Pilgrimage (Wishbone Ash album)

Last updated

Pilgrimage
Pilgrimage WishboneAsh.jpg
Studio album by
Wishbone Ash
ReleasedSeptember 1971
RecordedMay 1971
Studio De Lane Lea Studios, London
Genre Progressive rock, hard rock, jazz fusion, folk rock [1]
Length39:30
Label Decca/MCA
Producer Derek Lawrence [1]
Wishbone Ash chronology
Wishbone Ash
(1970)		Pilgrimage
(1971)		 Argus
(1972)
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [2]

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. [2] The album also contains the instrumental jazz workout "Vas Dis" as well as moodier, slower instrumentals such as "Alone" and "Lullaby". [2]

Contents

The album sold well, reaching no. 14 in the UK Albums Chart, [3] but the band reached their creative and commercial peak with their next studio release, Argus . [4]

Recording and composition

Following the band's debut album Wishbone Ash , they had toured extensively and felt they had improved their musical skills as a result, but had not been able to devote much time to writing new material. Therefore, Pilgrimage is largely composed of older songs that had not been used on Wishbone Ash. [5] : 91  "Vas Dis" was an old Jack McDuff jazz piece that Wishbone Ash had been performing live for some time as an exercise in turning a jazz number into a rock tune. The band rehearsed it in the studio, not realising that producer Derek Lawrence was recording, and it was this rehearsal take that appeared on the album. [5] : 91–92 

"The Pilgrim" was composed largely by bass guitarist Martin Turner, consisting of two different pieces of music joined together. The first, slow part features one of the band's guitarists Ted Turner soloing while the other, Andy Powell, plays along with the bassline. The second, faster part reverses the guitarists' roles, with Powell soloing and Ted Turner playing along with the bass riff. [5] : 92–93  The live favourite "Jailbait" was composed "in about ten minutes" at a pub in Exeter, and came about as a joint band effort through jamming together. As the vocalist on this song, Ted Turner wrote a few lines of a lyric, which he completed with the help of drummer Steve Upton in about half an hour. [5] : 93 

"Alone" dated from pre-Wishbone Ash days, having been performed by Martin Turner and Steve Upton's previous band The Empty Vessels. An early version of the song had been recorded by Wishbone Ash during a session at Advision Studios in 1970, but the band had chosen not to re-record it for their debut album, and it was shelved along with two other songs in favour of "Phoenix". [5] : 71  This early version was later included on First Light, an album consisting of all the recordings made at Advision. [5] : 72  "Alone" was revived during the Pilgrimage sessions and re-recorded as a six-minute song with vocals, but Lawrence felt that Martin Turner's vocal was unsuitable as "a bit too choirboy-ish, and not rock 'n' roll enough". [5] : 93–94  He suggested cutting out the vocal parts, turning the song into a short instrumental. Turner reluctantly agreed and the rest of the band approved, although Turner later thought the whole song might have been better suited to the band's next album, Argus . The full version of the song was eventually released on the box set Distillation. [5] : 94 

"Alone" was followed on Pilgrimage by another instrumental, "Lullaby", which was composed mostly by Powell and Ted Turner. The band decided to record it without drums, and considered leaving the bass guitar out as well, although ultimately a bass part was added. [5] : 94  "Valediction" was composed mostly by Powell, who also sang lead vocals, with Martin Turner providing a vocal harmony. Ted Turner added the reggae-style ending to the song. [5] : 94  The last track on the album, "Where Were You Tomorrow", was a live recording of a performance in Leicester shortly after the rest of the album had been recorded. It was a standard blues rock song running at over ten minutes, and was basically a jam with all the band members contributing. The lyric was composed with the help of the band's then-manager, Miles Copeland III, who also provided the song's title. A studio recording, with which the band were not particularly satisfied at the time, was later released on the anthology Time Was. [5] : 94–95 

Track listing

All songs composed by Martin Turner, Steve Upton, Ted Turner and Andy Powell, except where noted.

Side one
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Vas Dis" Jack McDuff 4:39
2."The Pilgrim" 8:25
3."Jail Bait" 4:35
4."Alone" 2:20
Side two
No.TitleLength
5."Lullaby"2:55
6."Valediction"6:11
7."Where Were You Tomorrow" (live at De Montfort Hall, Leicester on June 14, 1971 [6] )10:25

[2]

Bonus track
No.TitleLength
8."Jail Bait" (live)4:54

[2]

Note: some issues incorrectly list "Alone" as being 2:55.

Personnel

Wishbone Ash

Charts

Chart (1971-1972)Peak
position
UK Albums (OCC) [7] 14
US Billboard 200 [8] 174

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).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Andy Powell</span> Musical artist

Andrew Powell is an English guitarist, singer and songwriter. He is a founding member of the British band Wishbone Ash, whose use of twin lead guitars was influential.

<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>Argus</i> (album) 1972 studio album by Wishbone Ash

Argus is the third album by the British rock band Wishbone Ash, released on 28 April 1972. It is their most commercially and critically successful album. It peaked at No. 3 in the UK Albums Chart.

<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".

Live Dates is a live album by the British rock band Wishbone Ash released in November 1973.

<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>No Smoke Without Fire</i> 1978 studio album by Wishbone Ash

No Smoke Without Fire is the ninth studio album by English rock band Wishbone Ash. It was the first album since 1972's Argus to be produced by Derek Lawrence. The album peaked at No. 43 in the UK Albums Chart.

<i>Just Testing</i> 1980 studio album by Wishbone Ash

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.

<i>Live Dates 2</i> 1980 live album by Wishbone Ash

Live Dates 2 is the second live album by rock band Wishbone Ash. It remains a sought-after collector's item. The album was recorded partly on dates between 1976 and 1980, including the tour in support of the album Just Testing. It peaked at No. 40 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>Twin Barrels Burning</i> 1982 studio album by Wishbone Ash

Twin Barrels Burning is the twelfth studio album by British rock band Wishbone Ash. It was recorded at Sol Studios and released in 1982. It was the highest charting Wishbone Ash album since 1976, reaching No. 22 in the UK Albums Chart. Conversely, it was the final album to appear in that listing to date.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Martin Turner</span> Musical artist

Martin Robert Turner is an English musician best known for his time as the bass guitarist, lead vocalist and a founding member of the rock band, Wishbone Ash.

<i>Live from Memphis</i> (album) 1972 live album by Wishbone Ash

Live from Memphis is a live promotional recording by rock band Wishbone Ash. The promotional recording featured only a few tracks and was only released in America. The entire EP was included as bonus tracks on the 2002 remastered version of Argus (1972).

David Alan "Ted" Turner is an English guitarist and vocalist best known for his work with the 1970s rock band Wishbone Ash, in which he was famed for his twin lead guitar instrumental arrangements with Andy Powell. Turner also contributed lap steel guitar to a variety of Wishbone Ash recordings.

<i>Elegant Stealth</i> 2011 studio album by Wishbone Ash

Elegant Stealth is the twenty-first studio album from rock band Wishbone Ash and the culmination of 2 years of writing and recording sessions. The songs featured on the band's 2012 tour of Europe.

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Pilgrimage - Wishbone Ash | Credits | AllMusic". AllMusic . Retrieved 17 May 2021.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 Sleger, Dave. "Wishbone Ash – Pilgrimage AllMusic review". AllMusic . Retrieved 13 November 2023.
  3. ↑ Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 607. ISBN   1-904994-10-5.
  4. ↑ Ruhlmann, William (8 May 1972). "Argus – Wishbone Ash : Songs, Reviews, Credits, Awards". AllMusic . Retrieved 17 November 2023.
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 Turner, Martin (2012). No Easy Road. Dirty Dog Books. ISBN   978-0-9572478-0-2.
  6. ↑ Album sleeve notes
  7. ↑ "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved October 30, 2023.
  8. ↑ "Wishbone Ash Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved October 30, 2023.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.