Just Testing

Last updated

Just Testing
Wishbone Ash - Just Testing (1980).jpg
Studio album by
Released18 January 1980
Recorded1979
StudioSurrey Sound Studios, Leatherhead, England; except "Helpless" at Kingsway Recorders, London
Genre Hard rock
Length38:00
Label MCA
Producer
Wishbone Ash chronology
Live in Tokyo
(1979)
Just Testing
(1980)
Live Dates 2
(1980)
Singles from Just Testing
  1. "Living Proof/Jail Bait"
    Released: 1980
  2. "Helpless/Living Proof"
    Released: 1980
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic Star full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [1]

Just Testing is the tenth studio album by the British rock band Wishbone Ash, released on 18 January 1980 by MCA Records. Recorded primarily at Surrey Sound Studios in England, it was the last to feature the original lead vocalist and bass guitarist Martin Turner until the release of Nouveau Calls (1987). The track "Helpless" is only the second cover version released by the band on a studio album, the previous one being "Vas Dis" on Pilgrimage .

Contents

The album reached number 43 in the UK Albums Chart.

Track listing

All tracks are written by Martin Turner, except where noted.

Side one
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Living Proof" Laurie Wisefield, Claire Hamill 5:44
2."Haunting Me" 4:34
3."Insomnia" 5:10
4."Helpless"Paul Kendrick4:03
Side two
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
5."Pay the Price" 3:35
6."New Rising Star" 3:58
7."Master of Disguise" Andy Powell 4:26
8."Lifeline"Turner, Powell, Wisefield, Steve Upton 6:29
Total length:38:00
1998 remastered edition bonus tracks
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
9."Come On" Chuck Berry 3:23
10."Fast Johnny"Turner, Powell, Wisefield, Upton4:04
11."Blowin' Free" (live)Powell, Upton, Ted Turner, Turner6:34
12."Helpless" (live)Kendrick3:46
Total length:55:43

Personnel

Wishbone Ash

Additional musicians

Technical personnel

Charts

Chart (1980)Peak
position
German Albums (Offizielle Top 100) [2] 51
UK Albums (OCC) [3] 41
US Billboard 200 [4] 179

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wishbone Ash</span> British rock band

Wishbone Ash are a British rock band who achieved success in the early to mid-1970s. Their albums include Wishbone Ash (1970), Pilgrimage (1971), Argus (1972), Wishbone Four (1973), There's the Rub (1974), and New England (1976).

<i>The Doobie Brothers</i> (album) 1971 studio album by The Doobie Brothers

The Doobie Brothers is the debut studio album by American rock band The Doobie Brothers. The album was released on April 30, 1971, by Warner Bros. Records. It is their only official studio album to feature original bass player Dave Shogren on all tracks, who left during the recording of their second album.

<i>Come Upstairs</i> 1980 studio album by Carly Simon

Come Upstairs is the ninth studio album by American singer-songwriter Carly Simon, released by Warner Bros. Records, on June 16, 1980.

<i>Lead On</i> 1994 studio album by George Strait

Lead On is the fifteenth studio album by American country music artist George Strait. Released in 1994 on MCA Records, the album was certified platinum in the U.S. for sales of one million copies. It includes the singles "The Big One", "You Can't Make a Heart Love Somebody", "Lead On", and "Adalida", which respectively reached No. 1, No. 1, No. 7 and No. 3 on the Hot Country Songs charts between 1994 and 1995. The album's title track was co-written by Teddy Gentry, who at the time was a member of the band Alabama. "I Met a Friend of Yours Today" was originally recorded by Mel Street.

<i>Holding My Own</i> 1992 studio album by George Strait

Holding My Own is the twelfth studio album by American country music singer George Strait. It was released by MCA Records and features the singles "Gone as a Girl Can Get" and "So Much Like My Dad", both of which charted in the Top 5 on the country charts, but it became his first album since 1981's Strait Country not to produce a number one hit. "Trains Make Me Lonesome" was previously recorded by the trio Schuyler, Knobloch, & Overstreet on their 1986 self-titled debut album, and then in 1988 by Marty Haggard.

<i>Chill of an Early Fall</i> 1991 studio album by George Strait

Chill of an Early Fall is the eleventh studio album by American country music singer George Strait. It was released by MCA Records. The album produced the singles "If I Know Me" and "You Know Me Better Than That", both of which reached Number One on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks charts in 1991. Also released from this album were the title track and a cover of Hank Williams' "Lovesick Blues" (#24), Strait's first single since "Down and Out" in 1981 to miss Top Ten.

<i>Wishbone Ash</i> (album) 1970 studio album by Wishbone Ash

Wishbone Ash is the first studio album by Wishbone Ash. It peaked at number 29 in the UK Albums Chart in January 1971.

<i>Pilgrimage</i> (Wishbone Ash album) 1971 studio album by Wishbone Ash

Pilgrimage is the second studio album by the rock band Wishbone Ash. The album focuses more on folk and acoustic music as opposed to the blues rock sound that dominated the first album. The album also contains an instrumental jazz workout and a four-part harmony vocal track in the spirit of Crosby, Stills, Nash, and Young ("Valediction").

<i>Wishbone Four</i> 1973 studio album by Wishbone Ash

Wishbone Four is the fourth studio album by British rock band Wishbone Ash, released in 1973. It was a departure from their previous album, Argus, in that it lacked that recording's overall cohesion and atmosphere and the loose conceptual framework of a stately, pastoral and warring medieval England. Containing only hints of the extended twin-lead guitar harmonies, Wishbone Four's stylistic variety found its footing in acoustic folk elements in half of the eight-song set, two aggressive and melodic starters on each side of the vinyl release, and the band's first use of horns on the semi-autobiographical "rave-up" touring song "No Easy Road".

<i>Theres the Rub</i> 1974 studio album by Wishbone Ash

There's the Rub is the fifth studio album by rock band Wishbone Ash. It is the first album to feature guitarist-vocalist Laurie Wisefield, who would be a major part of the band's creative direction for the next 11 years. It also marked a change in sound. It was the band's first album to be recorded in America and was produced by producer Bill Szymczyk. Although the trademark twin guitars were still evident, the album had a more "American" feel with a smoother production sound. Nevertheless, after the disappointing critical response to the previous studio album, Wishbone Four, reviews for There's The Rub were much more positive.

<i>Locked In</i> (album) 1976 studio album by Wishbone Ash

Locked In is the sixth studio album by the rock band Wishbone Ash, and their second with guitarist Laurie Wisefield who had joined the band in 1974. The album peaked at No. 36 in the UK Albums Chart in April 1976, their lowest UK chart placing to date. Considered by many, including the band themselves, to be one of the weaker entries in their extensive catalog. The band frequently place the blame on producer Tom Dowd, who insisted the band play much quieter in the studio, removing much of the energy of their performances. The band had switched U.S. distribution from MCA Records to Atlantic Records for this and the next release, New England.

<i>New England</i> (Wishbone Ash album) 1976 studio album by Wishbone Ash

New England is the seventh studio album by rock band Wishbone Ash released only seven months after Locked In. It was a success compared to Locked In but still did not chart as high as most of their previous albums. It peaked at No. 22 in the UK Albums Chart. This album marked the "Americanization" of Wishbone Ash, as the band relocated from England to the Northeastern United States for tax purposes.

<i>Front Page News</i> 1977 studio album by Wishbone Ash

Front Page News is the eighth album by rock band Wishbone Ash. It peaked at No. 31 in the UK Albums Chart.

<i>Number the Brave</i> 1981 studio album by Wishbone Ash

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 by John Wetton, formerly of King Crimson and Uriah Heep. Also featured on Number the Brave was singer Claire Hamill as backing vocalist, who would join Wishbone Ash on the 1981 tour to promote the album. Following "Vas Dis" on Pilgrimage and "Helpless" on Just Testing, the album featured only the third cover version released by the band on a studio album, Smokey Robinson's "Get Ready", previously a hit for The Temptations.

<i>Mechanical Resonance</i> (album) 1986 studio album by Tesla

Mechanical Resonance is the debut studio album by the American hard rock band Tesla. It was released on December 8, 1986, by Geffen Records.

<i>Time Exposure</i> (Little River Band album) 1981 studio album by Little River Band

Time Exposure is the sixth studio album by Little River Band (LRB), which was recorded with producer George Martin at Associated Independent Recording (AIR) in Montserrat and released in September 1981. It peaked at No. 9 on the Australian Kent Music Report Albums Chart. In the United States, it reached No. 21 on the Billboard 200.

<i>The Touch</i> (album) 1986 album by the American band, Alabama

The Touch is the tenth studio album from American country music band Alabama, released in 1986. It reached No.1 on the Billboard Country Albums chart and No. 69 on the Billboard 200.

<i>When Love Finds You</i> 1994 studio album by Vince Gill

When Love Finds You is the sixth studio album from American country music artist Vince Gill. It was released in 1994 on MCA Nashville. It features the singles "Whenever You Come Around," "What the Cowgirls Do," "When Love Finds You," "Which Bridge to Cross ," "You Better Think Twice" and "Go Rest High on That Mountain."

<i>A Diamond Rio Christmas: The Star Still Shines</i> 2007 studio album by Diamond Rio

A Diamond Rio Christmas: The Star Still Shines is the eighth studio and first and-to-date only christmas album from noted country artists Diamond Rio. The album was the band's first release on their new label, Word Records. The album peaked at number 57 on the Billboard Country chart.

<i>Wont Be Blue Anymore</i> 1985 studio album by Dan Seals

Won't Be Blue Anymore is the fifth studio album by American country music artist Dan Seals. It was his most successful studio album; the only one to reach No. 1 on the Top Country Albums chart. The album featured some of Seals most popular songs, including "Bop" and "Meet Me in Montana", a duet with Marie Osmond. These and the third single, "Everything That Glitters ", all reached No. 1 on the Hot Country Songs chart. "Bop" was a major crossover hit, peaking at No. 10 on the Hot Adult Contemporary Tracks chart. The compact disc format of this album was released on the album's initial release. It has been out-of-print for more than 20 years and is highly collectible.

References

  1. Allan, Mark. Wishbone Ash: "Just Testing" > Review at AllMusic. Retrieved 17 November 2016.
  2. "Longplay-Chartverfolgung at Musicline" (in German). Musicline.de. Phononet GmbH. Retrieved 22 April 2018.
  3. "Wishbone Ash | Artist | Official Charts". UK Albums Chart. Retrieved 22 April 2018.
  4. "Wishbone Ash Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved 22 April 2018.