Argus by Wishbone Ash

Argus, Wishbone Ash's third album, came out on 28 April 1972 and remains their high-water mark: the biggest seller and best-reviewed record they ever made, and a number 3 hit in Britain. The lineup was the original four, Martin Turner on bass and lead vocals, Steve Upton on drums, and the twin guitars of Andy Powell and Ted Turner, with Derek Lawrence producing and Martin Birch engineering.

Those guitars are the whole story. Instead of dueling, Powell and Ted Turner lock into harmony leads that climb and circle each other over a blend of prog, folk and hard rock, a trick Thin Lizzy, Judas Priest and Iron Maiden would all pick up. It's not a concept album, but Martin Turner's words keep drifting toward the medieval and Greek myth, especially on side two, and the Hipgnosis sleeve by Storm Thorgerson and Aubrey Powell sets a lone warrior above the Gorges du Verdon while a spaceship rises into view.

Written with AI assistance from RockLists chart data, MusicBrainz and Wikipedia.