Wishbone Ash-Live Dates Volume Two (1980)

Seven years after the monumental and brilliant "Live Dates" of 1973, Wishbone Ash released "Live Dates II", another double live album with an almost identical cover, but with a different lineup and setlist. By then, Ted Turner had left the group and been replaced by guitarist Laurie Wisefield, who, along with Martin Turner, Steve Upton, and Andy Powell, made up the Wishbone Ash lineup of those years. Recorded in various locations in London, Bristol, and Wolverhampton between 1976 and 1980 during tours promoting the albums "New England" and "Just Testing", the repertoire consists of songs from their later albums. The first two sides consist of a series of melodic and energetic classic rock songs with compelling guitar solos and a solid rhythmic structure, such as "Doctor", "Runaway", "Living Proof", and "Helpless", while extended tracks with their characteristic guitar jams are interspersed between this first disc and the following two. These extended pieces include "F*U*B*B", "The Way Of The World", "Persephone", and "No Easy Road", undoubtedly the four longest and most progressive compositions on this double live album. While not reaching the heights and energy of the legendary original "Live Dates", this is generally a good live album.