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Album Retrospectives
FRONT PAGE NEWS
1977
Released in October 1977, 'Front Page News' was Wishbone Ash’s fourth album to be recorded in the US, and their eighth studio album in all. It would mark the conclusion of a three year period of living and recording in the States.
Recording for 'Front Page News' took place during the Summer of 1977 at Miami’s Criteria Sound Studios, where the band had previously recorded 'There’s the Rub', as well as parts of 'New England'. Following the critical and commercial success of 1976’s 'New England', that albums production team of Ron and Howie Albert were retained for the recording of 'Front Page News'.
The Miami sunshine certainly influenced the album. The music veered towards US soft rock in places, with strings and saxophone players being added to the recipe. Having said that, there were harder rock numbers thrown in for good measure throughout the album. The band’s trademark British sound, however, had by now almost disappeared, although in defence of Wishbone, the 'Front Page News' album was perhaps their most musically diverse effort of all time, displaying their ability to perform in a wider range of musical styles, other than that for which they primarily known.
Group composition 'Front Page News' opened the album, with its lyrics inspired by the band’s triumphant return to the UK’s concert stages in 1976. The track contained the classic Wishbone Ash twin guitars, as well as harmony vocals on its chorus. The version on the album has a fairly laid back feel - onstage the song gained power and was played at a slightly faster tempo.
'Midnight Dancer' followed, a mid paced Martin Turner penned track. Laurie Wisefield took lead vocal on 'Goodbye Baby Hello Friend', a West Coast sounding soft rock anthem, which at the time sounded destined for hit single status - sadly this was not to be. 'Surface to Air' was a fairly obtuse Martin Turner composition, hiting at the direction much of his future Wishbone Ash material would take, while the orchestrated instrumental '714' was the perfect showcase for Laurie Wisefield’s guitarwork.
'Come In From the Rain' and 'Right or Wrong', both Martin Turner compositions, represented the albums hard rock element, although neither are especially memorable, possibly due to the laid back production feel of the album holding them back somewhat. 'Heartbeat' and 'The Day I Found Your Love' both have a laid back feel, the latter containing solo saxophone for the first time on a Wishbone Ash recording, as well as a particularly fine Martin Turner vocal. 'Diamond Jack' closed the album in rocky style.
'Front Page News' would be met with mixed reactions from both fans and critics. Many felt frustrated by the continuing disintegration of the band’s British identity, others welcomed the diversity. Wishbone Ash’s subsequent album, however, would see the band returning to their native UK and the music reflecting this factor. 'Front Page News' peaked at No.31 on the UK album chart.
GARY CARTER
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