Jethro Tull - This Was (Collectors Edition) (2CD)
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Free Music Notes for This Was (Collectors Edition) (2CD)
Free Music Review: "...Won't Somebody Tell Me Where I Lay My Head Last Night..."
Hit: 5 Stars
This 2008 40th Anniversary 2CD COLLECTOR'S EDITION of Jethro Tull's explosive debut album has been a long time coming - but the wait has been so worth it.
Soundwise - this peach is simply off the charts good - and as a reissue - has breathed new life into a long forgotten and largely dismissed album. I suspect that even people who don't like Tull (and they are derided in certain circles) will enjoy this and be duly impressed...
There's a lot on here, so here's a detailed breakdown first...
DISC 1 (71:28 minutes):
Tracks 1 to 10 are the MONO VERSION of the album "This Was" released 25 October 1968 in the UK on Island ILP 985
(February 1969 saw the album released in the USA on Reprise RS 6336 but in Stereo only - the Stereo mix is on Disc 2)
Tracks 11 to 15 are live-in-the-studio recordings made for John Peel's "Top Gear" Radio program on BBC 1, recorded 23 July 1968 in London (broadcast August & September 1968)
Tracks 16 to 19 are more live-in-the-studio recordings as per 11 to 15...recorded 5 November 1968 in London (broadcast December 1968)
DISC 2 (55:18 minutes):
Tracks 1 to 10 are the STEREO VERSION of the album "This Was" released 25 October 1968 on Island ILPS 9085 [credited here as a "New Stereo Mix"]
Tracks 11 and 12 are ADDITIONAL NEW STEREO MIXES of "Love Story" and "Christmas Song" [New to this set]
Tracks 13 to 16 are ORIGINAL MONO RECORDINGS (UK Singles)
13 is "Sunshine Day", their debut UK 7" single issued 16 February 1968 on MGM Records 1348 [miscredited as Jethro Toe]
14 is "One For John Gee", non-album B-side to "A Song For Jeffrey", 2nd UK 7" single issued September 1968 on Island WIP 6043
15 is "Love Story", November 1968, Non-Album Track, A-side of their 3rd UK 7" single on Island WIP 6048
16 is "Christmas Song", also a non-album track on release, B-side to 15
PETER MEW at Abbey Road has expertly remastered the 1st generation original masters tapes and the results are stupendous - the clarity is now unbelievable on both the old MONO MIX and the newly constructed STEREO MIX. Getting your hands on an original UK MONO vinyl copy of this album has always been an expensive and difficult affair - the STEREO version a little less so. So it's great to finally have both on a good CD. The 12-page booklet is a little crammed (pictures of 45's you can barely make out due to their tiny size), but it does features new notes from both Ian Anderson and Mick Abrahams.
Highlights - the opening track "My Sunday Feeling" (lyrics above) is classic Tull - rock with a flute jazz tint. Speaking of which - the track "Serenade To A Cuckoo" first appeared on Rahsaah Roland Kirk's 1964 album "I Talk With The Spirits". Kirk's flute technique of humming and mouthing as you play the instrument clearly blew away the young Ian Anderson, because he's been aping that style ever since (it's also the only time a cover version has appeared on a Jethro Tull album).
The bluesy "Beggar's Farm" is so clear now as are Clive Bunker's drums on "Dharma For One". The Stereo Mix of "Some Day The Sun Won't Shine" absolutely leaps out of the speakers, while the harmonica and guitar duo intro on "It's Breaking Me Up" perfectly compliments the slinky bass line by Glenn Cornick. "Cat's Squirrel" just rocks like a monster too.
The additional BBC stuff is very good (the band was still fresh) as are the properly remastered versions of the early Tull singles (most of which were non-album until the 2LP set "Living In The Past" in 1972).
I'd have preferred a far more expanded booklet, but it's the great remaster that makes me come back to this reissue time and time again... Onwards from here to Mick Abraham's Blodwyn Pig and their stunning 1969 debut "Ahead Rings Out" (see separate review).
EMI are to be praised for this - an absolute winner - recommended big time.
PS: for Peter Mew's work see also Dr. Feelgood's "Down By The Jetty" DELUXE EDITION (reviewed), Deep Purple's "Burn" EXPANDED EDITION and Kevin Ayers' "The Confessions Of Dr. Dream And Other Stories" (reviewed)
Free Music Review: Thanks Ian---but...
Hit: 3 Stars
A great remaster of Tull's debut, with lots of extras added. Well worth pciking up. I only have one problem...it's more of the same.
Will we EVER see another NEW Jethro Tull album??? It has been WAY too long! Please Ian!!!!!
Free Music Review: Nice surprise for life time fan
Hit: 5 Stars
Even as a life time (OK since 1973) fan of Jethro Tull, this double CD stands strong on the liner notes, extra material, and the revisted strength of this live recorded set.Free Music Review: Massive Overkill But Still A Keeper
Hit: 5 Stars
It doesn't seem so long ago that the first three Jethro Tull albums were remastered and reissued with bonus tracks. So why buy this Collector's Edition of This Was? Well, unless you are a huge fan of the earliest incarnation of Jethro Tull, there is no good reason to particularly if you already own the previous edition. But, if you began your Tull experience when This Was was originally released, then you certainly will want to add this to your collection.
Admittedly, the This Was Collector's Edition is massive overkill. Not only do you get the ten songs (in mono) from the original release, nine additional songs from a pair of John Peel sessions are tacked onto the first CD. The second CD features the entire original album remixed in stereo, four remastered mono recordings of songs related to but not included on the original release, and stereo mixes of two of the bonus tracks. To sum it up, there is an astounding amount of music provided for what is currently a very fair price.
To me, My Sunday Feeling and Serenade To A Cuckoo are two of the early Tull pieces which, though utterly different in style, helped bring the band attention from a much wider range of listeners than it might have received if it were not so eclectic. They certainly got my attention and remain favorites to this day. I also favor Beggar's Farm, Move On Alone, and It's Breaking Me Up. Among the cuts from the Peel Sessions, I most enjoy My Sunday Feeling, Serenade to a Cuckoo and Beggar's Farm.
On the bonus disc, I most enjoyed the stereo mixes of the ones I like best on the mono version as well as One For John Gee which is kind of a poor relation to Serenade To A Cuckoo. One I don't like is Sunshine Day which is very unTull-like. Indeed, overall the extras don't match the quality of the songs ultimately selected for inclusion on the original album.
The double gatefold style presentation includes a small booklet containing pictures, commentary and album notes. So to reiterate, if you are a Tull fan with no particular attachment to the early years then you might be better off buying the single-disc remaster of This Was issued several years ago. But if you are one like me who still thinks that the first few Tull albums are his best, then This Was (Collector's Edition) is a keeper that will give you pleasure for the rest of your life.
Free Music Review: Jethro Tull - This Was
Hit: 3 Stars
I'm a big Tull fan, and was excited about the anniversary issue of their first album. Sadly, i had forgotten that I only liked three of the songs from this album, which are the same three featured on their various greatest hits collections. Save your money for the next release, due out early 2009!