WISHBONE ASH – NUMBER THE BRAVE LP – Nr MINT A2/B1 UK 1981 PROG

Wishbone Ash – Number The Brave
(MCA Records  1981  MCF3103)
Matrix No’s: A2/B1 – UK Pressing

Sleeve in Excellent/Very Good+ condition
– some rubbing and a few discolouration marks
Inner Sleeve in Nr MINT condition

Vinyl in Nr MINT condition
(there are some surface marks visible on the vinyl when held up to the light but they don’t affect the sound quality)

Wishbone Ash are a British rock band who achieved success in the early and mid-1970s. Their popular albums included Wishbone Ash (1970), Pilgrimage (1971), Argus (1972), There’s the Rub (1974), and New England (1976). Wishbone Ash are noted for their extensive use of the harmony twin lead guitar format which had been attracting electric blues bands since Jeff Beck and Jimmy Page had played together in the Yardbirds in 1966. Their contributions helped Andy Powell and Ted Turner to be voted “Two of the Ten Most Important Guitarists in Rock History” (Traffic magazine 1989), and to appear in the “Top 20 Guitarists of All Time” (Rolling Stone). Melody Maker (1972) described Powell and Turner as “the most interesting two guitar team since the days when Beck and Page graced The Yardbirds”.

Formed in Torquay, Devon, in 1969, out of the ashes of trio The Empty Vessels (originally known as The Torinoes, later briefly being renamed Tanglewood in 1969), which had been formed by Wishbone Ash’s founding member Martin Turner (bass & vocals) in 1963 and complemented by Steve Upton (drums and percussion) in 1966. The original Wishbone Ash line-up was completed by guitarists/vocalists Andy Powell and Ted Turner. In 1974, Ted Turner left the band, and was replaced by Laurie Wisefield. The band continued on with strong critical and commercial success until 1980.

After revolving line-ups featuring former bass players from King Crimson (John Wetton), Uriah Heep (Trevor Bolder), and Trapeze (Mervyn Spence), Wisefield left in 1985. In 1987, however, the original line-up reunited for several albums – Nouveau Calls, Here to Hear and Strange Affair – until 1990, when Upton quit the band. After Martin Turner was replaced in 1991, the band recorded The Ash Live in Chicago, before Ted Turner left in 1993.

Number the Brave is the 11th studio album by rock band Wishbone Ash. It is the first album in the band’s history recorded without founding bassist/vocalist Martin Turner. Turner was replaced (for this album only) by John Wetton, formerly of Family, King Crimson, Uriah Heep, UK and future Asia. Also featured on Number the Brave was the vocalist Claire Hamill as backing vocals, who more permanently joined Wishbone Ash on the 1981 tour.

The album peaked at No. 61 in the UK Albums Chart.

Track listing

Original UK release

Side one

1. “Loaded” (Laurie Wisefield/Steve Upton/Andy Powell) – 4:11
2. “Where Is the Love” (Upton/Wisefield/Powell) – 3:20
3. “Underground” (Powell/Wisefield/Upton) – 4:16
4. “Kicks on the Street” (Upton/Wisefield/Powell) – 4:17
5. “Open Road” (Upton/Wisefield/Powell) – 5:21

Side two

1. “Get Ready” (Smokey Robinson) – 3:15
2. “Rainstorm” (Wisefield/Upton/Powell) – 4:55
3. “That’s That” (John Wetton) – 3:05
4. “Roller Coaster” (Wisefield/Powell/Upton) – 3:19
5. “Number the Brave” (Powell/Upton/Wisefield) – 4:56

Personnel

• Andy Powell – vocals, guitar
• Laurie Wisefield – vocals, guitar, slide guitar
• Steve Upton – drums
• John Wetton – vocals, bass guitar, keyboards

Additional personnel

• Claire Hamill – backing vocals
• Gasper Lawal – percussion