Just Testing

1980 studio album by Wishbone Ash

Just Testing

Studio album by

Wishbone Ash

Released

18 January 1980

Recorded

1979

Studio

Surrey Sound Studios, Leatherhead, England; except "Helpless" at Kingsway Recorders, London

Genre

Hard rock

Length

38:00

Label

MCA

Producer

Martin Turner
John Sherry
Wishbone Ash

Wishbone Ash chronology

Live in Tokyo
(1979)

Just Testing
(1980)

Live Dates 2
(1980)

Singles from Just Testing

"Living Proof/Jail Bait"
Released: 1980
"Helpless/Living Proof"
Released: 1980

Professional ratings
Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic	^[1]

Just Testing is the tenth studio album by the British rock band Wishbone Ash, released on 18 January 1980 by MCA Records. Recorded primarily at Surrey Sound Studios in England, it was the last to feature the original lead vocalist and bass guitarist Martin Turner until the release of Nouveau Calls (1987). The track "Helpless" is only the second cover version released by the band on a studio album, the previous one being "Vas Dis" on Pilgrimage.

The album reached number 43 in the UK Albums Chart.

Track listing

All tracks are written by Martin Turner, except where noted

Side one
No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
1.	"Living Proof"	Laurie Wisefield, Claire Hamill	5:44
2.	"Haunting Me"		4:34
3.	"Insomnia"		5:10
4.	"Helpless"	Paul Kendrick	4:03

Side two
No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
5.	"Pay the Price"		3:35
6.	"New Rising Star"		3:58
7.	"Master of Disguise"	Andy Powell	4:26
8.	"Lifeline"	Turner, Powell, Wisefield, Steve Upton	6:29
Total length:			38:00

1998 remastered edition bonus tracks
No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
9.	"Come On"	Chuck Berry	3:23
10.	"Fast Johnny"	Turner, Powell, Wisefield, Upton	4:04
11.	"Blowin' Free" (live)	Powell, Upton, Ted Turner, Turner	6:34
12.	"Helpless" (live)	Kendrick	3:46
Total length:			55:43

Personnel

Wishbone Ash

Andy Powell – electric and acoustic guitars, backing vocals
Laurie Wisefield – electric and acoustic guitars, backing vocals
Martin Turner – lead vocals, bass guitar, acoustic guitar, backing vocals; co-producer
Steve Upton – drums and percussion

Additional musicians

Claire Hamill – vocals (on "Living Proof", "Pay the Price" and "Master of Disguise")
Ian Kew – organ (on "Master of Disguise")

Technical personnel

John Sherry – co-producer
Martin Moss – engineer
Bob Broglia – engineer
Colin Elgie – sleeve design
Hipgnosis – photography and art direction

Charts

Chart (1980)	Peak position
German Albums (Offizielle Top 100)^[2]	51
UK Albums (OCC)^[3]	41
US Billboard 200^[4]	179

References

^ Allan, Mark. Wishbone Ash: "Just Testing" > Review at AllMusic. Retrieved 17 November 2016.
^ "Offiziellecharts.de – Wishbone Ash – Just Testing" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved October 30, 2023.
^ "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved October 30, 2023.
^ "Wishbone Ash Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved October 30, 2023.