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Album Details
RAW TO THE BONE
1985
 
TRACK LISTING
1) Cell Of Fame 2) People In Motion 3) Don't Cry 4) Love Is Blue 5) Long Live The Night 6) Rocket In My Pocket 7) It's Only Love 8) Don't You Mess 9) Dreams (Searching For An Answer) 10) Perfect Timing
Line-up: Andy Powell (gtr), Laurie Wisefield (gtr), Steve Upton (dr), Mervyn Spence (bs/voc)
Produced by: Nigel Gray
Following the chart success of the previous album Twin Barrels Burning, Wishbone Ash continued its heavy rock direction for the follow-up, 1984’s Raw To The Bone. Following the departure of Trevor Bolder during the Spring of 1983 to return to Uriah Heep, Raw To The Bone introduced the considerable vocal range and song-writing talents of new bassist Mervyn Spence (ex-Trapeze). By the time the band came to record Raw To The Bone during the early part of 1984, Spence already had a wealth of US and European touring experience with Wishbone under his belt.
Armed with a batch of new songs written by all four members of the band, Wishbone Ash entered Surrey Sound Studios in Leatherhead during the Spring of 1984 with producer Nigel Gray and engineer Jim Ebdon. Tracks such as "Cell of Fame", "People in Motion" and "Love Is Blue" continued the heavy rock direction of the previous album, but added the superior songwriting and vocal talents of Mervyn Spence. In addition tracks such as "Long Live The Night" displayed a melodic content that had been largely missing from Twin Barrels Burning.
With the band lacking a UK record contract (former manager Miles Copeland had been presented with demos of the material, but decided that he would be embarrassed to be associated with Wishbone Ash at this point), Raw To The Bone was released in Germany on the Metronome label in November 1984 (a UK release would eventually transpire in May 1985 through independent label Neat). Despite being far removed from Wishbone Ash’s classic style and a tendency for some of its songs to sound too similar, Raw To The Bone contained some fine material, firmly rooted in the melodic heavy rock vein, albeit with a more commercial sound. However, despite being a particularly well-crafted album in its genre, many purist Ash fans clearly resented the band’s continuing move away from its original style. For the first time in the band’s career, the album failed to reach the UK album chart.
In retrospect, despite being something of a loose cannon within the Wishbone Ash catalogue and a further abandonment of the twin harmony guitar concept, Raw To The Bone was a well-produced album and featured some of the strongest vocal work to ever grace a Wishbone Ash album. However, for fans of the classic Wishbone Ash fans, it remains something of a disappointment.
GARY CARTER
MARK CHATTERTON
Fan reviews:
I remember seeing this Wishbone line up in 1985 the first time for three years on their only main UK tour and I was very impressed, I thought at last they had returned the bassist/lead vocalist format leaving the guitarist mainly to do what they do best. Listening to Spam covering the classic Ash tracks he sang them well in proper MT style without overdoing it, also his stage presence was very energetic and full of charisma (I even seem to remember 3 part harmonies in "The King Will Come" and "Blowin Free"). Andy and Laurie taking the vocals they had covered on the previous two albums, resulting in a very balanced set.
The new materiel seemed a bit more rhythmic and less melodic but I was very impressed with the new track "Love is Blue" and I recall some extended synthesised guitar playing on one new song. So back home, I bought the album really exited, The first three songs - "Cell of Fame", "Don’t Cry" and "People in Motion" seemed ok but not Wishbone Ash. "Love is Blue" is the most powerful track on the album but seems very trimmed down and compacted followed by another powerful performance "Long Live the Night". End of Side 1.
So it was headphones off, turn record over, phones back on and listen again. Oh dear from here on the album just did nothing for me Over the top singing, no melodic guitar playing - this was not Wishbone Ash.
Looking back in hindsight it was the Mid 1980s guitar bands were not the "in" thing and they were under a label promoting Heavy Metal bands The production was in my view suspect. I remember hearing a BBC Friday Night Rock show session from the band doing "Long Live The Night" and "Cell of Fame". Both songs were longer and featured more lead guitar playing much preferred to the album.
Re Mervyn Spence I think he deserves more than has been said in the past. He did a very good version of Living Proof - the nearest to MT I have heard. A bit of a Justin Hawkins syndrome, a great vocal range should be used in the right place, not at the slightest opportunity Summing up I think a good line up at the wrong time.
Mick H
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