Record Reviews

JETHRO TULL ~ THIS WAS CHRYSALIS 535459 ~ UK ~ Progressive Rock Recorded: 1968 1st album by the seminal band Jethro TullFind albums by this artist. Although considered early effort and inferior in comparison with their later output, this albums still holds a lot of charm and beauty and is a must in any Prog collection. It includes the original guitar player Mick AbrahamsFind albums by this artist (who left after this album to form the excellent band Blodwyn PigFind albums by this artist), whose blues feeling is second to none and influences the entire album. Visitors' Comments Dr. Rafael Augusto Lara Palmeros Debut albumn by extraordinary quartet Jethro Tull,one of the most important outfits in Prog Rock History ever… Formed by Ian Anderson (flute, acoustic guitar, claghorn, mouth organ, lead vocals and lyrics), Mick Abrahams (electric , nine-string guitar and vocals), CliveBunker (drums and percussion), Glen Cornick (electric bass) and David Palmer as additional musician (french horn and orchestral arrangements), the group recorded a wonderful mixture of Jazz- Blues- Rock Fusion with Celtic Folk elements. ´Beggar´s farm´, ´My Sunday feeling´ and others are based in Blues progressions and quotes from two well-known Jazz tunes. ´Cat´s squirrell´ is a Blues instrumental covered by numerous Bitish Blues bands on 60´s. ´Serenade to Cockoo´ is a cover version of Roland Kirk´s Jazz standard. ´A song for Jeffrey´ is a tune for the old friend, Anderson´s childhood friend Jeffrey Hammond-Hammond, and others very well played tunes. The albumn is an important cornerstone in British Progressive Rock History. On other hand, a deluxe 2- CD fortieth anniversary edition was released in 2008 with mono stereo version, remixes and additional bonus tracks. A must for Prog fan!!!!.

CD 1 Remastered Bonus Tracks Recommend To A Friend

JETHRO TULL ~ THIS WAS (50TH ANNIVERSARY EDITION) CHRYSALIS 190295611484 (Barcode: 190295611484) ~ UK ~ Blues-Rock Recorded: 1968 Released: 2018 This is a 50th Anniversary Edition reissue of the debut album by the British Prog Masters Jethro TullFind albums by this artist and another chapter in the series of reissues of their seminal albums which are being remixed to new stereo and surround sound versions by Steven WilsonFind albums by this artist, who is doing similar projects with classic Rock / Prog albums by other artists as well. It follows a similar treatment that Wilson applied to the reissues of the eleven early Jethro Tull releases, which is now completed by the inclusion of the debut album, the last to be given the new treatment and reissued in the digibook format. The reissue consists of three CDs and one DVD-A. The first CD contains the new stereo mix of the original album (ten tracks) and six "associated recordings", four of which are previously unreleased. The second CD includes "further associated recordings", which are mostly BBC sessions, original mixes of singles and radio adverts and one outtake, altogether twenty tracks of which just one is previously unreleased. The third CD includes the original 1968 UK stereo and mono (remastered in 2008) mixes of the album. The DVD-A contains the album remixed in two High-Resolution formats (4.1 DTS and AC3 Dolby Digital Surround Sound), two "associated recordings" in two High-Resolution formats (5.1 DTS and in High Resolution stereo format 96/24 LPCM). Also included is the original 1969 US stereo mix of the album in High Resolution stereo format 96/24 LPCM. If you are confused by all these technical terms, don´t be – it is all complete bullshit piece of hype! The entire set is lavishly packaged in a digibook format, with great photos of the band, background material, the song lyrics and other goodies, which are all beyond reproach. The group´s lineup on this album includes Ian AndersonFind albums by this artist, who handles most of the vocals and plays the flute parts and some piano, with the lead guitar magnificently handled by Mick AbrahamsFind albums by this artist, the bass by Glenn CornickFind albums by this artist and the drums by Clive BunkerFind albums by this artist. Anderson gets credit for most of the music and lyrics, except for the tracks written by Abrahams or co-written by the band´s members and one Jazz and two Blues standards. Musically the album is completely different from the rest of the group´s later output, being deeply rooted in Blues and Blues Rock, one of the leading idioms on the British scene at the time of its recording. The group was not yet dominated by Anderson and Abrahams was definitely the most accomplished musician at hand. Of course the personality conflict between Anderson and Abrahams led to the latter leaving the group after the album was recorded and the musical direction of the group gradually changing towards Progressive Rock and Folk Rock, with Anderson firmly at the helm. Although definitely one of the best white blues guitarists of all time, Abraham´s career did not take off as spectacularly as one might have expected at the time. Today, five decades later, he still plays superbly and releases new albums from time to time, remaining one my favorite guitar players, despite his almost complete anonymity. For many Jethro Tull fans this album, not surprisingly, is often considered as an odd incident, which in many respects it is indeed. Personally it is one of my favorite British Blues Revival recordings and I revisit it from time to time, repeatedly being surprised by its freshness and originality, despite the passing time. The rest of Jethro Tull´s story is of course a completely different chapter in British Rock history. An everlasting gem by any standard! Side Note As for the Steven WilsonFind albums by this artist contributions, I´m perplexed time after time why anybody being of sound mind would allow him to butcher the original material and then hype the results as spectacular. These original mixes are untouchable and anybody trying to change them is more or less re-painting Van Gogh, re-sculpturing Michelangelo or re-writing the Bible, all truly barbaric acts of disrespect. Additionally I find his stereo mixes to be dry, artificial and deviant, badly damaging the original ambience of the recordings. Perhaps for people who are not familiar with the original sound this sounds fine, but for me it´s unbearable and sacrilegious. In addition I find the surround sound completely redundant, hoping for years that it will go away as did quad and other industry inventions meant to earn some more money from the suckers following the trends. The whole high resolution hype is so ridiculous; in reality most people are deaf anyway and can´t tell one note from another even if it bites them in the ass and use ridiculously lo-fi equipment. In short Emperor´s new clothes, as usual, and no shame whatsoever.

Updated: 26/01/2019Posted: 26/01/2019

3CD+DVD 4 Digibook Box Set DVD-A Audiophile Remastered Bonus Tracks Essential Recommend To A Friend

JETHRO TULL ~ THIS WAS (COLLECTOR`S EDITION) CHARISMA 064972 (Barcode: 5099920649722) ~ UK ~ Blues-Rock Recorded: 1968 Released: 2008 1st album by the magnificent Jethro TullFind albums by this artist, the only band that survived 40 years of rapidly changing world and still sounds so much better that anything produced today. This debut album is dear to my heart and I remember vividly listening to it for the first time back in 1968 – this was different! Sure, it was based on the Blues tradition and followed the British Blues revival surge, which blessed us all with a plethora of great bands. But these kids (yes they were) had an edge and an attitude, which I liked. Ian AndersonFind albums by this artist had a vice like no one else and his flute playing, although far from being virtuosic, always hit the right note (even if it was the wrong note). Mick AbrahamsFind albums by this artist was a great Blues guitar player, as was evident already then, and would be proved time after time in following years. Glenn CornickFind albums by this artist played some nasty bass lines and Clive BunkerFind albums by this artist beat the hell out of the set. I loved the nonchalance, the obvious "let´s not take it too seriously" approach, and those glimpses of pure genius, which this album is full of. I loved it then and I love it now – absolutely nothing changed, except for the fact that a whole universe of dreadful music was made since, which luckily I was able to escape. This new edition is a true gem and a collector´s dream, with the original mono mixes, new stereo mix, singles and live BBC material, everything one might hope for. I don´t suppose any Tull fan will need to contemplate the decision as to buying this beauty. Grab it!

CD 2 Digipak Slipcase Remastered Bonus Tracks Essential Recommend To A Friend

JETHRO TULL ~ THIS WAS / STAND UP CHRYSALIS 582353 ~ UK ~ Progressive Rock 1st and 2nd albums from 1968 & 1969 by this seminal band. Although considered early efforts and inferior in comparison with their later output, these two albums still hold a lot of charm and beauty and are a must in any Prog collection. Debut album includes the original guitar player Mick Abrams, whose blues feeling is second to none and influences the entire album. Second album is closer to later workd by the group and includes the eternal `Bouree`.

CD 2 Remastered Bonus Tracks Recommend To A Friend