"Thick As A Brick: The Steven Wilson 2012 Stereo Remix" by JETHRO TULL (June 2015 Chrysalis 1CD Reissue) - A Review by Mark Barry...

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For those of us who can't afford or won't pay the price for the now deleted and suddenly extortionate "40th Anniversary Edition" BOX SET from 6 Nov 2012 - there's now this simpler yet beautifully presented June 2015 single-CD reissue of Tull’s 1972 epic "Thick As A Brick". It comes resplendent with 'The 2012 Steven Wilson Stereo Remix' and a big old chunky 24-page booklet. And at under six quid – isn't a rip-off either.

Riding on the shirt tales of 1971's hugely popular "Aqualung" and although heavyweights like Lester Bangs mauled the new 1972 album - Tull's "Thick As A Brick" took the charts by storm on both sides of the Atlantic (especially America) – No. 5 in the UK and an astonishing No. 1 in the USA. Speaking of critically controversial yet commercially successful records - when you think that Yes then put a triple-live-set “Yessongs” and a double-studio album of four full-length sides "Tales From Topographic Oceans" ‘both’ at Number 1 in Blighty in May and December of 1973 – 1972 and 1973 really were the Progressive Rock years - whether the Press liked it or not. We (Joe Public) certainly did.

But in the cold light of 2018 – does a 44-minute piece of Rock Music from 1972 still stand up (if you’ll forgive the pun)? Well with this sparkly new sprinkle of remaster fairy dust from the Wilson Prog-meister – you'd have to say that Little Milton's Girl Pregnancy Row is in fine fettle. Let's unfold the newspaper and find out if an 'On-Form Eileen' really has 'pulled them out'...

UK released 29 June 2015 - "Thick As A Brick: The Steven Wilson 2012 Stereo Remix" by JETHRO TULL on Chrysalis 0825646146468 (Barcode 0825646146468) is a straightforward Single CD Reissue of the 1973 album that plays out as follows (43:44 minutes):

1. Thick As A Brick (Part 1) [Side 1] – 22:39 minutes

2. Thick As A Brick (Part 2) [Side 2] – 21:05 minutes

Tracks 1 and 2 are their fifth studio album "Thick As A Brick" - released 10 March 1972 in the UK on Chrysalis CHR 1003 and 10 May 1972 in the USA on Reprise MS 2072. Written and Produced by IAN ANDERSON - the album peaked at No. 5 in the UK and No.1 in the USA.

JETHRO TULL was:

IAN ANDERSON - Lead Vocals. Flute, Acoustic Guitar, Violin, Saxophone and Trumpet

MARTIN BARRE - Electric Guitar and Lute

JOHN EVAN – Organ, Piano and Harpsichord

JEFFREY HAMMOND-HAMMOND - Bass and Vocals

BARRIMORE BARLOW - Drums, Timpani and Percussion

David Palmer arranged the String Section towards the End of Side 2

The 7 Jan 1972 foldout newspaper sleeve gimmick of the original vinyl album supposedly penned by an 8-year old child prodigy called Gerald Bostock (smug winner of a school poetry competition) is discussed in the booklet. The entire 12-page edition legendarily took longer to create than the album to record and came complete with a crossword, fake advertisements, bowling and fishing news etc - all written tongue-in-cheek by band members Ian Anderson, Jeffrey Hammond and John Evan (if you want the entire contents of the 'St. Cleve Chronicle & Linwell Advertiser' edition you can access it at jethrotull.com/taab-booklet). The 'Late Extra' square that was used to announce the contents of the new CD Remaster has rightly been replaced with the original 'UFO Sighting Sensation' paragraphs to the right of the album sleeve in the new booklet (although the JETHRO TULL Title is gone for some reason). Judges disqualify Little Milton In Last Minute Rumpus...it's all there.

DOM LAWSON has his ‘Full Story?’ liner notes for the 2012 '40th Anniversary Edition' Box set reproduced and original album Engineer ROBIN BLACK has Page 22 on the intricacies of the recording – speed mistakes on the tapes that had to be fixed and mentions GEORGE PECKHAM who mastered the album at Apple Studios in January 1972. The lads in trench-coats looking slightly seedy, then bare-chested in a hotel room with some semi-naked lassie on the phone (what was that about) and one of Ian giving it his one-legged pose as he plays live. It's comprehensive stuff - although funny enough this would be one occasion when I feel the booklet would have benefitted from the lyrics - but they're available online. The CD colouring reflects the original British Chrysalis Records label and there's a set of band-member photos from the period beneath the see-through CD tray.

But the big news over previous editions is the new 2012 STEVE WILSON Remix and Remaster which is beautifully clear and full of life. The Clarity is obvious - but his work on "Aqualung" he seems to have removed a haze from the original sound that was muddying up the listen. Around 10:55 when they start that Organ vs. Saxophone passage - the kick is fantastic and it's like that throughout. To the music...

When that keyboard Prog March starts at about 11:50 – I'm transported back to Genesis and all things Charisma. I keep expecting Peter Gabriel to start singing about Giant Hogweeds or Cuckoo Cocoons. There’s no doubting the wallop of the Remaster. And as they get towards your comic-book idols bending the rules (about 18:10) – the Audio is gorgeous and the music returned to a variant of that lovely Acoustic Guitar melody that opens the Side (cut as a 7" single edit in the USA). Huge keyboard notes and guitar chops fade out Side 1 and again wonderfully clear as they echo those notes and heartbeats see the Side out. Side 2 opens with the 'teach him to be a wise man' portion - rapid Prog Rock at its most expressive - stunning drumming from Evans as he lets rip. The 'overwhelming response' and 'all fluffy' voices flit from speaker to speaker as Tull go all King Crimson on us before returning to that fabulous Anderson Acoustic guitar. I take my place with the lord of the hills - he sings - the music returning in some ways to "Aqualung" and its most melodic moments. And again the Audio is storming as the Electric Guitar gives way to Acoustic at 5:35 minutes. By the time we get to 6:45 (light the sun) - we're into a full-on acoustic instrument exploration complete with Harpsichord flourishes. The pavements are empty, the gutters are full - Tull tell us as they do March of the Lemmings come 14:30. Where the hell is Biggles when you need him lyrics bring the wild Prog flourishes to an end with a few David Palmer string moments and that Acoustic melody - wise men don't know how it feels - well they do now.

For sure the whole shebang requires some serious commitment on the part of a listener - especially the denser parts of Side 2 - but "Thick As A Brick" is also musically adventurous in a way that much new music isn't.

Taking our bow and quoting the witticisms of the rear sleeve - do you want to be part of the 'Chrysalis and Bostock Firm Foundation Deal' for pre-teen enlightenment and listen to forty-four minutes of complicated Rock (all royalties go to this cause you know and not Ian’s pocket or his wife’s Maserati). Well of course you do...

"Aqualung: 40th Anniversary Adapted Edition" by JETHRO TULL (2016 Chrysalis 2CD and 2DVD Reissue) - A Review by Mark Barry...

"…Elephants And Lions Too…”

Back in the tenement fog of Monday the 31st of October 2011 – I got terribly excited about the 2CD variant of the '40th Anniversary' Reissue of Jethro Tull's "Aqualung". Remastered with real skill and care by Porcupine Tree's STEVE WILSON – compared to the audio dreck we'd had for nearly 30 years – the 2011 2CD set was/is a sonic revelation. Out of my financial reach at the time (and the same for most everyone else I suspect) – there was also a 2011 5-Disc 'Collector's Edition' of "Aqualung" with LP, CDs, DVD and BLU RAY that was pricey then and has become something of an extortionate collectable ever since.

Well along comes Chrysalis in April 2016 and offers up a cheaper alternative - a fully-loaded 'Adapted Version' of that Super Deluxe 'Collector's Edition' Box set – this time with 2CDs and 2DVDs clipped inside a beautifully packaged 80-page Book Pack. It's the same Remastering from 2011 but 'newly' handled in 2016 'only' by Steve Wilson with some multitrack transfers by Kris Burton. The Audio is fabulous - it's packaged better and at under a twenty-spot - priced to sell. Here are the snots running down my nose...

UK released Friday 22 April 2016 - "Aqualung: 40th Anniversary Adapted Edition" by JETHRO TULL on Chrysalis 0825646487080 (Barcode is the same) is a 4-Disc REISSUE BOOK SET consisting of 2CDs and 2DVDs (1 is Audio, 2 is Audio and Video) that plays out as follows:

Disc 1 (43:45 minutes):

1. Aqualung

2. Cross-Eyed Mary

3. Cheap Day Return

4. Mother Goose

5. Wond’ring Aloud

6. Up To Me

7. My God [Side 2]

8. Hymn 43

9. Slipstream

10. Locomotive Breath

11. Wind Up

Tracks 1 to 11 are their 4th album "Aqualung" - released 19 March 1971 in the UK on Chrysalis ILPS 9145 and 3 May 1971 in the USA on Reprise MS 2035. It reached number 4 and 7 on the UK and US LP charts. No 45's were released to support the album in the UK - but "Hymn 43" was put out as a 7" single in the USA with "Mother Goose" as its B-side on Reprise 1024 (see Disc 2 Track 1 re UK singles).

Disc 2 – Associated 1970 & 1971 Recordings (51:25 minutes):

A Steven Wilson Stereo Remix (Tracks 1 to 10)

Flat Transfer (Tracks 11 to 15)

1. Lick Your Fingers Clean - an album outtake that first appeared on the 1996 25th Anniversary reissue - this is a 2011 'New Mix'. It was supposed to be released as a single in 1971 on Chrysalis WIP 6098 in the UK but was withdrawn

2. Just Trying To Be - first appeared as the last track on Side 2 of the July 1972 double album "Living In The Past". This is a 2011 'New Mix' at 1:37 minutes

3. My God (Early Version) - a 9:42 minute outtake complete with studio dialogue at the beginning

4. Wond'ring Aloud - a 1:51 minute outtake recorded 13 Dec 1970

5. Wind Up - an 'Early Version' at 5:21 minutes with Ian Anderson on piano. This is a 2011 'New Mix'

6. Slipstream (Take 2) - a 54-second outtake

7. Up The 'Pool - an 'Early Version' at 1:12 minutes (released version is Track 10)

8. Wand'ring Aloud, Again - a 7:07 minute 'Full Morgan Version' with the band and extra verses

9. Life Is A Long Song (New Mix)

10. Up The 'Pool (New Mix)

Life Is A Long Song (Original EP, Flat Transfer)

11. Life Is A Long Song

12. Up The 'Pool

13. Dr. Bogenbroom

14. From Later

15. Nursie

Tracks 11 to 15 were recorded in May 1971 and made up the "Life Is A Long Song" 7" EP released September 1971 on Chrysalis WIP 6106 in the UK (the picture sleeve is featured in the last collage pages of the booklet along with its sheet music). They reappeared as Tracks 3 to 7 on Side 4 of the "Living In The Past" double LP in 1972.

16. Reprise Radio Advert - is a 52-second "US Radio Spot" featuring Ian Anderson talking about the album and God with music snippets from several tracks

NOTE: Tracks 3, 4, 6 7 and 8 were PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED in 2011. The original Disc 2 in 2011 had 14 tracks – this 2016 16-track version adds on the flat transferred remasters of "Life Is A Long Song" and "Up The 'Pool" (tracks 11 and 12) as extras.

DVD ONE (Audio):

'Aqualung' remixed in 5.1 surround and presented in DTS 96/24 AC3 Dolby Digital and 96/24 LPCN Stereo

Associated 1970 & 1971 Recordings. Seven tracks remixed in 5.1 Surround and presented in DTS 96/24 and AC3 Dolby Digital, and 10 remixed in 96/24 LPCM Stereo

DVD TWO (Audio & Video):

A flat transfer from the original Stereo master of the album in 96/24 LPCM Stereo

Original 1974 Quad Mix as 4.1 presented in DTS 96/24 and AC3 Dolby Digital Surround

A flat transfer from the original Stereo master of the 5-track EP "Life Is A Long Song" in 96/24 LPCM Stereo

The 1971 "Life Is A Long Song" promotional film with new remixed stereo soundtrack

The 4-discs are housed in a gatefold BOOK PACK with an 80-page booklet attached to the centre (the 45-page variant in the original 12" x 12" Collector's Edition reduced in size). It has the 6000-word DOM LAWSON Essay on the whole "Aqualung" process (recording, tours, singles, aftermath), recollections from Engineer John Burns, songwriter and band leader Ian Anderson's own track-by-track recollections, notes from remastering Engineer Steven Wilson on the whole transfer process (July 2011), lyrics to all songs (including the extras) in the same script as was depicted on the original LP inner sleeve, an article on Island Studios and the usual plethora of pictured memorabilia. This looks and feels substantial and at twenty quid (or less) is a deal for fans and newcomers alike.

A smart move is to have the entire "Life Is A Long Song" EP on Disc 2 (5 tracks) rather than the three that appeared on the 2011 2CD version. Disc 2 now has 16 tracks rather than 14 – and they've included the lyrics too - so someone in the Chrysalis camp has heard those moans. As you can see Disc 3 is DVD Audio only while Disc 4 is DVD Audio and Video – but what an array of stuff. I've never seen the "Life Is A Long Song" promotional film – but they've even remixed it with a new stereo soundtrack. I find the channel separation in the 1974 'Quad Mix' to be utterly bizarre and fascinating at one and the same time. I must admit having lived with the Wilson Remaster – I find the flat Stereo transfer just that – flat as a bleeding pancake. But I hadn't heard the Surround 5.1 mix before and listening to it (admittedly on a mate's system) is a truly stunning experience. Stuff comes at you from every direction – clarity and instruments colliding like a wild dodgem ride on a recording you thought you knew inside out. Another smart move is to keep both DVDs Region 0 - Region Free in other words. Other nice touches include the painting-artwork of Burton Silverman reproduced beneath the front and rear see-through trays (the inner gatefold of the original vinyl LP) - the CDs are green in colour as per the original Chrysalis labels – the DVDs carry the LP cover and inner sleeve shot - and even the booklet numbers the pages in Roman numerals in keeping with the original album artwork.

As I said before – the 2011 Audio is a sensation. STEVEN WILSON explains in suitably techno gobbledygook the lengths he and his team went to get the best possible sound out of the 8 and 16-track master tapes without compromising the integrity of the original recordings. Multi-track Transfers were done by KRIS BURTON and Mastering carried out by PETER MEW at Abbey Road (a name long associated with quality reissues - see Listmania and tags). The results are amazing. However for 2016 (as I said above) - the liner notes have 'only' Steven Wilson listed as the mastering engineer this time out and are definitely credited as new (2016 copyright). Harking back to say "My God" - the track that opens Side 2 - the clarity on this most brilliant of tracks is truly hair-raising and ever so slightly better than I've heard before. 

Even as the opening riff of "Aqualung" rattles around your speakers accompanied by the sleazy "...sitting on a park bench..." lyrics - the audio quality is in your face, but not in a forced way. Suddenly the track has real muscle and the details leap out at you. It's breathing for the first time. "Cross-Eyed Mary" has superlative bass end now and the treated guitar 'so' good. But for me the real fireworks start with the double combo of the acoustic "Cheap Day Return" with the acoustic/rock of "Mother Goose". The improvement is GLORIOUS - and when the guitar kicked in half way through "Mother Goose" - I'll confess to blubbing out a little proggy tear. "Up To Me" is fantastically good too - huge guitar riffage. The improvement continues on Side 2 with amazing clarity on "My God" - especially those acoustic passages. The riff in "Hymn 43" is just huge now and the quiet lead into "Locomotive Breath" is not drenched in hiss - but clean and powerful. The album ends with "Wind Up" which has the best lyrics Anderson ever wrote about personal beliefs and it sounds just wonderful (lyrics above).

I had thought after the blast of the album that Disc 2 would be throwaway - not so. A truly lovely gem tucked away on the "Living In The Past" 1972 double is "Just Trying To Be" which I had on a 1999 Mobile Fidelity remaster (see review) - well here the sound quality is beautiful and far better. I was also taken aback by the full 7-minute band version of "Wand'ring Aloud, Again" which properly stretches out - it's a superb bonus. It takes the "Wand'ring Aloud" album track from "Aqualung" at 1:53 minutes length and adds on the "Wand'ring Again" outtake at 4:15 minutes length that turned up on the 1972 "Living In The Past" double and segues way them together with an extra bridge in the song and more lyrics (hence its new title here is a make up of both song titles). It's very cleverly done and because there are new bits in it - it's been called 'Previously Unreleased'. The roughest sounding outtake here is the 'Early Version' of "My God", but again his passion in the vocals is the reason for inclusion. And again the clarity on the 5-track "Life Is A Long Song" EP is far better than that on the MF release. Great stuff...

Fans who bought the original 2011 2CD 'Collector’s Edition' may feel they don’t need this – but I'd argue the extras and the new sound make it yet another 'must own'. The curious should just dive right in as the cost is now within the bounds of most people's pockets...

2017 is the 45th Anniversary for 1972 - so roll on "Living In The Past" - Jethro Tull's July 1972 double album of odds and sods. I've always loved the beautifully packaged "Living in The Past" and it deserves no less than the same lavish treatment...

PS: see also my reviews for Steven Wilson's remaster of 1970's "Benefit" (the album before "Aqualung"), EMI's superb 'Collectors Edition' of their 1968 debut "This Was" and Mobile Fidelity's 1999 2CD stab at "Living In The Past"...