There's the Rub

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. It also marked a change in sound. It was the band's first album to be recorded in America and was produced by producer Bill Szymczyk. Although the trademark twin guitars were still evident, the album had a more "American" feel with a smoother production sound. Nevertheless, after the disappointing critical response to the previous studio album, Wishbone Four, reviews for There's The Rub were much more positive.

There's the Rub
Studio album by
ReleasedNovember 1974
RecordedAugust - September 1974
StudioCriteria Recording Studios, Miami, Florida, US
GenreHard rock
Length38.40
LabelMCA
ProducerBill Szymczyk
Wishbone Ash chronology
Live Dates
(1973)
There's the Rub
(1974)
Locked In
(1976)
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
Allmusic[1]
Christgau's Record GuideD+[2]

The title is taken from Shakespeare's Hamlet; "To sleep—perchance to dream: ay, there's the rub."

The track "F.U.B.B." caused controversy upon the album's release because of the acronym's meaning ("Fucked Up Beyond Belief"). Moreover, the haunting ballad "Persephone" would go on to become one of the band's most popular live songs. The lyric of "Lady Jay" is based on the Dartmoor folk legend about Kitty Jay.

The cover art designed by Hipgnosis 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.

The album peaked at No. 16 in the UK Albums Chart.[3]

Track listing

All songs composed by Wishbone Ash

  1. "Silver Shoes" – 6:35
  2. "Don't Come Back" – 5:08
  3. "Persephone" – 7:00
  4. "Hometown" – 4:46
  5. "Lady Jay" – 5.49
  6. "F.U.B.B." – 9:22[1]

Personnel

Wishbone Ash
Additional personnel

Charts

Chart (1974-1975) Peak
position
Australian Albums (Kent Music Report)[5] 67
Canada Top Albums/CDs (RPM)[6] 100
German Albums (Offizielle Top 100)[7] 43
New Zealand Albums (RMNZ)[8] 28
UK Albums (OCC)[9] 16
US Billboard 200[10] 88

Certifications

Region CertificationCertified units/sales
United Kingdom (BPI)[11] Silver 60,000^

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

References

  1. Eder, Bruce. There's the Rub at AllMusic
  2. Christgau, Robert (1981). "Consumer Guide '70s: W". Christgau's Record Guide: Rock Albums of the Seventies. ISBN 089919026X. Retrieved 22 March 2019. {{cite book}}: |website= ignored (help)
  3. Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 607. ISBN 1-904994-10-5.
  4. "There's the Rub - Wishbone Ash | Credits | AllMusic". AllMusic. Retrieved 18 May 2021.
  5. Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (illustrated ed.). St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
  6. "Top RPM Albums: Issue 3915b". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 27 April 2018.
  7. "Longplay-Chartverfolgung at Musicline" (in German). Musicline.de. Phononet GmbH. Retrieved 22 April 2018.
  8. "Charts.nz – Wishbone Ash – There's the Rub". Hung Medien. Retrieved 22 April 2018.
  9. "Wishbone Ash | Artist | Official Charts". UK Albums Chart. Retrieved 22 April 2018.
  10. "Wishbone Ash Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved 22 April 2018.
  11. "British album certifications – Wishbone Ash – There's the Rub". British Phonographic Industry.
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