Wishbone Ash – There’s The Rub(1974)

Biography
Wishbone Ash are a British rock band who achieved success in the early and mid-1970s. Formed in Torquay, Devon, in 1969, out of the ashes of trio The Empty Vessels (originally known as The Torinoes, later briefly being renamed Tanglewood in 1969), which had been formed by Wishbone Ash’s founding member Martin Turner (bass & vocals) in 1963 and complemented by Steve Upton (drums and percussion) in 1966. The original Wishbone Ash line-up was completed by guitarists/vocalists Andy Powell and Ted Turner. In 1974, Ted Turner left the band, and was replaced by Laurie Wisefield. The band continued on with strong critical and commercial success until 1980.
Pilgrimage is the second studio album by the rock band Wishbone Ash. The album focuses more on folk and acoustic music as opposed to the blues rock sound that dominated the first album. The album also contains an instrumental jazz workout (“Vas Dis”) and a four-part harmony vocal track in the spirit of Crosby, Stills, Nash, and Young (“Valediction”). https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wishbone_Ash

Album & Cover
There’s the Rub is the fifth studio album by rock band Wishbone Ash. It is the first album to feature guitarist/vocalist Laurie Wisefield, who would be a major part of the band’s creative direction for the next 11 years. The album is considered by many to be a highpoint of the band’s recording career.

The cover shows a cricketer rubbing (in effect, polishing) a cricket ball on his trousers, leaving a mark – a common practice by fast bowlers who do so to make one side of the leather ball shinier than the other. This helps the ball to ‘swing’ as it travels through the air after being bowled, so making it harder for the batsman to play it.

Richard Manning describes the process: This was a Sepia toned Black and White print supplied to me. I mounted the print onto double weight mount board and placed Transpaseal over the hand,ball and grass. With a scalpel I cut away the Transpaseal to leave the trousers and pullover. I mixed the appropriate colour with Photo Dye and airbrushed the trousers and pullover applying more in the creases and shadows. The Transpaseal was removed and more applied to leave the grass exposed. I applied green dye with a large Sable Brush. The arm was treated the same way by masking with Transpaseal and airbrushing a mixed Photo Dye. Likewise the ball was masked and a red dye sprayed on. The highlight on the ball was masked with Transpaseal and a weak solution of Photoflo applied with a Sable Brush, blotted and wiped away with Acetic Acid to remove some red overspray. Some scarlet dye was applied to the trousers with a Sable Brush to show the rub mark. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/There%27s_the_Rub

Cover Location: Hipgnosis Studio, London, UK
Who Did What: Photography – A. Powell. Artwork – Richard Manning.
Label: MCA MCA-464(US), MCA MCF2585(UK)
Source: Vinyl. Album. Cover. Art, The Complete Hipgnosis Catalogue: Aubrey Powell

Tracklist

Credits
Composed By – Wishbone Ash
Drums, Percussion – Steve Upton
Electric Guitar, Acoustic Guitar, Banjo, Steel Guitar, Vocals – Laurie Wisefield
Electric Guitar, Acoustic Guitar, Mandolin, Vocals – Andy Powell
Engineer – Allan Blazek
Engineer [Assistant] – Ed Mashal, Seth Snyder
Engineer, Producer – Bill Szymczyk
Lead Vocals, Bass Guitar – Martin Turner