I ever heard!
You might look for an album "Wild Turkey" also prog rock, also several-warrior songs, "One Sole Survivor", "Sanctuary", Battle hymn", "Sentinel". Very good, steady, not-flashy music, but it drills its way into your mind. Never were a big hit, which is our loss.
I have to announce that on any fade-in debate you'd be completely wrong! Ever since I first heard this when it came out I've always thought that in the context of the track sequence and the twin guitar intro theme to the song the fade-in is very tasteful and just PERFECT; adding to the overall ambience of the piece. With the military snare getting louder it gives me the impression of a battle-weary army slowly approaching home.. 😉
There's The Rub is my favourite album from Wishbone Ash..
From a different perspective, the lyrics of the song could even be considered as a moment of a persons last breaths. Standing before the gates of death [but not for the first time]. Reflecting upon your life and accepting the final end in peace.
Contrary to the majority who consider Argus and the two previous albums as 'classics', I am mixed listening to this first part of Wishbone Ash's career and I've always preferred their albums with Laurie Wisefield (who replaced Ted Turner after his departure in May 1974). Justin, check out their fifth studio album There's the Rub (which is their first with Wisefield) to hear the slight shift in musical direction at that time.
Yeah, that's real good. The fade in didn't bother me - I thought it was classy and fitting. It's an aftermath closer, not trying to be a crescendo.
Please can you check out some Simple Minds stuff, and especially the album "New gold dream". It's a fantastic album in my opinion, and very underrated, it has pop rock, instrumentals, some progressive rock touches in two or three tracks, experimental things for 1982 (the year it was released). This album deserves a check
Thinking about it, it was logical to conclude that you'd already recorded both of the last tracks separately, and so couldn't just do them both together. This is the best track on the album, for me.
Pretty much lol :D Sometimes I record multiple songs in a row from an album, I just release em separately
After Dvorak, back to Wishbone Ash…
You're not the only reactor to criticise fade-in/fade-outs but you're all wrong! Some songs suit them and others have pointed out the connection between this song and the previous. This is a classic album and I hate to be unoriginal but the best song is The King Will Come. Pick any of the other first four albums to continue - They're all good.
There is no organ - it's a guitar overdub, but I understand why that might have thrown you off track.
As has been said many times, you needed to run Warrior and Throw Down together. They are both parts of the same story. In this case your criticism of a ‘fade-in’ is way wide of the mark as by playing them separately you completely neutered the intended effect and ruined the atmosphere 🤔🤷♂️