WISHBONE ASH – LIVE DATES Recorded in England 1973 2LP Vinyl Album

- Capturing the raw power of Wishbone Ash’s 1973 British tour across Croydon, Reading, Newcastle, and Cardiff

Album Front Cover Photo of Wishbone Ash – Live Dates Recorded in England 1973 2LP Vinyl Album Visit: https://vinyl-records.nl/

“Live Dates” stands as one of the most iconic live albums of the 1970s. Released in 1973, it immortalized Wishbone Ash’s commanding stage presence and their signature twin-lead guitar interplay. Recorded during a series of British concerts, the album blends hard rock precision with progressive depth, produced by the band themselves and visually brought to life by Hipgnosis. Its sprawling double LP captures every spark of the band’s musicianship — from the soaring harmonies of “The King Will Come” to the epic crescendo of “Phoenix.”

Table of Contents

"Live Dates" Album Description:

Wishbone Ash, formed in 1969, became one of England’s most distinctive rock bands through their pioneering twin-lead guitar sound. In 1973, they released the double live album "Live Dates", recorded during their British tour that included shows in both England and Wales. Captured across several venues, the album preserves the raw energy and interplay that defined the band’s stage presence.

"Live Dates" is a double LP featuring performances from venues such as Croydon, Reading, Newcastle, and Cardiff. The record opens with "The King Will Come"—a signature piece that showcases the seamless harmony between guitarists Andy Powell and Ted Turner. Their intertwining solos, supported by Martin Turner’s melodic bass and Steve Upton’s precise drumming, set the tone for the album’s dynamic flow.

The setlist draws from the band’s first four studio albums, including live favourites such as "Warrior", "Throw Down the Sword", and "Blowin’ Free". These renditions expand on their studio counterparts with extended improvisations and subtle variations that underline the band’s technical mastery.

A standout performance is "Jail Bait", recorded in Newcastle, where the group’s blues-rock roots shine through. The track’s driving rhythm and gritty solos highlight Wishbone Ash’s ability to merge structure with spontaneity—a hallmark of their live shows.

The second LP features the longer, more progressive pieces such as "The Pilgrim" and the epic "Phoenix". These tracks reveal the band’s fluid musicianship, building from quiet passages to soaring climaxes that defined their early-1970s sound.

Overall, "Live Dates" captures Wishbone Ash at their creative peak, balancing precision with freedom. The twin-lead guitar lines, melodic sensibility, and crisp live production make it one of the defining concert recordings of the decade.

The album’s success reinforced the band’s reputation as a premier live act and demonstrated the maturity of their material from Wishbone Ash (1970) through Argus (1972). By the time of its release, the group had already toured internationally, but "Live Dates" stood as a summation of everything they had achieved on stage up to that point.

In retrospect, "Live Dates" stands as both a celebration and a transition—marking the end of the original lineup before Ted Turner’s departure later that year. It remains an essential record for anyone interested in British rock’s evolution toward melodic and progressive frontiers.

Album Key Details: Genre, Label, Format & Release Info

Music Genre:

Rock

Wishbone Ash’s sound blends hard rock, progressive rock, and blues influences, marked by their pioneering twin-lead guitar harmonies that would influence generations of guitar-based bands.

Label & Catalognr:

MCA Records – Cat#: MAPS 7169-D

Album Packaging

Gatefold cover design with live concert photography on the inner spread.

Includes tour credits and acknowledgments printed inside the gatefold.

Media Format:

Record Format: 12" Double LP

Year & Country:

1973 – Made in Germany

Production & Recording Information:

Producers:
  • Wishbone Ash – Record Production
    The band took full control of production, ensuring the live energy and signature twin-guitar sound were faithfully captured without outside interference — a hallmark of their artistic independence during the early 1970s.
Sound & Recording Engineers:
  • Keith Harwood – Recording and Re-Mix Engineering
    A respected British engineer, Harwood worked at Olympic Studios and is known for his precision on albums by Led Zeppelin, The Rolling Stones, and Bad Company. His balance of clarity and power elevated the live dynamics of Live Dates.
Recording Location:

The Rolling Stones Mobile Studio – Various concert venues across England and Wales (1973).

This legendary mobile unit was used by many major artists of the era, including Deep Purple and Led Zeppelin, and allowed Wishbone Ash to capture their live sound directly from stage to tape with exceptional quality.
Mixing Studio & Location:

Olympic Studios – London, England

Olympic Studios was one of London’s premier recording facilities, known for projects by The Rolling Stones, Cream, and Jimi Hendrix. Its acoustics and equipment made it ideal for refining the powerful sound of Wishbone Ash’s live recordings.
Album Cover Design & Artwork:
  • Hipgnosis – Cover Design and Concept
    Hipgnosis, the legendary British art design group, revolutionized album cover art for rock music. Explore their iconic visual creations on our website, featuring a vast collection of their innovative designs for Pink Floyd, Led Zeppelin, and many more. Here is the web-page with a gallery of album covers created by Hipgnosis
  • Colin Elgie – Drawing and Artwork
    Illustrator Colin Elgie frequently collaborated with Hipgnosis, contributing detailed artwork to albums by 10cc and Alan Parsons Project. His precision and flair for visual storytelling complemented the album’s live aesthetic.
Photography:
  • Aubrey Powell – Inside Photography
    Co-founder of Hipgnosis, Powell captured striking live images that emphasized atmosphere and realism, central to the band’s visual narrative.
  • Storm Thorgerson – Inside Photography
    Known for his conceptual photography, Thorgerson’s work defined the look of progressive rock in the 1970s through evocative, often surreal compositions.
  • Miles Copeland – Inside Photography
    Before managing The Police and launching IRS Records, Miles Copeland played a key role in Wishbone Ash’s early career, blending managerial acumen with hands-on creative input.
  • Steve Upton – Inside Photography
    As the band’s drummer, Upton also contributed candid and tour photos, reflecting the group’s personal connection to the album’s visual presentation.
  • Jill Furmanovsky – Inside Photography
    A celebrated British rock photographer, Furmanovsky is known for her images of Pink Floyd, The Clash, and Led Zeppelin, capturing artists in their most human moments.
  • Pauline Powell – Inside Photography
    Powell’s contributions complemented the visual ensemble, adding warmth and spontaneity to the album’s live imagery.

Band Members / Musicians:

Band Line-up (Part 1):
  • Andy Powell – Guitar, Vocals
    A founding member and the band’s longest-serving guitarist, Powell became synonymous with the twin-lead sound of Wishbone Ash. His fluid melodic phrasing and use of Gibson Flying Vs established him as a cornerstone of British classic rock.
  • Ted Turner – Guitar, Vocals
    Known for his lyrical playing style and emotional tone, Turner’s guitar harmonies with Powell were central to the group’s early success on albums such as Argus (1972). He left the band after Live Dates but returned briefly in the late 1980s.
Band Line-up (Part 2):
  • Martin Turner – Bass, Vocals
    As bassist, lead vocalist, and principal songwriter, Martin Turner provided the melodic backbone and many of the band’s most memorable compositions. His distinctive bass tone and vocal delivery helped define Wishbone Ash’s sound in the 1970s.
  • Steve Upton – Drums
    Upton’s disciplined yet expressive drumming gave structure to the band’s complex arrangements. As a founding member, he anchored the rhythm section through the group’s classic period before retiring from music in the 1990s.

Complete Track-listing:

Tracklisting Side One:
  1. The King Will Come
  2. Warrior
  3. Throw Down the Sword
Tracklisting Side Two:
  1. Rock 'n' Roll Widow
  2. Ballad of the Beacon
  3. Baby What You Want Me To Do
Tracklisting Side Three:
  1. The Pilgrim
  2. Blowin’ Free
  3. Jail Bait
Tracklisting Side Four:
  1. Lady Whisky
  2. Phoenix

Disclaimer: Track durations not listed on the sleeve. Live recordings captured at Croydon, Reading, Newcastle, and Cardiff in 1973.

Trivia & Notes:

Wishbone Ash were renowned for their use of Gibson Firebirds and Flying V guitars, producing their signature twin-lead tone that became a hallmark of their early-1970s sound.

The album marks the final appearance of original guitarist Ted Turner before his departure later in 1973.

Album Back Cover Liner Notes:

MCA Records

MCA Records, Inc., 100 Universal City Plaza, Universal City, California – U.S.A. © 1973 MCA Records, Inc. ℗ 1973 MCA Records, Inc.

Manufactured in Western Germany by TELDEC • Telefunken-Decca-Schallplatten-Ges. mbH., Heussweg 25, Hamburg 19

Licensed by MCA International, a division of MCA Inc., New York / USA

Album Front Cover Photo
Front cover of Wishbone Ash’s double live album Live Dates, released in 1973 on MCA Records. The artwork features a surreal desert landscape in golden yellow tones, dominated by the shadow of an airplane cast over the sand. In the center, a vivid emblem frames a sunset scene: an airplane flies toward the horizon over rolling dunes, while palm trees, a camel, and a distant Mediterranean-style town appear beneath the band’s large, curved name logo. The words Double Live Dates Album are arranged across the middle in a vintage travel-poster style. The design evokes movement, warmth, and the adventurous tone of Wishbone Ash’s 1970s tours.

The front cover of Wishbone Ash’s 1973 double live album Live Dates is a vibrant piece of visual storytelling, reflecting the spirit of a band constantly on the move. The design, executed in warm desert hues, depicts the shadow of a plane gliding across a vast expanse of golden sand, suggesting both travel and performance across distant places.

At the heart of the composition lies an emblem framed by palm trees and tropical plants, within which a brilliant sunset radiates across an open sky. A lone airplane sails into the horizon above a stylized landscape—mountains, a camel, and a small whitewashed town—summoning a dreamlike blend of North African and Mediterranean imagery. The band’s name arcs boldly across the top in sweeping letters, flanked by tropical fruits and lush foliage.

The album title Double Live Dates Album appears in block letters beneath the emblem, styled like a 1930s travel poster, merging adventure and nostalgia. Above the logo, a small aircraft in golden light mirrors the one whose shadow falls below, connecting sky and sand in one continuous motion. The overall impression captures the band’s touring life—sunset flights, distant venues, and the endless horizon of 1970s rock energy.

Photograph of the original vinyl cover from my personal collection. Colors may vary slightly due to camera lighting and age of the sleeve. Touchscreen users can zoom in to view artwork details and texture.

Album Back Cover Photo
Back cover of Wishbone Ash’s 1973 double live album Live Dates, released on MCA Records. The design mirrors the front cover’s desert motif, featuring the band’s four members—Andy Powell, Ted Turner, Martin Turner, and Steve Upton—illustrated within a radiant sunset frame. Surrounding them are surreal desert elements: palm trees, cacti, dragonflies, and a classic red 1950s car driving toward the glowing horizon. Above, a small airplane flies across the title banner, casting its shadow on the sand below. A tracklist for all four sides of the 2LP set appears beneath the portraits, including songs such as The King Will Come, Throw Down the Sword, The Pilgrim, and Phoenix. The bottom margin features MCA and TELDEC credits, indicating manufacturing in West Germany.

The back cover of Live Dates continues the warm, surreal travel theme introduced on the front. The airplane’s shadow once again stretches across a glowing desert floor, as if passing over the band’s journey through sound and space. The same radiant horizon forms the backdrop, this time framing portraits of Wishbone Ash’s classic 1973 lineup: Andy Powell, Ted Turner, Martin Turner, and Steve Upton, each presented in natural tones with a faint painterly softness.

The central emblem, bathed in the amber glow of a setting sun, anchors the album’s identity. Around it, stylized plants, a pink cactus, palm trees, and a red vintage car accentuate the band’s fusion of adventure and introspection. Above, a small plane continues its symbolic flight through the golden sky, uniting front and back covers into one visual narrative.

Below the portraits sits the complete 2LP tracklist, divided into four sides and featuring concert favorites such as The King Will Come, Throw Down the Sword, The Pilgrim, and Phoenix. At the bottom, production and label credits identify MCA Records and TELDEC of Hamburg, West Germany, emphasizing the international scope of this 1970s release and its enduring appeal to vinyl collectors.

Original 1973 back cover photographed from my personal vinyl copy. Slight tonal differences may appear due to sleeve aging and studio lighting. Touchscreen users can zoom for label details and texture visibility.

Photo One of Inside Page Gatefold Cover
Inside left and right panels of Wishbone Ash’s 1973 double live album Live Dates gatefold sleeve. The spread is bathed in warm amber and golden tones, filled with concert photographs of the band performing on stage. Smaller inset images show Andy Powell and Ted Turner playing their iconic Flying V and Gibson guitars in mid-solo, framed by the glow of stage lights. The right-hand side lists the full four-side tracklisting, recording locations, and credits, including Hipgnosis for cover design, Colin Elgie for artwork, and live photography by Aubrey Powell and Jill Furmanovsky. The text also credits recording engineer Keith Harwood and lists Miles Copeland under management. The overall effect captures the raw energy, sweat, and musical precision of Wishbone Ash’s 1973 British tour.

The inside gatefold of Live Dates immerses the viewer in a wash of orange and gold light, the visual echo of stage heat and amplified energy. Across both panels, photographs of Wishbone Ash in full performance capture the electricity of their 1973 British tour. The twin-lead guitars of Andy Powell and Ted Turner are front and center, frozen mid-flight under glowing spotlights, while Martin Turner and Steve Upton drive the rhythm with quiet intensity in the background.

The right panel provides the complete 2LP tracklisting — from The King Will Come and Throw Down the Sword to the majestic closer Phoenix — alongside detailed recording credits. It notes that the live material was recorded at venues including Croydon Fairfield Hall, Newcastle City Hall, Reading University, and Portsmouth Guildhall during the latter part of June 1973. Engineering was handled by Keith Harwood, with remixing at Olympic Studios, London.

Designed by Hipgnosis with artwork by Colin Elgie, the inner sleeve’s concept reflects both movement and musical symmetry. Photography by Aubrey Powell, Jill Furmanovsky, and Pauline Powell adds authenticity and human warmth, revealing the camaraderie of a band at its creative peak. The production credits close with a nod to manager Miles Copeland — a name later linked to The Police — grounding this record firmly in the lineage of 1970s British rock innovation.

Original inner gatefold photographed from my personal vinyl copy. Slight color variation may appear due to lighting and sleeve aging. Zoom in to explore details of the text and live performance imagery.

Close-up of Side One Record Label
Close-up of Side One label from Wishbone Ash’s 1973 double live album Live Dates, released on MCA Records. The label is black with a vibrant diagonal rainbow stripe running from top left to bottom right, crossing behind the spindle hole—a hallmark of MCA’s early 1970s design. Text is printed in silver-gray, including the MCA Records logo in bold blue type near the upper right, the catalog number MAPS 7169-D/1, and side designation 'Side 1 Stereophonic'. Below the track titles are listed: The King Will Come, Warrior, and Throw Down the Sword, all credited to Turner–Ash. The bottom section states 'Produced by Wishbone Ash' and 'Recorded in England', while the rim text notes licensing by MCA Records, Universal City, California, and pressing in Germany under TELDEC. The classic '33' triangle speed marker sits at the bottom.

This close-up of Side One from Live Dates reveals the elegant MCA Records rainbow label that defined early 1970s vinyl aesthetics. Against a matte black background, a vivid spectrum arcs diagonally across the disc, symbolizing the era’s transition toward higher-fidelity stereo production and visual flair.

The silver-gray text includes the track titles The King Will Come, Warrior, and Throw Down the Sword, all written by Turner and Ash. The catalog number MAPS 7169-D/1 and matrix reference MCA 368 identify this pressing as the German TELDEC-manufactured edition. The familiar MCA Records logo, printed in bright blue, anchors the upper right quadrant, while the “33” triangle speed marker sits neatly at the bottom center.

Around the edge, the fine-print rim text credits MCA Records, Universal City, California, and licensing through TELDEC – Telefunken-Decca Schallplatten GmbH of Hamburg, Germany. Together, these details encapsulate the craftsmanship and visual precision of early-1970s rock vinyl, marking this record as both a musical document and a collector’s artifact.

Original Side One label photographed from my personal vinyl copy. Some light reflections may appear due to record surface and lighting conditions. Ideal for collectors seeking label detail confirmation.

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