Discography

Album Details

BONA FIDE
2002

BONA FIDE

TRACK LISTING
1) Almighty Blues 2) Enigma 3) Faith Hope and Love 4) Ancient Remedy 5) Changing Tracks 6) Shoulda Woulda Coulda 7) Difference in Time 8) Come Rain Come Shine 9) Peace

Line-up: Andy Powell (gtr/voc), Ben Granfelt (gtr/voc), Ray Weston (dr), Bob Skeat (bs)

Produced by Andy Powell

Recorded in both the UK and US during the latter part of 2001, Bona Fide was released in 2002 through Talking Elephant Records.

Bona Fide added the acclaimed talents of Finnish guitarist and songwriter Ben Granfelt to the nucleus of Andy Powell, Bob Skeat and Ray Weston that had been in place since 1998. It also saw Andy Powell assuming lead vocalist duties.

Understandably, considering the complete change in line-up, Bona Fide marked a change of direction from the previous studio album Illuminations. Prior to the albums release Andy Powell promised a “guitar jammin’ rock album”, and it would be fair to say that is precisely what the band delivered, eschewing the more commercially orientated sound of its predecessor.

Overall Bona Fide saw the band edging towards a bluesier rock sound, while retaining the traditional Wishbone Ash twin-lead guitar harmonies. A good 50% of the album was firmly rooted in the blues-rock/shuffle/boogie direction, with tracks such as album opener ‘Almighty Blues’, ‘Faith Hope and Love’ (originally written for the Ben Granfelt album E.G.O), ‘Shoulda Woulda Coulda’, ‘Changing Tracks’ and the instrumental title track ‘Bona Fide’.

In addition to its blues-rock content Bona Fide also saw evidence of a more experimental Wishbone Ash on the remaining tracks. Tracks such as ‘Enigma’ were highly melodic and featured a fresh influx of guitar sounds and styles courtesy of Ben Granfelt. ‘Ancient Remedy’ had a distinct Eastern feel, the Ben Granfelt-sung ‘Difference in Time’ was, by the guitarists admission “Cream/Clapton meets R.E.M.”, ‘Come Rain Come Shine’ saw the use of a flute on a Wishbone Ash recording for the first time, while album closer ‘Peace’ was a classic Wishbone Ash acoustic based instrumental.

Andy, Ben, Bob and Ray toured extensively to promote Bona Fide and material from the album was featured on the Almighty Blues live DVD and CD. With the departure of Ben Granfelt during 2004, Bona Fide remains the only studio recording of this particular incarnation of Wishbone Ash.

GARY CARTER

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