Jethro Tull - This Was Collector’s Edition (expanded / remastered)
SKU
15-CAPITOL06947
A 40th anniversary (my, my, but I'm old) reissue of the band's excellent album which turned out to be hugely different in some ways from what would follow later. Disc one contains the original mix mono version of the album, which has never been available on CD, plus nine BBC tracks from sessions which relate to the album. The second CD features a new stereo version of the album plus four bonus tracks from rare early singles: 'Sunshine Day', 'Song For John Gee', 'Love Story' and 'Christmas Song'. This release also features new liner notes and stories from the band members.Includes the album in both the stereo and mono mixes and much more.
"Recorded rather quickly and on the cheap,this contains a lot of why British "rock" music was so interesting. Take a bit of blues,some Roland Kirk-style flute,including singing into the flute while playing,a slight bit of folk music,and some good old rock and roll-English style- and there you have it. In 1968 I can remember purchasing this as an "import" from Tower Records. On first listen,I thought,what in the world is this? At the time very few people seemed to like it,thinking it a curiosity. Now we have the 40 year anniversary release,and if you liked the original,you'll like this. The new stereo mix lets the various instruments breathe a bit and the overall sound is cleaner than previous releases. There is a curious overall "lightness" in the sound,not in a negative way,but the combined force of the music is not as immediate when compared to the mono version. Being of an age when mono was the only way you heard most music,maybe that's a predjudice that can't be overcome. However,it's nice to have both in one handy package,along with other tracks from the period. The BBC session,while sounding a bit flat,is certainly nice to have. The first track,So Much Trouble,has the Tull slide guitar-harmonica sound which we all know. It's interesting but not truly essential. My Sunday Feeling and Serenade to a Cuckoo both follow the originals. That could also be said for the rest of this session. Not until we get to Stormy Monday do we hear a track not from the album,but a song Tull had in their live repetoire at the time. This track demonstrates why this album has always been a favorite of mine. Here they take a blues tune,add some jazz drumming and flute and Ian Anderson's best blues vocal,and come out at the end with that "This Was" sound. The two final tracks pretty much follow the originals,but as I said,for anyone who likes this era of Tull,thats just fine. As for the new stereo mixes of Love Story and Christmas Song on the second disc,they too have a much more "open" feel than previous recordings. Unlike the majority of this album,Christmas Story looks ahead to the Tull sound that went on to capture the imaginations of Americans everywhere. The vocal is pushed forward and the sound is leaning towards the minstral-folk sound Tull would make famous. The four mono tracks,all period singles, that conclude this set are typical Tull at that time,though I must say that One For John Gee is a personal favorite-what with the flute,bass and drums all pushing into jazz territory. So,like I said,if you liked this album and found so much to listen for throughout the original album,you will like this. Included is a booklet with period photographs,the original liner notes,and input from the band members looking back all those years. This is an album,that,while dated, will never go out of style,as long as people are interested in something,as Ian Anderson says,that is a bit off."-Stuart Jefferson
- LabelCapitol
- UPC5099920649722