Wishbone Ash’s ‘Live Dates’...

When I was a teenager in the 70s, Wishbone Ash’s ‘Live Dates’ was one of those double live albums that was hailed as a work of genius and as such was a rite of passage, to be owned and shared by all my pals like it was a holy relic.
‘Have you got Live Dates?’ was a question often asked. No one needed to be told who Live Dates was by. Everyone had a copy or a tape of it. Back then records had a less disposable, more iconic aspect, compared to a download today and was one of the things to be enjoyed about them.
The two words, ‘live’ and ‘dates’ felt exciting and had a cache to them. It has gone silver in the UK, albeit many years later, and if you were a kid at that time, this will be a mind-blow, it didn’t chart in the UK. Argus had reached #3 but not the live album. This freaks me out because, like I said, everyone at school had a copy. It did get to #82 in the USA. The band was very popular in Texas.
But for many, along with Argus, it was the defining record for the band we always called simply ‘Ash’ and were the records they were judged against, going forward. Recorded at Croydon Fairfield Halls, Reading University, Newcastle City Hall, and Portsmouth Guildhall and released in the summer of 1973 when I was 12, a year after Argus and the same year as Wishbone 4. By this time, they were a tightly honed band through endless gigging. I don’t know how many overdubs have been applied, but I suspect not much or any. 
I think it was liked by most because it was easy to like. The pastoral nature of ‘Throw Down The Sword’, was a lovely counterpoint to the basic boogie of ‘Lady Whiskey’ and ‘Phoenix’. The guitars are powerful and emotional throughout. Most of Argus is present and correct and those are such finely crafted songs: a classic of the era.
I don’t know for sure, but I’m willing to bet it’s one of the most affectionately held by people of a certain age and remains absolutely iconic.

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