Unboxing Wishbone Ash The Vintage Years 30CD Box Set

In this video, I unbox this huge 30 CD career-defining set by Wishbone Ash

The Vintage Years includes all 16 albums released from 1970 to 1991 with extensive bonus tracks, rare album outtakes, B-sides and 12 previously unreleased studio tracks.

Many of the albums included are out of print and all of the albums come in replica gatefold sleeves. One of the many attractions are the unreleased live albums.  These are included in 11 CDs.

1. Portsmouth Guildhall 1973 (2CD) from the Wishbone Four / Live Dates tour
2. Southampton University 1973 from the Wishbone Four / Live Dates tour
3. Edinburgh Usher Hall 1976 from the New England tour
4. Marquee Club 1977 from the Front Page News tour
5. Newcastle City Hall 1977 from the Front Page News tour
6. Bournemouth Winter Gardens 1978 (2CD) from the No Smoke Without Fire tour
7. Guildford Civic Hall 1980 (2CD) from the Just Testing tour
8. Chelmsford Odeon 1980 from the Blowin’ Free tour

There are three other official live albums in the set which are Live Dates, Live Dates Volume Two and Live in Tokyo.

All the albums have been remixed/remastered from the original multitrack by Pete Reynolds. In the box are personally signed prints by each member of the band. There is also a huge hardback book that covers each album with full involvement from the band, a book of tour posters (plus 4 additional posters, a press kit for the first album and a flexi disc single.

This was an expensive set back in 2018 and was limited to 2,500 copies. This was the most expensive box set I had bought at the time and I feel it was worth every penny.  The purpose of this video is to help people see what is in the box so if you do find a copy on Discogs or Ebay you can see what you are getting.

CD1 – Wishbone Ash (1970)

1. Blind Eye [03:45]
2. Lady Whiskey [06:13]
3. Errors Of My Way [06:57]
4. Queen Of Torture [03:23]
5. Handy [11:37]
6. Phoenix [10:26]

Bonus Tracks

7. Lady Whiskey (First Light recording) [03:12]
8. Roads Of Day To Day (First Light recording) [05:50]
9. Blind Eye (First Light recording) [03:35]
10. Joshua (First Light recording) [02:14]
11. Queen Of Torture (First Light recording) [03:08]
12. Handy (First Light recording) [12:40]
13. Errors Of My Way (First Light recording) [06:25]

CD 2 – Pilgrimage (1971)

1. Vas Dis [04:46]
2. The Pilgrim [08:35]
3. Jail Bait [04:45]
4. Alone [02:25]
5. Lullaby [03:03]
6. Valediction [06:22]
7. Where Were You Tomorrow [10:27]

Bonus Tracks

8. Alone (full length album sessions version with vocals) [05:56]
9. Alone (First Light recording with vocals) [03:05]
10. Where Were You Tomorrow (album sessions studio version) [07:23]

CD 3 – Argus (1972)

1. Time Was [09:42]
2. Sometime World [06:55]
3. Blowin’ Free [05:18]
4. The King Will Come [07:06]
5. Leaf And Stream [03:55]
6. Warrior [05:53]
7. Throw Down The Sword [05:55]

Bonus Tracks

8. Jail Bait (live from Memphis 1972) [04:54]
9. The Pilgrim (live from Memphis 1972) [10:08]
10. Phoenix (live from Memphis 1972) [17:05]

CD 4 – Wishbone Four (1973)

1. So Many Things To Say [05:04]
2. Ballad Of The Beacon [05:03]
3. No Easy Road [03:46]
4. Everybody Needs A Friend [08:22]
5. Doctor [05:51]
6. Sorrel [05:01]
7. Sing Out The Song [04:23]
8. Rock ‘n’ Roll Widow [05:53]

Bonus Tracks

9. No Easy Road (1972 Single Version) [03:35]
10. Blowin’ Free (1972 Single Version) [03:55]

CD 5 – Live Dates (1973)

1. The King Will Come – June ’73, Croydon, Fairfield Hall [07:44]
2. Warrior – June ’73, Newcastle, City Hall [05:42]
3. Throw Down The Sword – June ’73, Newcastle, City Hall [05:57]
4. Rock ‘n Roll Widow – June ’73, Reading, University [06:08]
5. Ballad Of The Beacon – June ’73, Reading, University [05:22]
6. Baby What You Want Me To Do – June ’73, Portsmouth, Guildhall [07:48]
7. The Pilgrim – June ’73, Croydon, Fairfield Hall [09:14]
8. Blowin` Free – June ’73, Newcastle, City Hall [05:31]
9. Jail Bait – June ’73, Reading, University [04:37]
10. Lady Whiskey – June ’73, Reading, University [05:57]
11. Phoenix – June ’73, Croydon, Fairfield Hall [17:23]

CD6 – There’s The Rub (1974)

1. Silver Shoes [06:38]
2. Don’t Come Back [05:10]
3. Persephone [07:00]
4. Hometown [04:48]
5. Lady Jay [05:56]
6. F*U*B*B [09:37]

CD7 – Locked In (1976)

1. Rest In Peace [06:44]
2. No Water In The Well [03:48]
3. Moonshine [03:35]
4. She Was My Best Friend [03:54]
5. It Started In Heaven [03:18]
6. Half Past Lovin’ [05:31]
7. Trust In You [05:07]
8. Say Goodbye [05:02]

Bonus Tracks

8. Bad Weather Blues [04:35]
9. Chicago Tease [03:05]

CD8 – New England (1976)

1. Mother Of Pearl [04:34]
2. (In All Of My Dreams) You Rescue Me [06:15]
3. Runaway [03:19]
4. Lorelei [05:27]
5. Outward Bound [04:54]
6. Prelude [01:17]
7. When You Know Love [05:47]
8. Lonely Island [04:34]
9. Candlelight [01:52]

CD9 – Front Page News (1977)

1. Front Page News (Front Page News) [05:11]
2. Midnight Dancer (Front Page News) [04:31]
3. Goodbye Baby Hello Friend (Front Page News) [03:52]
4. Surface To Air (Front Page News) [04:53]
5. 714 (Front Page News) [03:23]
6. Come In From The Rain (Front Page News) [04:45]
7. Right Or Wrong (Front Page News) [02:53]
8. Heart Beat (Front Page News) [04:22]
9. The Day I Found Your Love (Front Page News) [04:31]
10. Diamond Jack (Front Page News) [04:19]

Bonus Track

11. Come In From The Rain (live) [05:06]

CD10 – No Smoke Without Fire (1978)

1. You See Red [06:00]
2. Baby The Angels Are Here [04:49]
3. Ships In The Sky [03:03]
4. Stand And Deliver [07:19]
5. Anger In Harmony [05:09]
6. Like A Child [05:00]
7. The Way Of The World – Part 1 [04:11]
8. The Way Of The World – Part 2 [05:29]

Bonus Tracks

9. Time And Space (album session outtake) [05:55]
10. Firesign (album session outtake) [05:03]
11. Hard On You (album session outtake) [04:59]
12. John Sherry Jam (album session outtake) [06:28]
13. Sherriff Of Sherwood (album session outtake) [06:09]

CD11 – Live at Tokyo Sun Plaza 1978

1. F*U*B*B [10:50]
2. The Way Of The World [10:26]
3. You See Red [06:27]
4. Jail Bait [07:02]
5. Blowin` Free [05:15]

Bonus Tracks

6. Bad Weather Blues (live B-Side from ‘You See Red’ 12″ single) [08:38]
7. Helpless (live single) [04:04]
8. Blowin` Free (live single) [06:30]

CD12 – Just Testing (1980)

1. Living Proof [05:43]
2. Haunting Me [04:33]
3. Insomnia [05:08]
4. Helpless [04:04]
5. Pay The Price[03:32]
6. New Rising Star [03:54]
7. Master Of Disguise [04:25]
8. Lifeline [06:28]

Bonus Tracks

9. Fast Johnny [04:04]
10. Come On [03:23]
11. Is Justice Done (album outtake) [04:21]
12. The Bells Chime (album outtake) [03:22]
13. Out On A Limb (album outtake) [03:44]
14. Where You Been (album outtake) [04:00]
15. Halfway House (album outtake – Martin Turner vocal) [03:46]
16. Halfway House (album outtake – Claire Hamill vocal) [03:48]
17. Football And Boxing (album outtake) [03:29]

CD13 – Live Dates Volume Two (1980)

1. Doctor – Hull City Hall, 1980 [05:43]
2. Living Proof – Bristol Colton Hall, 1980 [05:50]
3. Runaway – Wolverhampton Civic Hall, 1980 [03:15]
4. Helpless – Wolverhampton Civic Hall, 1980 [03:48]
5. F*U*B*B – London, Hammersmith Odeon, 1978 [09:45]
6. The Way Of The World [10:29]
7. Lorelei [06:20]
8. Persephone [06:20]
9. (In All Of My Dreams) You Rescue Me [06:58]
10. Time Was [06:52)
11. Goodbye Baby Hello Friend [05:20]
12. No Easy Road [07:20]

CD14 – Number The Brave (1981)

1. Loaded [04:11]
2. Where Is The Love [03:19]
3. Underground [04:14]
4. Kicks On The Street [04:15]
5. Open Road [05:18]
6. Get Ready [03:13]
7. Rainstorm [04:54]
8. That’s That [03:02]
9. Roller Coaster [03:17]
10. Number The Brave [04:56]

Bonus Tracks

11. My Mind Is Made Up (B-side) [04:39]
12. Get Ready (single mix with Claire Hamill backing vocal) [03:15]
13. Now Or Never (album outtake – John Wetton) [03:54]
14. Hard On You (album outtake) [04:59]

CD15 – Twin Barrels Burning (1982)

1. Engine Overheat [04:04]
2. Can’t Fight Love [04:00]
3. Genevieve [03:36]
4. Me And My Guitar [04:00]
5. Hold On [04:50]
6. Streets Of Shame [04:37]
7. No More Lonely Nights [05:18]
8. Angels Have Mercy [03:54]
9. Wind Up [05:06]

Bonus Tracks

10. Cat And Dog Fight [03:41]
11. Go For The Gold [04:05]
12. Night Hawker [06:15]

CD16 – Raw To The Bone (1985)

1. Cell Of Fame [04:33]
2. People in Motion [03:50]
3. Don’t Cry [03:29]
4. Love Is Blue [03:44]
5. Long Live The Night [03:33]
6. Rocket In My Pocket [03:46]
7. It’s Only Love [04:13]
8. Don’t You Mess [03:54]
9. Dreams (Searching For An Answer) [03:30]
10. Perfect Timing [03:56]

Bonus Tracks

11. She’s Still Alive [03:40]
12. Apocalypso [03:47]
13. Valley Of Tears [03:42]
14. Nkomo [03:39]
15. Talk To Me [03:26]

CD17 – Nouveau Calls (1987)

1. Tangible Evidence [04:22]
2. Clousseau [03:40]
3. Flags Of Convenience [04:30]
4. From Soho To Sunset [03:28]
5. Arabesque [04:30]
6. In The Skin [04:51]
7. Something Happening In Room 602 [03:35]
8. Johnny Left Home Without It [03:35]
9. The Spirit Flies Free [03:44]
10. A Rose Is A Rose [03:39]
11. Real Guitars Have Wings [03:14]

Bonus Track

12. T-Bone Shuffle [03:32]

CD18 – Here To Hear (1989)

1. Cosmic Jazz [03:30]
2. Keeper Of The Light [03:55]
3. Mental Radio [04:55]
4. Walk On Water [04:02]
5. Witness To Wonder [04:10]
6. Lost Cause In Paradise [04:46]
7. Why Don’t We [06:13]
8. In The Case [03:28]
9. Hole In My Heart – Part One [03:06]
10. Hole In My Heart – Part Two [04:33]

Bonus Tracks

11. Heaven Is (album outtake) [04:35]
12. Bolan’s Monument (B-side) [03:56]
13. Duffle Shuffle (album outtake) [03:59]

CD19 – Strange Affair (1991)

1. Strange Affair [04:18]
2. Wings Of Desire [03:51]
3. Renegade [03:55]
4. Dream Train [04:58]
5. Some Conversation [04:17]
6. Say You Will [04:06]
7. Rollin’ [03:55]
8. You [03:50]
9. Hard Times [03:01]
10. Standing In The Rain [05:38]

Bonus Tracks

11. Chimes Of Freedom (album outtake – Andy Powell vocal) [03:26]
12. Standing In The Rain (album outtake – Martin Turner vocal) [05:35]
13. Strange Affair (album outtake – brass mix) [04:24]
14. Dream Train (album outtake – brass mix) [05:00]
15. Rollin’ (album outtake – brass mix) [03:53]
16. Chimes Of Freedom (album outtake – Andy Powell vocal) [03:25]

CD20 – Portsmouth 1973 – Wishbone Four / Live Dates recording tour Part 1

1. The King Will Come [07:01]
2. Warrior [05:38]
3. Throw Down The Sword [06:41]
4. Ballad Of The Beacon [06:21]
5. Rock ‘n Roll Widow [07:11]
6. Everybody Needs A Friend [07:16]
7. Blowin’ Free [05:23]
8. Jail Bait [04:58]

CD21 – Portsmouth 1973 – Wishbone Four / Live Dates recording tour Part 2

1. Doctor [06:28]
2. So Many Things To Say [07:01]
3. Baby What You Want Me To Do [07:20]
4. Phoenix [18:56]
5. It Ain’t Easy [04:47]
6. Where Were You Tomorrow [09:41]

CD22 – Southampton 1973 – Wishbone Four / Live Dates recording tour

1. The King Will Come [07:34]
2. Warrior [05:40]
3. Throw Down The Sword [05:53]
4. Ballad Of The Beacon [07:06]
5. Rock ‘n Roll Widow [06:29]
6. Everybody Needs A Friend [06:52]
7. Blowin’ Free [05:21]
8. Jail Bait [05:07]
9. Doctor [06:26]
10. So Many Things To Say [07:23]
11. Baby What You Want Me To Do [06:33]

DISC 23 – Edinburgh 1976 – New England tour

1. Runaway [03:30]
2. The King Will Come [07:19]
3. Warrior [06:45]
4. Lorelei [06:23]
5. Persephone [09:29]
6. (In All Of My Dreams) You Rescue Me [07:16]
7. Outward Bound [04:09]
8. Mother Of Pearl [05:59]
9. Rest In Peace [06:44]
10. Time Was [07:14]
11. Bad Weather Blues [08:45]
12. Jail Bait [06:08]

CD24 – Marquee Club 1977 – Front Page News tour

1. Blind Eye [02:41]
2. Lady Whiskey [02:41]
3. The King Will Come [06:33]
4. Warrior [05:10]
5. Throw Down The Sword [04:27]
6. Front Page News [06:20]
7. Sometime World [07:06]
8. Goodbye Baby Hello Friend [05:53]
9. Runaway [03:37]
10. Phoenix [10:36]
11. Jail Bait [05:20]
12. Blowin’ Free [06:43]
13. Bad Weather Blues [08:37]

CD25 – Newcastle 1977 – Front Page News tour

1. Blind Eye [02:42]
2. Lady Whiskey [02:48]
3. The King Will Come [06:18]
4. Warrior [05:24]
5. Throw Down The Sword [04:36]
6. Front Page News [06:04]
7. Sometime World [07:20]
8. Goodbye Baby Hello Friend [05:48]
9. Runaway [03:27]
10. Come In From The Rain [05:17]
11. Jail Bait [05:40]
12. Blowin’ Free [08:15]
13. No Easy Road [06:23]
14. Bad Weather Blues [08:52]

CD26 – Bournemouth 1978 Part 1

1. The King Will Come (Bournemouth 1978) [07:03]
2. Warrior (Bournemouth 1978) [06:28]
3. Errors Of My Way (Bournemouth 1978) [06:21]
4. You See Red (Bournemouth 1978) [06:54]
5. F*U*B*B (Bournemouth 1978) [09:32]
6. The Way Of The World (Bournemouth 1978) [10:53]

CD27 – Bournemouth 1978 Part 2

1. Phoenix (Bournemouth 1978) [12:52]
2. Anger In Harmony (Bournemouth 1978) [03:39]
3. Time Was (Bournemouth 1978) [07:16]
4. Runaway (Bournemouth 1978) [03:39]
5. Lady Whiskey (Bournemouth 1978) [02:51]
6. Jail Bait (Bournemouth 1978) [05:38]
7. Queen Of Torture (Bournemouth 1978) [03:45]
8. Blowin’ Free (Bournemouth 1978) [08:28]
9. Bad Weather Blues (Bournemouth 1978) [08:36]

CD28 – Guildford 1980 – Just Testing tour Part 1

1. Doctor (Guildford 1980 – Just Testing tour) [05:41]
2. Blind Eye (Guildford 1980 – Just Testing tour) [04:05]
3. Way Of The World (Guildford 1980 – Just Testing tour) [10:14]
4. Living Proof (Guildford 1980 – Just Testing tour) [05:57]
5. The King Will Come (Guildford 1980 – Just Testing tour) [06:46]
6. Lifeline (Guildford 1980 – Just Testing tour) [06:52]
7. Insomnia (Guildford 1980 – Just Testing tour) [05:01]

CD29 – Guildford 1980 – Just Testing tour Part 2

1. Phoenix (Guildford 1980 – Just Testing tour) [16:38]
2. Blowin’ Free (Guildford 1980 – Just Testing tour) [06:38]
3. Queen Of Torture (Guildford 1980 – Just Testing tour) [03:28]
4. Helpless (Guildford 1980 – Just Testing tour) [03:31]
5. Jail Bait (Guildford 1980 – Just Testing tour) [06:49]
6. Bad Weather Blues (Guildford 1980 – Just Testing tour) [10:00]
7. Too Much Monkey Business (Guildford 1980 – Just Testing tour) [05:10]

CD30 – Chelmsford 1980 – Blowin’ Free tour

1. Doctor (Chelmsford 1980 – Blowin’ Free tour) [05:06]
2. Lady Whiskey (Chelmsford 1980 – Blowin’ Free tour) [02:54]
3. Helpless (Chelmsford 1980 – Blowin’ Free tour) [03:50]
4. I Need People (Chelmsford 1980 – Blowin’ Free tour) [05:36]
5. The Pilgrim (Chelmsford 1980 – Blowin’ Free tour) [08:34]
6. Lookin’ For A Reason (Chelmsford 1980 – Blowin’ Free tour) [03:56]
7. Runaway (Chelmsford 1980 – Blowin’ Free tour) [05:48]
8. The King Will Come (Chelmsford 1980 – Blowin’ Free tour) [06:57]
9. Phoenix (Chelmsford 1980 – Blowin’ Free tour) [15:31]
10. Blowin’ Free (Chelmsford 1980 – Blowin’ Free tour) [06:52]
11. Jail Bait (Chelmsford 1980 – Blowin’ Free tour) [05:15]
12. Bad Weather Blues (Chelmsford 1980 – Blowin’ Free tour) [08:40]

Phil Aston | Now Spinning Magazine