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Music : This Was
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Rating: 
- 'This Was' sounding fresher and better than ever
I did recollect 'This Was' as a decent if patchy album by one of my favourite bands of yesteryear - until I heard it again in this new reissue, and what a revelation it is. The band is superb with Ian's contribution nicely balanced with all the others; the superb rhythm section of Clive Bunker and Glenn Cornick, and Mick Abrahams in great form. There are some lovely jazz tinges in amongst the overall blues feel of the album that would sadly be lost on their later albums. There is a freshness and lightness of execution about this and their other early albums, that became leaden by the time they turned the guitar amps up, went a bit heavy metal and got lost in the woods of old England. Despite the always fantastic musicianship, I never really got all the elves, squirrels and celtic myth stuff but the eclectic blues and jazz of 'This Was' still does it for me.
Rating: - Yes, Another Reissue.... But....
Look - it IS a bit much that this is being revisited so soon after the recent slew of Tull reissues. On the other hand, while later reissues in the recent series got lavish extras and booklets, This Was was treated rather lightely (as were all the early albums to be honest).
So here we have This Was done right. Talk about lavish - double disc, great booklet (with comments from ALL band members), and a fold out cover with more shots from the period.
I've been playing the Mono version, and it's just glorious. The bonus material? It matches what's on the original disc, in both quality and sound. Those John Peel sessions sound like they were done yesterday.
It's unlikely new fans are stumbling upon this disc - but if you're a Tull fan and you're on the fence having just paid out for the last reissue, then don't hesitate any more. For better or worse this easily trumps that last release. The 40th Aniversary Version presented here is just glorious.
I really lucked out - this is my most played Tull album. Didn't want to buy it yet again, not so soon, but I'm sure glad I did.
Rating: - Just Great
They may only have been a blues band for a short while but this version of Tull made an album that sounds every bit as fresh now as the day it was released. Featuring strong original songs like "My Sunday Feeling" and "Beggar's Farm" and a distinctive British take on the blues, these guys were every bit a match for their better known blues-boom contemporaries. In truth I'm not much of a Tull fan but this package rocks. I can't think of anywhere else you could find manic flute playing like that on Roland Kirk's "Serenade to a Cuckoo" alongside Mick Abrahams wonderful guitar heavy take on "Cat's Squirrel" There's some inventive bass and drum playing too and even the drum solo isn't completely out of place. The sound has been superbly remastered/remixed and there's a shed-load of excellent extra sessions and bonus tracks. The whole thing is an object lesson in repackaging. I haven't stopped playing this since it arrived. If they can give the same treatment to "Stand Up" I might just be tempted.....
Rating: - This is a no-brainer of a purchase.
Whilst i'm not a huge fan of all the collector's editions which exist, here's one which is well worth buying. Particularly since it's just a touch more expensive than the regular version.
A lovingly packaged product, which comes with a pleasing booklet and some worthwhile bonus material. The big upside of this product is that purchasers will be rewarded with being able to familiarise themselves with the mythical "reverb-soaked" mono mix. I was fortunate enough to be able to acquire an inexpensive vinyl copy of this, some ten years ago, but this deluxe copy will enable me to enjoy the mono mix a bit more regularly.
The second cd is given over to the more "compressed" stereo mix of the album, as released by the short-lived line-up of Jethro Tull with the excellent Mick Abrahams on guitar. The group was into a more blues-based sound, as was somewhat fashionable at the time. (Check out the Cream/Clapton-inspired cover of "Cat's Squirrel", for example.) But this album stands up as being a really decent debut release.
And the bonus material doesn't disappoint in the slightest. There are numerous tracks from John Peel sessions, a couple of tracks released in single form, and there's even the "Sunshine Day" MGM single rarity. This is one collector's edition which can wholeheartedly be recommended to anyone who is unfamiliar with this release. And also those who are.
PS. I must say that the mono and "new" stereo mixes sound pretty similar. However, "It's Breaking Me Up" and "Cat's Squirrel" sound somewhat different. As do the vocals on "(A) Song For Jeffrey". "Cat's Squirrel", in particular, sounds fabulous in mono and shows Abrahams, Bunker and (particularly) the under-rated Glenn Cornick as a really decent power trio. And check out the mono mixes of "Love Story", which is a bit different, and "Christmas Song". The latter loses the " 'ere Santa..." line.
Rating: - They never made an album like this again...
Better men than I have made the point that, initially at least, Jethro Tull were a Blues band, admittedly with a few kinks of their own. 'This Was', lovingly repackaged here, is a splendid debut album, cut on four-track equipment, and recorded cheaply, but, and here's a point that those in this now digital age should note - it sounds great, even if it does feature a drum solo. For all their blues roots, the Tull of 'This Was' have a distinctly English take on the style, with Ian Anderson's still-formative flute work much in evidence. Mick Abrahams ain't half good here, but in truth, the band perform so well as a unit that it's a bit rum to single out an individual. Funny, funky, in its way, 'This Was' is an occasionally loud but always lovely experience, and forty years on has worn exceptionally well. The various bonus tracks and radio sessions add lustre to the legend, and for under ten quid, you'd be daft not to invest.
- 'This Was' sounding fresher and better than everI did recollect 'This Was' as a decent if patchy album by one of my favourite bands of yesteryear - until I heard it again in this new reissue, and what a revelation it is. The band is superb with Ian's contribution nicely balanced with all the others; the superb rhythm section of Clive Bunker and Glenn Cornick, and Mick Abrahams in great form. There are some lovely jazz tinges in amongst the overall blues feel of the album that would sadly be lost on their later albums. There is a freshness and lightness of execution about this and their other early albums, that became leaden by the time they turned the guitar amps up, went a bit heavy metal and got lost in the woods of old England. Despite the always fantastic musicianship, I never really got all the elves, squirrels and celtic myth stuff but the eclectic blues and jazz of 'This Was' still does it for me.
Rating:
- Yes, Another Reissue.... But....Look - it IS a bit much that this is being revisited so soon after the recent slew of Tull reissues. On the other hand, while later reissues in the recent series got lavish extras and booklets, This Was was treated rather lightely (as were all the early albums to be honest).
So here we have This Was done right. Talk about lavish - double disc, great booklet (with comments from ALL band members), and a fold out cover with more shots from the period.
I've been playing the Mono version, and it's just glorious. The bonus material? It matches what's on the original disc, in both quality and sound. Those John Peel sessions sound like they were done yesterday.
It's unlikely new fans are stumbling upon this disc - but if you're a Tull fan and you're on the fence having just paid out for the last reissue, then don't hesitate any more. For better or worse this easily trumps that last release. The 40th Aniversary Version presented here is just glorious.
I really lucked out - this is my most played Tull album. Didn't want to buy it yet again, not so soon, but I'm sure glad I did.
Rating:
- Just GreatThey may only have been a blues band for a short while but this version of Tull made an album that sounds every bit as fresh now as the day it was released. Featuring strong original songs like "My Sunday Feeling" and "Beggar's Farm" and a distinctive British take on the blues, these guys were every bit a match for their better known blues-boom contemporaries. In truth I'm not much of a Tull fan but this package rocks. I can't think of anywhere else you could find manic flute playing like that on Roland Kirk's "Serenade to a Cuckoo" alongside Mick Abrahams wonderful guitar heavy take on "Cat's Squirrel" There's some inventive bass and drum playing too and even the drum solo isn't completely out of place. The sound has been superbly remastered/remixed and there's a shed-load of excellent extra sessions and bonus tracks. The whole thing is an object lesson in repackaging. I haven't stopped playing this since it arrived. If they can give the same treatment to "Stand Up" I might just be tempted.....
Rating:
- This is a no-brainer of a purchase.Whilst i'm not a huge fan of all the collector's editions which exist, here's one which is well worth buying. Particularly since it's just a touch more expensive than the regular version.
A lovingly packaged product, which comes with a pleasing booklet and some worthwhile bonus material. The big upside of this product is that purchasers will be rewarded with being able to familiarise themselves with the mythical "reverb-soaked" mono mix. I was fortunate enough to be able to acquire an inexpensive vinyl copy of this, some ten years ago, but this deluxe copy will enable me to enjoy the mono mix a bit more regularly.
The second cd is given over to the more "compressed" stereo mix of the album, as released by the short-lived line-up of Jethro Tull with the excellent Mick Abrahams on guitar. The group was into a more blues-based sound, as was somewhat fashionable at the time. (Check out the Cream/Clapton-inspired cover of "Cat's Squirrel", for example.) But this album stands up as being a really decent debut release.
And the bonus material doesn't disappoint in the slightest. There are numerous tracks from John Peel sessions, a couple of tracks released in single form, and there's even the "Sunshine Day" MGM single rarity. This is one collector's edition which can wholeheartedly be recommended to anyone who is unfamiliar with this release. And also those who are.
PS. I must say that the mono and "new" stereo mixes sound pretty similar. However, "It's Breaking Me Up" and "Cat's Squirrel" sound somewhat different. As do the vocals on "(A) Song For Jeffrey". "Cat's Squirrel", in particular, sounds fabulous in mono and shows Abrahams, Bunker and (particularly) the under-rated Glenn Cornick as a really decent power trio. And check out the mono mixes of "Love Story", which is a bit different, and "Christmas Song". The latter loses the " 'ere Santa..." line.
Rating:
- They never made an album like this again...Better men than I have made the point that, initially at least, Jethro Tull were a Blues band, admittedly with a few kinks of their own. 'This Was', lovingly repackaged here, is a splendid debut album, cut on four-track equipment, and recorded cheaply, but, and here's a point that those in this now digital age should note - it sounds great, even if it does feature a drum solo. For all their blues roots, the Tull of 'This Was' have a distinctly English take on the style, with Ian Anderson's still-formative flute work much in evidence. Mick Abrahams ain't half good here, but in truth, the band perform so well as a unit that it's a bit rum to single out an individual. Funny, funky, in its way, 'This Was' is an occasionally loud but always lovely experience, and forty years on has worn exceptionally well. The various bonus tracks and radio sessions add lustre to the legend, and for under ten quid, you'd be daft not to invest.