JUST TESTING

This album marks the end of Martin Turner's first association with Wishbone Ash, and features Claire Hammill as a background singer in some songs (she also co-wrote "Living Proof" with Laurie Wisefiele) - I've read somewhere that she would be hired as lead singer, but somehow this arrangement has failed. "Just Testing" is obvioulsy not as good as "Argus", "There's the Rub" or "Wishbone Four", but it's still a pleasant and enjoyable album, plenty of the guitar sound which made Wishbone Ash deservedly famous, but there´s something that really bothers me: Steve Upton's drum sound. His drumming is up to his previous standards, but it was recorded with an 80s sound which really annoys me. Highlights: "Living Proof", "Helpless" (these two really shines on stage - check out for live versions and confirm it), "Lifeline" and "Haunting Me" (love Powell/Upton's guitars at this last one, it's probably the best guitar work in this album). On the other side, "Pay the Price" is one of the worst things ever done by Wishbone Ash. I don't have the CD edition aforementioned (my CD does not have bonus tracks), but having listened to "Come On", "Fast Johnny" and the live "Blowin' Free", I must say that only the last one is really a welcome addition to this album. But you can find on "Hot Ash", which is a wonderful album who deserves a CD release (any information about?) - I think the live "Helpless" is also in that album. As a whole, "Just testing" is good, but non-essential.