On Wishbone Ash’s ‘Raw To The Bone’, the band try to turn up the melodic rock heat, more so than usual, and it works; the music on display a pumping brand of melodic rock.
Written by: gdmonline
ARTIST: Wishbone Ash
ALBUM: Raw To The Bone
LABEL: Neat Records
SERIAL: NEAT 1027
YEAR: 1985
CD REISSUE: Discogs Reissue List
COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: England
LINEUP: Andy Powell – guitars, backing vocals * Laurie Wisefield – guitars, backing vocals * Mervyn Spence – lead vocals, bass * Steve Upton – drums, backing vocals
Additional Musicians: Brad Lang – bass * Andrew Bown, Simon Butt – keyboards
TRACK LISTING: 01 Cell Of Fame * People In Motion * 03 Don’t Cry * 04 Love Is Blue * 05 Long Live The Night * 06 Rocket In My Pocket * 07 It’s Only Love * 08 Don’t You Mess * 09 Dreams (Searching For Answer) * 10 Perfect Timing
WEBLINK: Site Link
Background
It’s safe to say that British rockers Wishbone Ash are severely under-represented at GDM. I know the band has lots of fans but for some reason I just couldn’t get into them. There has been the odd interest point where I could’ve investigated further, like the inclusion of John Wetton back in the early 80’s prior to Asia, and also drummer Mike Sturgis‘ inclusion in the mid 90’s around the time of their ‘Illumination’ album.
However, I’ve chosen the mid 80’s, where bassist and singer Mervyn Spence joined on. An excellent vocalist, he’s also known for his work under his own steam called O’Ryan, which released two highly acclaimed albums of AOR during the 90’s. On Wishbone Ash’s ‘Raw To The Bone’, the band try to turn up the melodic rock heat, more so than usual, and it works; the music on display a pumping brand of melodic rock which highlights Spence’s soaring vocal work, in the same style as The Outfield‘s Tony Lewis.
The Songs
As soon as the opening strands of’ Cell Of Fame’ kicked in, I knew that this was album I had to hear all the way through. ‘People In Motion’ really does sound like a heavier version of The Outfield, so far so good. ‘Don’t Cry’ is a buoyant number, that is a by-product of the 80’s for sure, ‘Love Is Blue’ with its insistent plucky riff and good chorus keeps up appearances as we head into the middle of the album.
‘Long Live The Night’ is a mid-paced affair with some timely crunching guitar riffs and a hint of slide guitar from Wisefield too. ‘Rocket In My Pocket’ is a very cool groovy rocker, and should please most GDM readers. ‘It’s Only Love’ continues this direction, and this pairing holds up the mid-section of the album with ease. Wishbone Ash break out the keyboards for the most AOR effort here: ‘Don’t You Mess’, this track deserves to be better known among the AOR brethren I reckon.
I enjoyed the bold and brash ‘Dreams (Searching For An Answer)’ and by now I’m guessing this is one of the more melodic releases every issued by Neat Records! The album concludes with the funky ‘Perfect Timing’, those keyboard parps gives this a pop/rock overtone, but in the context of the entire album, it’s a perfect fit.
In Summary
‘Raw To The Bone’ was Wishbone Ash’s first independent release, on Neat Records, more noted for working with metal bands like Venom and Raven. The album did get a European release with German label Metronome, who also handled their previous studio album: 1982’s ‘Twin Barrels Burning’.
The album was produced by English producer Nigel Gray, who was the bloke who did The Police‘s first couple of albums, and received plenty of praise for those efforts. Unfortunately,’ Raw To The Bone’ would be the sole appearance by Mervyn Spence, and would also signal the end of the road for guitarist Laurie Wisefield. WA would return two years later for their ‘Nouveau Calling’ album.
If you want to hear Wishbone Ash in a different context (that is: full blown melodic rock with keyboards), then this is the album to drag out of the collection. Finally, the album has seen reissue treatments in the past couple of years, including Cherry Red in 2018 and a Japanese label in 2019. Refer the Discogs reissue link above.
Video
Don’t You Mess
