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.

There's the Rub
Studio album by Wishbone Ash
Released	November 1974
Recorded	August - September 1974
Studio	Criteria Recording Studios, Miami, Florida, US
Genre	Hard rock
Length	38:57
Label	MCA
Producer	Bill Szymczyk
Wishbone Ash chronology
Live Dates (1973) There's the Rub (1974) Locked In (1976)

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
Allmusic	[1]
Christgau's Record Guide	D+[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" – 6:36
2. "Don't Come Back" – 5:12
3. "Persephone" – 7:02
4. "Hometown" – 4:48
5. "Lady Jay" – 6:00
6. "F.U.B.B." – 9:33

Personnel

• Martin Turner – bass, lead vocals
• Andy Powell – acoustic and electric guitars, backing vocals, mandolin
• Laurie Wisefield – acoustic, electric and steel guitars, backing vocals, banjo
• Steve Upton – drums, percussion

Additional personnel

• Albhy Galuten – organ (3), synthesizers (3)
• Nelson Flaco Padron – congas (6)

Charts

Chart (1974/75)	Peak position
Australia (Kent Music Report)[4]	67
United Kingdom (Official Charts Company)	16
United States (Billboard 200)	88

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. Ticknor & Fields. ISBN 089919026X. Retrieved 22 March 2019 – via robertchristgau.com.
3. Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 607. ISBN 1-904994-10-5.
4. Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (illustrated ed.). St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. p. 342. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.