Wishbone Ash were undeniably at the forefront of rock music in the 1970s – thanks to their inspired musicianship, positive energy, and inventive songs. Their concerts were electrifying, and their albums were magnificent. “Argus” remains a highlight in the band’s impressive repertoire. The 1972 hard rock masterpiece had a tremendous influence on subsequent rock bands. The British quartet’s signature harmony guitars became the benchmark for many. Thin Lizzy, Iron Maiden, Opeth, and Lynyrd Skynyrd have all acknowledged Wishbone Ash’s influence, and tracks like Thin Lizzy’s “The Boys Are Back in Town,” Iron Maiden’s “The Trooper,” and even Steely Dan’s “Reeling in the Years” all feature twin-guitar moments reminiscent of “Argus.”
Argus But Wishbone Ash were never a pure hard rock band: their soaring vocal harmonies and musical grandeur placed them closer to progressive rock. Nor were they a pure prog band, as they eschewed keyboards and were never truly influenced by classical music. Their roots lay in the blues, and their trademark was two harmonically matched lead guitars (played in the original lineup by Ted Turner and Andy Powell). Even their heaviest tracks—like “Blowin’ Free,” the most famous song from “Argus”—possessed an ethereal quality. They could rock the biggest stages, but they did so with subtlety and grace.
This is perfectly reflected in the classic album cover by prog-associated designers Hipgnosis: the front cover features a Greek guardian—the “Argus” from the title—gazing into the distance. It’s a mythical image from another world, until you look more closely at the back cover and realize it heralds the arrival (or perhaps departure) of a spaceship. Two worlds collide. Precisely what the band and the album were about. “Argus” isn’t a concept album in the usual sense, but there is a definite emotional thread running from its dark beginning to its heroic end. The band insisted at the time that the lyrics were secondary: shortly after the release, Martin Turner explained to NME that he primarily wrote them to match the mood of the music: “The music that came out was very English, very medieval, and the lyrics had to reflect that.”
Now, Analogue Productions has employed all its craftsmanship and technical expertise to pay homage to this epic album! Thanks to the superb remastering by Sean Magee (Abbey Road Studios), using the original master tapes, this double LP (180 grams, 45 rpm), pressed by Quality Record Pressings and featuring a luxurious gatefold cover by Stoughton Printing, shines in a whole new light: The quieter, lyrical passages are reproduced with precision, while the majestic riffs and rousing anthems bring the music’s energy to the fore! “Argus” is not just another rock album—it’s a journey through a sonic landscape brimming with depth, emotion, and technical brilliance. It’s the album that established Wishbone Ash as masters of twin-guitar harmony. Discerning audiophiles will consider “Argus” an essential addition to their record collection. It’s a masterpiece of sound engineering, capturing the complex interplay of the two guitars with flawless clarity and a warmth that only analog recordings can provide.
