Wishbone Ash reigned supreme through the 1970s centered on inspired musicianship, joyful spirit and inventive songs. Their concerts were uplifting and their recorded work sublime.Argusremains a stunning high point in the band’s startling repertoire.

Arguswas a 1972 tour de force, a hard-rocking masterpiece that has gone on to have a huge impact on rock bands moving forward. If you’ve never heardArgus, you’ve surely heard music that it inspired. The British quartet’s trademark harmony guitars became a touchstone for many: Thin Lizzy, Iron Maiden, Opeth, and Lynyrd Skynyrd have all acknowledged an Ash influence, and tracks such as Lizzy’s “The Boys Are Back in Town,” Maiden’s “The Trooper,” and even Steely Dan’s “Reeling in the Years” all have twin-guitar moments that hark back toArgus.

But Wishbone Ash were different from the start. They were never strictly a hard rock band; their soaring vocal harmonies and musical grandeur placed them close to progressive rock. But they weren’t strictly prog either: They had no keyboards, no real classical influence and weren’t into side-long suites. Their roots were in the blues, and their calling card was twin lead guitars in harmony (played in the original lineup by Ted Turner and Andy Powell). Even the hardest Ash rockers like “Blowin’ Free,” the most famous track fromArgus had an ethereal touch. They could rock the big stages, but they did it with subtlety and grace.

This is reflected perfectly in the classic album sleeve by prog-associated designers Hipgnosis: The front cover shows a Greek sentry the “argus” of the title staring off into the distance. It’s a mythic, old-world kind of image until you look closely at the back cover, and see that he’s heralding the arrival (or perhaps watching the departure) of a spaceship. Two worlds colliding. Exactly what the band and album were all about.

By the time ofArgus, Wishbone Ash were stars in England and cult heroes among Anglophiles in the US. What madeArgusa step forward was its flow of moods. The songs don’t run together, but there’s an emotional connecting thread from the album’s somber beginning to its heroic end.

The band insisted at the time that lyrics were something of an afterthought: Shortly after its release, main lyricist Martin Turner toldNMEthat he wrote them mainly to fit the mood of the music: “The music that was coming out was very English, very medieval, and the lyrics had to reflect that.” Added Powell at the time, “The expression comes out in the guitars. We wouldn’t play it if it didn’t express something.”

Now, Analogue Productions has applied all of its vaunted craft and technical expertise to make this epic album shine! Two 45 RPM LPs pressed on virtually silent 180-gram vinyl at Quality Record Pressings make the remastered audio sparkle. Quieter lyrical sentiments and softer musical passages are rendered precisely, while majestic riffs and fist-waving anthems fully reveal the energy of the music!

Argusisn’t just another rock record it’s a journey through a sonic landscape rich with depth, emotion and technical prowess. It’s the album that solidified Wishbone Ash as masters of twin guitar harmony. Discerning audiophiles will findArgusan essential addition to their record collection. It’s a masterclass in sound engineering that fully captures the intricate interplay of dual guitars with pristine clarity and a warmth that only analog recordings can provide.

Format / LP
Released /08/29/2025
Catalogue /AAPP-174-45
Barcode /753088017476
Artist /Wishbone Ash
Label /Analogue Productions
Genre /Pop / Rock