Bare Bones (Deluxe)

Cd sounds great...but the dvd side had a hairline crack branching out from the center hole. But everything was refunded. I recommend this disc still.

Since the early 1990's, music listeners have been swallowed whole by a flood of "unplugged" releases that range from thesublime to the ridiculous. The concept has lost little of its appeal to date and I believe that this lies in a marketing conceptthat assures the listener they will be getting a much more "intimate" product than the typical studio release or live albumcould ever allow. Any true artistic consideration, however, lies in what the band does with adapting their own material intoa different setting. Some opt for straight renditions thus catering to the audience that merely wants acoustic reproductions.Others hope for, and sometimes get, stunning reinventions.Wishbone Ash's "Bare Bones" falls squarely in the second camp. Not merely content to regurgitate classic material, AndyPowell and his cohorts raid the band's considerable back catalog for the album's tracks. Latter-day Ash gems like "WingsOf Desire", "Strange Affair", and "Hard Times" are dispatched with a confident aplomb. Powell's voice is strong throughoutand his sparkling, seemingly effortless guitar work benefits immensely from the talented band around him. Second guitaristMark Birch is an excellent foil for Powell while bassist Bob Skeat and drummer Ray Weston are a nimble, solid rhythmsection.The album's dual highlights are powerfully understated versions of "Master Of Disguise" and "Living Proof" from theband's Just Testing album. The former outstrips the original album version on Powell's vocal alone which somehowmanages to inhabit the song's character in a way the 1980 vocal does not. "Living Proof", on the other hand, completelydispenses the song's original rock and roll spirit and tempo for a slower, almost dirge-like pace that transforms the songinto a weary, dark song of desperation.An album good at any price - buy it today!

This is just a quality effort. Studio recordings of acoustic versions of their songs. Total time is 50 minutes. Every song is great and superbly recorded. The "dual" guitars still interplay - one in each speaker like all classic WA recordings - they are just acoustic instead of electric. Highlights for me are "Wings of Desire", "Errors of My Way" (a song from their first album in 1970), "You Won't Take Me Down" (great bluesy drama with super lead acoustic guitar. Wow, wow, wow!!), "Living Proof" and "Strange Affair." This version of "Strange Affair" is really good with a nice harmonica and brush stroke drums. Very laid back but with a great groove. There is not a bad song on the entire disc.What can I say about this group except PLEASE COME TO TEXAS!!

If you are a WA fan you will absolutely love this CD. I saw them play these songs in a live acoustic set in Chicago May 1999 and they sounded great then and they sound great on the CD. The intrumentation and vocals are top notch.

A departure for the masters of twin lead guitars, a mainly acoustic album. For a change from most of today's sounds, "real" music - no computers, drum machines etc. Just good, solid, guitars and even violins! A mix of old numbers and new. My favourite is the 1970's classic "Errors of My Ways", but all the tracks are haunting, beautiful, melodic songs. Nice vocals too. I recommend turning up the volume, laying back and listening whilst the wind and rain howl outside on a damp English, or even American, Sunday afternoon!

I have been a Wishbone Ash fan since the early 70's and have seen them in concert over 50 times. I guess that makes them my favorite band. This WA group is with only Andy Powell, the original leader. Even though Andy's music has softened with age, his delivery has not. Andy pays the guitar and sings just as good now as he had then. I loved the band then, and still feel the same. Live long Andy Powell and Wishbone Ash. One great rock and roll band.

Incredible work. This unplugged CD fits right in with the music of today, and prepare yourself to never stop singing!! With a very Beatle-esque flavor, W/A blows me away on this one! Once you pick it up, you can never put it down. That's a fact.

This is a must CD for all WA Fans. I am a fan of this great band since the late 60's and recommend this CD for anyone who appreciates good music.

It's not exactly classic Wishbone Ash but if you forget that its by Wishbone Ash and what you would normally expect from the Ash. And just listen to it for the quality of the songs and the performance then you won't be disappointed, taken simply as a folk rock album, its very very good. Whilst the 5.1 mix could have been a bit more adventurous, it makes a good job of putting you in the middle of the band.

A good "acoustic feel to the album with great versions of Error of my Ways, Strange Affair, Love Abuse. Amazon says I need one more word to complete my review: hear it is: Brilliant!

This is a really nice acoutically based C D from the mid years Andy Powell Wishbone Ash and nice it is, too.

excellent love wishbone

Klasse, Wishbone Ash spielen einige ihrer Klassiker im Akustikgewand neu ein. Insbesondere Errors of my way finde ich äußerst gelungen. Auch die anderen Nummern bluesen sich das eine oder andere mal durchs GEbälk. Zu genießen wäre diese Scheibe bei einer guten Tasse heißen Earl Grey auf dem Holodeck eines jeden Musikfreaks!