Live Dates is a live album by the British rock band Wishbone Ash released in November 1973.[1]

Live Dates
Live album by
ReleasedNovember 1973[1]
Recorded17–24 June 1973
GenreProgressive rock, hard rock
Length81:46
LabelMCA
ProducerWishbone Ash
Wishbone Ash chronology
Wishbone Four
(1973)
Live Dates
(1973)
There's the Rub
(1974)
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
Allmusic [1]

Following the release of the album, founding member Ted Turner left the band.[2]

Recording

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The album features 11 tracks, 10 of which originally featured on the band's first four albums. The one new track was a cover of the Jimmy Reed blues standard "Baby What You Want Me to Do".

The tracks were recorded in June 1973 at Croydon Fairfield Halls,[A] Reading University,[B] Newcastle City Hall,[C] and Portsmouth Guildhall.[D], using the Rolling Stones Mobile Studio.

In 2023, the band's other guitarist Andy Powell said, "We had made a name for ourselves as a dynamic live act, so it only made sense to capture the energy and vibrancy of our shows on a live album. Fortunately, the record company funded the costly Rolling Stones Mobile recording truck, so we were able to record several shows during our U.K. tour and compile the most powerful moments on Live Dates."[3] Also in 2023, Wishbone Ash undertook a 50th anniversary tour celebrating the album, and recorded and released Live Dates Live, as a tribute to the original Live Dates.[3]

Band founder and original bass guitarist Martin Turner also celebrated the 50th anniversary of the album in 2023, by touring across the UK.[4] He had previously released a double live album New Live Dates in 2016, which also featured Ted Turner.

Live Dates charted at number 86 in Canada in February 1974.[5] It is certified silver (60,000 sales) by the BPI in the UK.[6]

Track listing

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Side 1

  1. "The King Will Come" [A] – 7:58
  2. "Warrior" [C] – 5:42
  3. "Throw Down the Sword" [C] – 6:01

Side 2

  1. "Rock 'n Roll Widow" [B] – 6:06
  2. "Ballad of the Beacon" [B] – 5:21
  3. "Baby What You Want Me to Do" [D] – 7:48

Side 3

  1. "The Pilgrim" [B] – 9:17
  2. "Blowin' Free" [A] – 5:28
  3. "Jail Bait" [A] – 4:40

Side 4

  1. "Lady Whiskey" [B] – 6.13
  2. "Phoenix" [A] – 17:12[1]

Personnel

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Charts

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Chart (1973) Peak
position
Canada Top Albums/CDs (RPM)[8] 86
US Billboard 200[9] 82

Certifications

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Region Certification Certified units/sales
United Kingdom (BPI)[10] Silver 60,000^

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

References

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  1. ^ a b c d Eder, Bruce. Live Dates at AllMusic
  2. ^ Turner, Martin (2012). No Easy Road. Dirty Dog Books. pp. 142–144. ISBN 978-0-9572478-0-2.
  3. ^ a b "WISHBONE ASH Announces New Live Album, 'Live Dates Live'". Blabbermouth. 11 August 2023. Retrieved 18 October 2023.
  4. ^ "REVIEW: Martin Turner (Wishbone Ash) The Cluny, Newcastle 4 August 2023". Sunderland City Council. 4 August 2023. Retrieved 18 October 2023.
  5. ^ "RPM Top 100 Albums - February 2, 1974" (PDF).
  6. ^ "LIVE DATES by WISHBONE ASH sales and awards". Best selling Albums. Retrieved 18 October 2023.
  7. ^ "Live Dates - Wishbone Ash | Credits | AllMusic". AllMusic. Retrieved 17 May 2021.
  8. ^ "Top RPM Albums: Issue 4980b". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved October 30, 2023.
  9. ^ "Wishbone Ash Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved October 30, 2023.
  10. ^ "British album certifications – Wishbone Ash – Live Dates". British Phonographic Industry.