And so Vintage, the archive arm of Rockadrome Records bring us a reissue of an obscure, privately released 1983 album entitled "Endless Skies" from little known Arizona band ASHBURY, and whilst on face value it seems strange to dig up an obscurity like this on a single listen you will decide that this has been ripe for reissue for years. Indeed was probably deserving of a major label release in the first place.

And so Vintage, the archive arm of Rockadrome Records bring us a reissue of an obscure, privately released 1983 album entitled "Endless Skies" from little known Arizona band ASHBURY, and whilst on face value it seems strange to dig up an obscurity like this on a single listen you will decide that this has been ripe for reissue for years. Indeed was probably deserving of a major label release in the first place.

The opening tolling of a single bell heard through the background of a storm, in a song entitled "The Warning" no less would lead anyone to expect an album influenced by BLACK SABBATH, and whilst the gentle acoustic number "Twilight" could easily have been an Iommi intermission and the albums heaviest moment, and the superb "Vengeance", having strong similarities thanks to its bold riffing instead you'll be making comparisons mainly to THE OUTLAWS, with lyrics though more akin to the likes of URIAH HEEP maybe.

Plenty of surprisingly polished songs with a strong reliance often on acoustic guitar filling the sound and allowing some superbly melodic lead guitar playing to flourish, the likes of the country tinged "Take Your Love Away", the catchy as hell chorus of "Madman" and the epic classic rock of "Hard Fight" all defy the fact that this album has been unknown to many for twenty odd years. It's not even too wild a suggestion to compare the albums other instrumental moment, "No Mourning" to early incarnations of THE EAGLES as it wouldn't sound out of place on anything pre or including "One Of These Nights". In fact there just isn't a poor track in any of the nine that make up the 40 minute opus with the final 7 minute plus stunner of title track "Endless Skies" almost justifying the purchase price alone.

If you were lucky enough to find this back on initial release you would have found an album perhaps 5 to 10 years past when it would have stood most chance of widespread success, now a further 24 years on it still sounds of a certain vintage yet hopefully will get the attention it so deserves. A superb release with perhaps the one fault being that by bringing an obscure private pressing back to the fore, the label could have produced more detailed liner notes explaining just what happened to ASHBURY, why this album was released and remained only on a private label, and what happened to the various band members after the set was awarded Best Arizona Album of both 1983 and 1984!

- Leslie

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