Customer Reviews

Pilgrimage (Reis)

5 star:		(17)
4 star:		(7)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Firstly, I'd like to correct an earlier reviewer who said this album follows "Argus" as their third album. "Pilgrimage" is actually their second album. "Argus" being their third.

Also, unlike what the same reviewer said about "Argus" and the first album being their best, Wishbone Ash continued to progress all the way up 'til 1980 with spectacular songs and guitarwork by Powell/Turner/Turner, and then later Powell/Turner/Wisefield. The reason I say only up until 1980 is because Martin Turner on bass and vocals left after that year, which IMHO, was a deadly blow to the band.

When "Pilgrimage" was recorded, Andy Powell and Ted Turner were about 20 or 21 years old. That is just unbelievable. The song "The Pilgrim" is worth the price of admission alone and is one of the most adventurous compositions to ever be recorded. The remainder of the album is great as well.

If you think rock has progressed in our day and age (2005) from what it was back in 1971, think again. This album comes from a time when musicians actually played rather than relying on some studio technology and amp-modeling technology over-sanitizing and sterilizing all the music that seems to be the norm today.

And wow, you can actually hear the bass with definition on this album, unlike today's wall-of-mush bass that is so common.

I can't believe that this album was rated four stars out of five. Ash were one of the greatest 70s rock bands, with guitarwork that far surpassed Page or Blackmore in its' freshness and inovation. Steve Upton's drumming should also be considered as one of rock's high points, and Martin Turner's "open bass" style of playing was unique and could easily help conjure up the specific prog and folk tinged hard rock atmosphere of Ash's first three albums.
Pilgrimage is the predecessor of the flawless masterpiece that is Argus and stands up to the title accordingly.
The general mood leans towards the progressive and jazz rock stratospheres, while still keeping a bluesy feel to the whole affair.
Guitarist Ted Turner and Andy Powell go into uncharted terrain with The Pilgrim, a surprisingly modern-sounding prog track with a hint of India evindent, and a cleverly chanted vocal part.
The other three instrumentals, Alone, Lullaby and Vas Dis also hold their own, each creating a mistic atmospehere as it rolls by(especially Vas Dis, with its' scat-sung vocals and excellent drum passages).
Jail Bait is a straightforward blues rocker in the vein of the Allman Brothers' BB, with distinct guitar interplay and Martin's searing voice saving the track from becoming yet another boring blues song in the vein of Led Zeppelin.
Valediction is a masterfully crafted guitar ballad in which Mart Turner and Andy Powell's vocals finally come into focus, perhaps for the first time in Ash's career, thus signalling the greatness of Argus. The song concludes with a distinctly reggae riff, which was quite prog back in '71, before the rise of Bob Marley to international stardom.
So there you have it. I believe that my rant will go unnoticed, but if you DO come across this page, heed my desperate plea and buy the album(along with Argus, which is a must-have for Ash and
early 70s rock fans alike).
You won't regret it.

If you've stumbled upon this group by accident as you plow thru music on cdnow or some other venue and you are not surewhat this group is about, click on "Where Were You Tomorrow" *if a clip is provided* THIS IS WISHBONE ASH! If that clip doesn't move you, then you should immediatly make an appointment with your nearest coroner. In Pilgramage, you find WA as jazzy as you will find in any of their other efforts *the tail end of their tune "Handy" is another jazzy example * But they were not just jazz...they were ROCK when others were pretenders. In fact, they were not so much jazz as they were innovative. Twin lead guitarists? Who knew? Many bands of the early 70's featured more than one guitarist but NO other band I know of featured two leads. It made for a unique sound. I have to agree with another reviewer: the departure of Martin Turner removed so much of the original 4 member's sound. They did go on to record more and even some equally great stuff here and there, but their highwater mark came as a 4-some. All in all, PILGRAMAGE is one fine album...it won't disappoint *unless you're not willing to challenge conventional rock like Wishbone Ash did*

in 1972 I happen to see Wishbone Ash live. At the time I had no idea who they were. The Pilgrim is worth the search to aquire this album. They were able to perform this equally as well Live! Not many groups could boast that.Their style was unique. Great melodies. Wonderful work of guitar virtuoso.

PILGRIMAGE is one of the finest albums from the classic ash lineup of ANDY POWELL and TED TURNER and is as good as ARGUS,the debut albums.I bought this album recently and have thouroughly enjoyed this along with WISHBONE FOUR nd LIVE IN CHICAGO albums.A must for all lovers of good classic rock music.

Pilgrimage was the second WA album and the initiator of the Wishbone cult in Germany. New and then unheared harmonics played by two guitarreros and a vigorous but nevertheless relaxed rock with folk-song reminescence was the main ingredience of German biker cult in those days. Wishbone Ash never got as famous as Greatful Dead in the US but it played a similar role in Germany. Wish they were here :-)

Any fan knows that it was the earlier releases that still hold up today. While not as balls out as the debut, there are some 'softer sides' of the band presented here: tracks 4-6 are wonderfully crafted. 'The Pilgrim' is a killer track, 'Vas Dis' is a strange one, 'Jail Bait' is typical of a track with this title. The live track(7) shows off the bluesier side of the band. I have always wondered what happened to the rest of the concert that this live track was culled from? I haven't heard this import version since the price is a bit rich for my tastes. MCA USA should be ashamed for not following the lead of MCA Japan and releasing these discs stateside. I have no idea if this title or any of the Japan titles have been remastered/repackaged/etc. But for the price, let's certainly hope so. Still a good album to own and to treasure.

I went to see Wishbone Ash AGAIN this Thanksgiving in Memphis....and the new lineup impressed me as much as the first time I saw them at the Warehouse in New Orleans in 1972....How Andy has held onto that energy is amazing, they came out with Outward Bound, off of the New England albun, and I was blown away again. Even more amazing, there was pitiful turnout at Neils, the venue in Memphis, because of the holiday, and they STILL played like they were playing to a sellout crowd. Muddy's style compliments Andy's perfectly, and i'm wondering if Bob Skeet isnt the best bass player i ever saw. GO SEE THEM whever you can....unlike so many other older touring bands, they are as fresh as they were way back then.

Oh man. I must have waited at least four years to listen to Pilgrimage. The reason I never listened to it until now is because it's always been *just* out of my price range, but that all changed a few days ago.

I suppose if you really wanted me to search for some complaints, the songwriting is probably not quite on the level of briliance that is featured on the bands self-titled debut or Argus album, but the stuff on Pilgrimage holds its own very well despite that.

The guitar solos are once again nothing short of spectacular. Not only do they sound different from most rock bands of the early 70's, but the actual *notes* flow beautifully and consistently from beginning to end. This is what I consider *truly* emotional guitar playing- when every single notes stands out and flows with such amazing ease, and you can listen to it again and again.

Alright I admit that from a technical point of view, the vocals on "Vas Dis" sound pretty rough and extremely LOUD, but who cares? Not only am I able to eventually accept the vocal melody with repeated listens, but I actually wouldn't want it any other way. I love the guitar work too. It's messy admittedly, but appealing.

The title song absolutely floors me. Oh sure, the 3-minute intro is a tad overlong and closely resembles the middle section from Fleetwood Mac's "Rattlesnake Shake" (live version from their first Live at Boston disc which was recorded in 1970) but it works regardless. After a while the vocals come in and then some exceptionally intense guitar licks surprise me when THEY appear, making me realize why the build-up in the beginning was so long! I love it.

"Jail Bait" is a fairly normal bluesy rocker, but again, the guitar licks are superb. George Thorogood can only dream of coming up with something half as good as what's displayed on this track. "Alone" is strictly focused around Wishbone Ash's distinct guitar style (and I still stand by the opinion that it is *completely* original because I've never heard anything sound like it before, from the 60's or 70's) and the beautiful short instrumental ballad that is "Lullaby" is just, well, beautiful, haha.

"Valediction" contains more of those trademark Wishbone Ash vocals with an *amazing* guitar solo at the end, and "Where Were You Tomorrow" is a lengthy typically normal blues song, but AGAIN- the guitar playing elevates it to new heights.

Overall, Pilgrimage does not disappoint. It's incredible really. Wishbone Ash fans already know this, but trying to convince Zeppelin or Deep Purple fans that this stuff is pure gold has proven to be a difficult challenge for me. Come on, if you enjoy bluesy, distinctly-played guitar rock, give this band a try.

1. Vas Dis - Wishbone Ash, McDuff, Jack

2. The Pilgrim

3. Jail Bait

4. Alone

5. Lullaby - Wishbone Ash, Powell

6. Valediction

7. Where Were You Tomorrow

8. Jail Bait [Live][*]