"This Was: The 50th Anniversary Edition" by JETHRO TULL – October 1968 UK Debut Album on Island Records in both Mono and Stereo, February 1969 US on Reprise Records in Stereo Only – Featuring Ian Anderson, Mick Abrahams, Glenn Cornick and Clive Bunker (November 2018 UK Chrysalis/Parlophone 'The 50th Anniversary Edition' Reissue with Mono and Stereo Versions of the Debut Album – Includes 3CDs, 1DVD with Previously Unreleased Mono/Stereo Material, Steven Wilson Remixes, Remasters and 4.1 Surround-Sound Versions) - A Review by Mark Barry...

 

<iframe sandbox="allow-popups allow-scripts allow-modals allow-forms allow-same-origin" style="width:120px;height:240px;" marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" src="//ws-eu.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?ServiceVersion=20070822&OneJS=1&Operation=GetAdHtml&MarketPlace=GB&source=ss&ref=as_ss_li_til&ad_type=product_link&tracking_id=mabasreofcdbl-21&language=en_GB&marketplace=amazon&region=GB&placement=B07P5TKS92&asins=B07P5TKS92&linkId=2656a12f0c11fa811031320e80c3924d&show_border=true&link_opens_in_new_window=true"></iframe>

 

"…Won’t Somebody Tell Me Where I Lay My Head Last Night…"

 

The Jethro Tull catalogue has been steadily receiving these fabulous Hardback Digibook Versions for some years now – but their mighty British debut album "This Was" from October 1968 on Island Records (February 1969 in the USA on Reprise) has been a rather obvious and large hole in the run.

 

I've reviewed its predecessor, the April 2008 '40th Anniversary 2CD Collector's Edition' on EMI/Chrysalis 206 4972 (Barcode 5099920649722) – a worthy reissue for its time. But it's absolutely demolished by this 2018 '50th Anniversary' variant which once again has had the master-hand of Audio Engineer STEVE WILSON poking about in its Sixties innards. A lot to catalogue, so let's get sonically impressed...

 

UK released 9 November 2018 - "This Was: The 50th Anniversary Edition" by JETHRO TULL on Chrysalis/Parlophone 0190295611484 (Barcode 0190295611484) is a 3CD and 1DVD Hardback Digibook that plays out as follows:

 

CD1 (57:53 minutes):

A STEVEN WILSON STEREO REMIX

1. My Sunday Feeling [Side 1]

2. Someday The Sun Won’t Shine

3. Beggar's Farm

4. Move On Alone

5. Serenade To A Cuckoo

6. Dharma For One [Side 2]

7. It's Breaking Me Up

8. Cat's Squirrel

9. A Song For Jeffrey

10. Round

Tracks 1 to 10 are the STEREO VERSION of the debut album "This Was" released 4 October 1968 in the UK on Island ILPS 9085. February 1969 saw the album released in the USA on Reprise RS 6336 in Stereo only. The UK had a MONO variant of the Vinyl LP (Island ILP 985) which is presented on CD3 in its 40th Anniversary 2008 Remastered CD form.

 

ASSOCIATED RECORDINGS

A STEVEN WILSON STEREO REMIX:

11. Love Story

12. A Christmas Song

Tracks 11 and 12 were (originally) Non-LP A&-B sides of a 29 November 1969 UK 45-single on Island WIP 6048 in Mono – here they are presented in STEREO – for Mono Originals see Tracks 13 and 14 on CD2

 

Tracks 13 to 16 are PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED

13. Serenade To A Cuckoo (Take 1, Studio Outtake)

14. Some Day The Sun Won't Shine For You (Faster Version, Studio Outtake)

15. Move On Alone (Flute Version, Take 6, with Vocals Added, Studio Outtake)

16. Ultimate Confusion (Take 1, Studio Outtake – no other version exists)

 

CD2 (59:53 minutes):

FURTHER ASSOCIATED RECORDINGS (BBC Sessions, Original Mixes & Ads)

BBC Sessions Tracks 1 to 9

1. So Much Trouble

2. My Sunday Feeling

3. Serenade To A Cuckoo

4. Cat's Squirrel

5. A Song For Jeffrey

Tracks 1 to 5 are live-in-the-studio Mono recordings made for John Peel's "Top Gear" Radio program on BBC 1, recorded 23 July 1968 in London (broadcast August & September 1968)

 

6. Love Story

7. Stormy Monday

8. Beggar's Farm

9. Dharma For One

Tracks 6 to 9 are more live-in-the-studio Mono recordings as per 1 to 5 recorded 5 November 1968 in London (broadcast December 1968)

 

Original Mixes and Radio Adverts:

10. A Song For Jeffrey

11. One For John Gee

Tracks 10 and 11 are their second 45-single released 13 September 1968 on Island WIP 6043 in the UK in Mono, both tracks Non-LP at the time

 

12. Some Day The Sun Won't Shine For You (Faster Version)

PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED Mono Version (Stereo variant, Track 14, CD1)

 

13. Love Story

14. A Christmas Song

Tracks 13 and 14 are their third 45-single released 29 November 1968 in the UK on Island WIP 6048 in Mono, February 1969 in the USA on Reprise 0815 with A Song For Jeffery on the B-side (there are STEREO remixes of 13 and 14 on CD1)

 

15. Sunshine Day

16. Aeroplane

Tracks 15 and 16 are their debut UK 45-single issued 16 February 1968 on MGM Records 1348 with the band miscredited as Jethro Toe – both sides Non-LP

 

17. Blues For The 18th

Track 17 recorded 22 October 1967 for The John Evans Smash in London; first issued 1991 as Track 1 on the German-only Maxi CD-Single "The Derek Lawrence Story: The Sampler" on Line Records LICD 9.01138 E

 

18. Love Story

Track 18 is a US-only Promo 45-single in Stereo for FM Radio airplay

 

19. US FM Radio Spot No. 1

20. US FM Radio Spot No. 2

Tracks 19 and 20 on the American promo-only 45-single on Reprise PRO 312

 

CD3 (76:41 minutes):

ORIGINAL UK ALBUM MIXES

1. My Sunday Feeling [Side 1]

2. Someday The Sun Won’t Shine

3. Beggar's Farm

4. Move On Alone

5. Serenade To A Cuckoo

6. Dharma For One [Side 2]

7. It's Breaking Me Up

8. Cat's Squirrel

9. A Song For Jeffrey

10. Round

Tracks 1 to 10 are the Original UK STEREO MIX prepared in August 1968 for the Vinyl LP Island ILPS 9085 – Tracks 11 to 20 is the MONO MIX

 

DVD (NTSC, Region 0 (All Regions):

Tracks 1 to 10 - Original Album remixed by Steven Wilson to 4.1 DTS and AC3 Dolby Digital Surround

Tracks 11 and 12 - Love Story and A Christmas Song in 5.1 Surround

Tracks 13 to 16 are 96/24 LPCM Stereo

Tracks 17 to 26 are 1969 US Stereo Mix at 96/24 LPCM Stereo

 

I have had the 2008 UK-issued 40th Anniversary Edition 2CD set for years now and the Peter Mew Remasters for that done at Abbey Road were sensational – amazing clarity on both the Mono and Stereo versions. Here, revered Audio Engineer STEVE WILSON has done his twiddling magic with the Stereo variants and again – a noticeable upgrade with huge feel and breathing around the instruments. Although in truth there isn't a whole lot of new for diehard fans, the Stereo and Mono variants of "Some Day The Sun Won't Shine" are blistering and audiowise – up there with the best of them. I would have to agree that CD3 feels a teeny weeny bit superfluous to requirements - an original Stereo mix of the LP you don't really want and a Mono Mix you probably won't play over the richer Steve Wilson Stereo remix. But it is cool to have them.

 

The packaging though – oh my God – a 96-page booklet inside the Hardback Digibook that makes many other reissues look like whimpering brats. You would expect the UK and American LP labels to be reproduced (they are as is every 45-single), but this thing has discographies, trade adverts, band chronology, day-by-day movements and gig dates, rare concert posters, photos from Ian Anderson's own archive, memorabilia from around the world – the kind of splurge to make fans weak at the knees. They even produced the lyrics not just to the LP but the 45s including their mega-rare debut Sunshine Day. There are notes from Steve Wilson, photos of a 2008 reunion with Mick Abrahams (who left after the album and formed the much-loved Blodwyn Pig) and Ian Anderson explains all the songs – even the outtakes. Wow. To the music...

 

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).

 

The Blues-Rock sound that permeates much of this forgotten debut was never going to be enough for a mind like that of band-leader Ian Anderson and on their next platter "Stand Up" in 1969 (a No. 1 LP) – the JT sound and their particular brand of Prog Historical Rock was born.

 

For sure there are far better albums in their voluminous back catalogue (hence the four stars), but it is only the churlish begrudger that would say "The 50th Anniversary Edition" of Jethro Tull's debut "This Was" isn't anything other than exemplary. Love Story indeed...