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Argus | ||||
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Studio album by | ||||
Released | 28 April 1972 [1] [2] | |||
Recorded | January — March 1972 | |||
Studio | De Lane Lea, London, England | |||
Genre | Progressive rock, folk rock, hard rock | |||
Length | 44:43 76:55 (2002 reissue) | |||
Label | Decca/MCA | |||
Producer | Derek Lawrence | |||
Wishbone Ash chronology | ||||
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Argus is the third album by the British rock band Wishbone Ash, released on 28 April 1972. [1] [2] [3] It is their most commercially and critically successful album. [4] It peaked at No. 3 in the UK Albums Chart. [5]
Although not intended as a concept album, the album is medieval-themed to a degree, particularly on the second side. The album features a blend of progressive rock, folk, and hard rock, and is considered a landmark album in the progression of twin-lead guitar harmonisation, [4] later adopted by bands such as Thin Lizzy, Judas Priest and Iron Maiden. The sound engineer on Argus was Martin Birch, who also worked with Deep Purple, later with Black Sabbath, Iron Maiden and other hard rock bands. [6] The bulk of the lyrics were provided by bassist/lead vocalist Martin Turner, although all members are credited with the music and arrangements. The album was produced by Derek Lawrence. [7]
The album cover was designed by Storm Thorgerson and it features a warrior overlooking a landscape at the Gorges du Verdon in Provence, France. The costume was borrowed from the wardrobe of Ken Russell’s 1971 film The Devils and to this day, the identity of the person wearing the costume remains unknown. For many years, it is rumoured that the warrior is the main inspiration for the character design of Darth Vader in Star Wars . Andy Powell acknowledged this rumour although he himself cannot confirm if it is true. [8]
Argus was released on vinyl record on 28 April 1972. [3] [9] [10] It was later released on CD in 2002, featuring a remix (by Martin Turner) of the original album as well as the three live tracks from the EP Live from Memphis promotional EP, recorded in the studios of WMC-FM.
In 2007, a 2-CD deluxe edition of Argus was released in Europe by Island Records. This included the 1972 mix as well as additional BBC Session tracks.
In 2008, Martin Turner released a new studio recording of Argus entitled Argus Through the Looking Glass. Wishbone Ash released a live version of the album, Argus "Then Again" Live .
Review scores | |
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Source | Rating |
AllMusic | [4] |
SputnikMusic | [11] |
Argus was named "Album of the Year" in the 1972 year-end issue of Sounds .
William Ruhlmann of AllMusic gave the album a rating of 4 out of 5 stars, praising the instrumentation and writing that "it set up the commercial breakthrough enjoyed by the band's next album, Wishbone Four , but over the years it came to be seen as the quintessential Wishbone Ash recording, the one that best realized the group's complex vision." [4]
In an interview with Guitar World in 2011, Steve Harris from Iron Maiden said "I think if anyone wants to understand Maiden's early thing, in particular the harmony guitars, all they have to do is listen to Wishbone Ash's Argus album." [12]
Music by Wishbone Ash, lyrics by Martin Turner, except "Time Was" by Ted Turner and Martin Turner, and "Leaf and Stream" by Steve Upton. [4]
All lead vocals were performed by Martin Turner with Andy Powell, unless otherwise noted.
No. | Title | Lead vocals | Length |
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1. | "Time Was" | T. Turner, M. Turner | 9:42 |
2. | "Sometime World" | 6:55 | |
3. | "Blowin' Free" | M. Turner, Powell, T. Turner | 5:17 |
No. | Title | Lead vocals | Length |
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1. | "The King Will Come" | 7:06 | |
2. | "Leaf and Stream" | M. Turner | 3:55 |
3. | "Warrior" | 5:53 | |
4. | "Throw Down the Sword" | 5:55 |
Note: track timings on the gatefold sleeve of early editions are incorrect. For example, "Time Was" is listed as 9:00 and not the correct 9:42.
Music by Wishbone Ash;
Lyrics by Martin Turner.
All songs composed by Wishbone Ash.
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Chart (1972) | Peak position |
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Australian Albums (Kent Music Report) [13] | 49 |
Norwegian Albums (VG-lista) [14] | 21 |
UK Albums (OCC) [15] | 3 |
US Billboard 200 [16] | 169 |
Chart (2023) | Peak position |
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Scottish Albums (OCC) [17] | 53 |
UK Independent Albums (OCC) [18] | 21 |
UK Rock & Metal Albums (OCC) [19] | 10 |
Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
---|---|---|
United Kingdom (BPI) [20] | Gold | 100,000^ |
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone. |
Iron Maiden are an English heavy metal band formed in Leyton, East London, in 1975 by bassist and primary songwriter Steve Harris. Although fluid in the early years of the band, the line-up for most of the band's history has consisted of Harris, lead vocalist Bruce Dickinson, drummer Nicko McBrain, and guitarists Dave Murray, Adrian Smith and Janick Gers. As pioneers of the new wave of British heavy metal movement, Iron Maiden released a series of UK and US Platinum and Gold albums, including 1980's debut album, 1981's Killers, and 1982's The Number of the Beast – its first album with Bruce Dickinson, who replaced Paul Di'Anno as lead singer. The addition of Dickinson was a turning point in their career, establishing them as one of heavy metal's most important bands. The Number of the Beast is among the most popular heavy metal albums of all time, having sold almost 20 million copies worldwide.
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).
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Martin Birch was a British music producer and sound engineer. He became renowned for engineering and producing albums recorded predominantly by British rock bands, including Deep Purple, Rainbow, Fleetwood Mac, Whitesnake, Black Sabbath, and Iron Maiden.
Wishbone Ash is the first studio album by Wishbone Ash. It peaked at number 29 in the UK Albums Chart in January 1971.
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 the instrumental jazz workout "Vas Dis" as well as moodier, slower instrumentals such as "Alone" and "Lullaby".
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.
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.
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.
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.
Front Page News is the eighth album by rock band Wishbone Ash. It peaked at No. 31 in the UK Albums Chart.
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.
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.
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Andy Pyle is a British bassist who is best known for playing with The Kinks from 1976 to 1978. Prior to that, he was in Blodwyn Pig (1968–1972) and Savoy Brown (1972–1974). Later, he played with Wishbone Ash.
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.