nedjelja, 29.03.2009.
Jethro Tull - This Was(1968) (40th Anniversary 2CD Remaster Edit)
2008 two CD 40th Anniversary collector's edition of Jethro Tull debut album. Disc One contains the mono version of the album, which has never been available on CD, plus nine BBC tracks from sessions which relate to the album. Disc Two features a new stereo mix of the album plus four bonus tracks from rare early singles: 'Sunshine Day', 'Song For John Gee', 'Love Story' and 'Christmas Song'. This Was originally reached #10 in the UK charts, partly thanks to great airplay from BBC Radio DJ John Peel. ---------------------------------------------- 40 years on from its original release Jethro Tull’s début album is a varied affair that demonstrated the band’s combination of folk, jazz, blues and hard rock although in a more fractured way than the later releases. The elements that would create the high selling albums that followed were in place - the unique combinations not quite as effective as they would become. Early examples of what would evolve into the trademark sound are evident in places though, most notably on “Beggars Farm” where the flute, multiple time changes and psyche-rock tendencies merge effectively, and also on the unconventional vocal on “A Song For Jeffrey“, a track selected for single release. Elsewhere though, thanks to the presence of blues purist Mick Abrahams on guitar there are more head-on blues based songs that would even encourage their record company to try to get Anderson to lay down his flute for good. “Some Day The Sun Won’t Shine” is a superb loose harmonica driven piece, “It’s Breaking Me Up” another slice of blues based rock not instantly recognisable as Tull and the loud driving rock of “Cat’s Squirrel” places Tull at that point as firm contemporaries of The Jeff Beck Group and Led Zeppelin, all following groundwork laid by The Yardbirds. “Move On Alone” and opening track “My Sunday Feeling” are both instantly placed as sixties efforts, the former almost Kinks-like in its British-ness, the latter now somewhat dated. Quite a reliance on instrumentals too place this work as from a band not yet confident in the lyricism that would mark their greater work. “Serenade To A Cuckoo” is a strange piece, occasionally sounding like incidental music from The Pink Panther, “Dharma For One” more upbeat yet blighted by a drum solo and “Round” a short and gentle flute fronted piece that closes the album.
The sound then of a band finding its way, searching for its sound but all in all still a surprisingly good listen. The absence of tracks overplayed on rock radio perhaps helping keep attention on discovering gems within the work.
The plethora of bonus tracks that accompany the release is impressive too. Disc one adds no less nine takes from the annoyingly elusive BBC archive. Six are repeats of songs from the album although the tremendously energetic version of “My Sunday Feeling” and a more guitar dominated, earthier take on “Cat’s Squirrel“, showcasing guitarist Mick Abrahams’ apparent talents are both impressive. “So Much Trouble” is another superb example of a route Tull may have taken as a blues-based rock band if Ian Anderson had surrendered his vision and Abrahams not gelt fit to take his to Blodwyn Pig. The second disc of the remastered set offers a new stereo mix that reproduces not just the album in full but also visits a couple of non-album singles, “Love Story” and “Christmas Song” both released as A side’s in 1968. “Love Story” already appears on the a side in BBC Session guise and appears once more as one of four final mono recordings that also revisit “Christmas Song” in its original flavour as well as early ‘68 single “Sunshine Day” and “Song For Jeffrey” flipside “One For John Gee“. A thorough and well packaged set that demonstrates the difference in sound between Jethro Tull as they started out and the sound they would find significant success with. Including some excellent blues based work this release should possibly reignite interest in Abrahams almost as much as it will in Jethro Tull, who are currently embarking on a big UK tour to celebrate this notable anniversary.
Highlight: Cat’s Squirrel...Manfred Mandel
Codec: mp3
Bitrate: 320 kB/s
Size ca.: 290 MB
Genre : Progressive Rock
2000mustangs
Tracklist:
CD 1
01. My Sunday Feeling 3.43
02. Some Day The Sun Won't Shine 2.49
03. Beggar's Farm 4.23
04. Move On Alone 2.00
05. Serenade To A Cuckoo 6.07
06. Dharma For One 4.13
07. It's Breaking Me Up 5.01
08. Cat's Squirrel 5.40
09. A Song For Jeffrey 3.26
10. Round 0.59
11. So Much Trouble 3.19
12. My Sunday Feeling 3.49
13. Serenade To A Cuckoo 3.37
14. Cat's Squirrel 4.38
15. A Song For Jeffrey 3.13
16. Love Story 3.04
17. Stormy Monday 4.09
18. Beggars Farm 3.22
19. Dharma For One 3.46
CD 2
01. My Sunday Feeling 3.42
02. Some Day The Sun Won't Shine 2.47
03. Beggars Farm 4.21
04. Move On Alone 1.57
05. Serenade To A Cuckoo 6.05
06. Dharma For One 4.13
07. It's Breaking Me Up 5.03
08. Cat's Squirrel 5.39
09. A Song For Jeffrey 3.23
10. Round 1.00
11. Love Story 3.05
12. Christmas Song 3.13
13. Sunshine Day 2.26
14. One For John Gee 2.05
15. Love Story 3.05
16. Christmas Song 3.05
