"Heavy Horses: New Shoes Edition" by JETHRO TULL (March 2018 Chrysalis 3CD/2DVD Book Set Remasters) - A Review by Mark Barry...

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"...Hoeing And Husbandry..."

I was a kid of the early Seventies ("Aqualung", "Thick As A Brick", the "Living In The Past" double-album) - so by the time Jethro Tull's 11th album "Heavy Horses" arrived in April 1978 with the double "Live: Bursting Out" following quickly later that same year in September - I can recall being disinterested in JT entirely and thinking - who the hell is buying either of these?

And yet Tull have always been a cult band personified - so despite or perhaps even because of the utterly changed musical landscape they found themselves in – defiantly "Heavy Horses" bucked the 'Rock Is Dead - Long Live Punk and New Wave' ethos of the NME et al and charted well on both sides of the pond - No. 20 in the UK and even better at No. 19 in the States ("Live: Bursting Out" did the same - No. 17 in the UK and No. 20 in the USA). Now I'm re-listening afresh to what is presently referred to as Part 2 of their Folk-Rock album trilogy - 1978's "Heavy Horses" - the one between "Songs From The Woods" in 1977 and "Stormwatch" in 1979.

And once again fans and newcomers alike will slaver and drool over this 5-Disc Book Set - yet another in Tull's extraordinary reissue campaign that has been putting most major label reissues of huge bands to utter shame for a few years now. There's a cartload of detail to plough through (forgive the puns) - so once more my hirsute horsy friends unto the Mad Nags and Englishmen (and that one-legged geezer with the hat and the flute)...

UK and USA released 2 March 2018 - "Heavy Horses: New Shoes Edition" by JETHRO TULL on Parlophone/Chrysalis 0190295757915 (Barcode 0190295757915) is a 3CD + 2DVD Reissue containing both "Heavy Horses" the album and the live double-set that followed "Live: Bursting Out" – all housed in a Hardback 'Book Set' with an attached 96-page booklet. The team of Steve Wilson, Jakko Jakszyk, Don Needham and Ray Shulman (long associated with Tull reissues) have carried out the Audio and DVD Remasters and Authoring and "Heavy Horses: New Shoes Edition" plays out as follows:

CD1 "Heavy Horses" (76:23 minutes):

1.  ....And The Mouse Police Never Sleeps [Side 1]

2. Acres Wild

3. No Lullaby

4. Moths

5. Journeymen

6. Rover [Side 2]

7. One Brown Mouse

8. Heavy Horses

9. Weathercock

Tracks 1 to 9 are their 11th album "Heavy Horses" - released 10 April 1978 in the USA on Chrysalis CHR 1175 and 21 April 1978 in the UK also on Chrysalis CHR 1175. Produced by IAN ANDERSON and JETHRO TULL - it peaked at No. 20 on the UK LP charts and No.19 in the USA.

ADDITIONAL RECORDINGS

10. Living In These Hard Times [Version 2] - Planned to be on the withdrawn "Moths" EP - PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED

11. Everything In Our Lives [Studio Outtake] - PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED

12. Jack-A-Lynn [Early Version, Studio Demo] - PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED

13. Quatrain [Studio Version, it featured on "Live: Bursting Out" as a new song in live form] - PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED

14. Horse-Hoeing Husbandry [Studio Outtake] - PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED

15. Beltane [Withdrawn from the "Moths" EP - eventually surfaced on "20 Years Of Jethro Tull" Box Set in June 1988]

16. Botanic Man [Recorded live for the Thames TV Series 'Botanic Man' with David Bellamy but not used] - PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED

17. Living In These Hard Times [Version 1] - Studio Outtake eventually surfaced on "20 Years Of Jethro Tull" Box Set in June 1988

18. Botanic Man Theme [Recorded for the Thames TV Series 'Botanic Man' with David Bellamy but not used] - PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED

CD2 "Live In Berne 1978 (Part 1)" (50:16 minutes):

1. Opening Music (Quartet)

2. Introduction by Claude Nobs

3. No Lullaby

4. Sweet Dream

5. Skating Away On The Thin Ice Of The New Day

6. Jack-In-The-Green

7. One Brown Mouse

8. Heavy Horses

9. A New Day Yesterday

10. Flute Solo Improvisation/God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen/Bouree

11. Living in The Past (Instrumental)/A New Day Yesterday (Reprise)

12. Songs From The Wood

CD3 "Live In Berne 1978 (Part 2)" (59:33 minutes):

1. Thick As A Brick

2. Hunting Girl

3. Too Old To Rock 'n' Roll: Too Young To Die

4. Conundrum

5. Minstrel In The Gallery

6. Cross-Eyed Mary

First Encore

7. Quatrain

8. Aqualung

Second Encore

9. Locomotive Breath

10. The Dambusters March/Aqualung (Reprise)

NOTE: the 22-tracks of CDs 2 and 3 represent the complete concert upon which the 17-track double-album "Live: Bursting Out" was based. Released 22 September 1978 in the UK on Chrysalis CJT 4 and 25 September 1978 in the USA on Chrysalis CH2 1201 (peaked at No. 17 and No. 21 respectively) – its four original sides can be sequenced from these two CDs using the following tracks:

Side 1: Tracks 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7 from CD2

Side 2: Tracks 9, 10 and 12 from CD2 and Track 1 from CD3

Side 3: Tracks 2, 3, 4 and 5 from CD3

Side 4: Tracks 6, 7, 9 and 10 from CD3

DVD 1 (Audio) - NTSC, Region 0 (All Regions), 16.9 Aspect, Exempt from Classification

Contains all 9-Tracks of the "Heavy Horses" album

Plus "Living In These Hard Times (Versions 1 & 2), "Everything In Our Lives", "Jack-A-Lynn", "Horse-Hoeing Husbandry", "Beltane", "Botanic Man" and "Botanic Man Theme" remixed to 5.1 DTS, AC3 Dolby Digital Surround and 96/24 LPCM Stereo by STEVE WILSON

Also has original Stereo mixes of "Heavy Horses" album, "Rover (No Strings version)", "Living in These Hard Times (Version 2)", "Beltane" and "Quatrain (SW Mix)" as 96/24 LPCM Stereo

DVD 2 (Audio/Video) - NTSC, Region 0 (All Regions), 16.9 Aspect (Videos 3:4), Exempt from Classification

Jethro Tull recorded live to 2-track at The Festhalle, Berne, Switzerland by The Maison Rouge Mobile

Remixed to 5.1 DTS, AC3 Dolby Digital Surround and 96/24 LPCM Stereo by JAKKO JAKSZYK

Promotional Video Footage of the tracks "Heavy Horses" and "Moths" Plus 2 TV Adverts for "Bursting Out"

JETHRO TULL was:

IAN ANDERSON - Vocals, Flute, Whistles, Mandolin, Acoustic and Electric Guitars

MARTIN BARRE - Lead Electric Guitar

JOHN EVAN - Piano and Organ

DAVID PALMER - Keyboards and Orchestral Arrangements

JOHN GLASCOCK - Bass

BARRIEMORE BARLOW - Drums and Percussion

On Page 18 of the incredible 96-page booklet is a picture of a 'Jethro Tull - Heavy Horses' Promotional Bottle of Ale complete with its ridged flip cap - on Page 52 is a repro of the rare front page folio for the book "Horfe-Hoeing Husbandry" by Jethro Tull published in London by A. Millar in 1731 (the character the band based their name on) - on Page 74 (to Page 81) that begins the January 1977 to November 1978 day-by-day 'Chronology' of all things JT is a night-time photo of the ill-fated Maison Rouge Studios in Fulham, South West London that the band bought and kitted out to record "Heavy Horses" (now a car-park or some such). It all gives you an indication of the kind of depth we're talking about here. The info and memorabilia come at you fast and furious and it’s a dull boy indeed who would not be impressed with the sheer effort and scope of this reissue.

And did I mention that the record itself sounds utterly amazing - once again the Wills-meister STEVE WILSON and footage genius JAKKO JAKSZYK have pulled off yet more upgrades on both fronts (somebody needs to put these men on the New Year’s Honours List for services to Prog lurches everywhere). So what about the Music and the Visuals...

As the front cover artwork suggests - Ian Anderson leading Barley and Sir Jim towards us (both gorgeous animals courtesy of the Courage Shire Horse Centre in Maidenhead, Berkshire) - this is a deeply English Countryside Album. "Heavy Horses" is a down-on-the-farm, doing-loads-of-rural-stuff set of Folk-Rock songs and the Acoustic Guitars and Flute of "...And The Mouse Police Never Sleeps" opens proceedings rather nicely. There is real punch in the rhythm section - drums and bass - and that battle between the keyboards and layered vocals later on sounds cool too. Tull tap the Mandolin for "Acres Wild" - a great mixture of their “Stand Up” sound meeting Fairport Convention's "Liege & Lief" Folk-Rock - with one foot in both camps (and I love those breaks that sound like Horslips enjoying themselves). It's easy to hear why Tull opened the live "Bursting Out" double with the clever Rock Guitar of "No Lullaby" - its everything they were at the time - English Folk meets Prog Rock. But that's trashed by the album's mini masterpiece - "Moths". Chrysalis thought so too - releasing it 7 April 1978 on 7" single ahead of the album in the UK (Chrysalis CHS 2214 had "Life Is A Long Song" as its UK B-side while the American variant was to carry "Beltane" on its flipside but the release was withdrawn). Palmer's string arrangement dances like the 'candle flames' in the lyrics. 

Martin Barre gives it some wicked guitar work on "Journeyman" - tripping the light fantastic. Anderson chases every footstep and follows every limb in "Rover" - his lady and that lovelorn pot-of-gold just out of reach (beautiful production values on this). "One Brown Mouse" also sounds like it could have been a single - take some tea with me awhile he sings as the acoustic strums race with the drums. The nine-minute title track is the most Prog of all and its arrangements are brilliant - soft acoustics bolstered by lovely string arrangements (you also get to concentrate on the articulate lyrics). It ends on the Mandolin Folk of "Weathercock" (there's one pictured on Page 50) where Anderson's good-morning melody sounds warm and summery (sing to me softly) as Barre brings the song and the album to a satisfactory finish with brilliant guitar flourishes.

I hadn't expected much from the extras - but again I'm shocked at how good "Living In These Hard Times" is - here in two takes - Version 2 done in July with Version 1 dating from February 1977. I'd also argue that "Everything In Our Lives" is equal to anything on the album or at least would have made a killer B-side. And while the David Bellamy theme songs to his "Botanic Man" are interesting if not a bit too heavy-handed - the lovely early version of "Jack-A-Lynn" is surely the unreleased prize here. Sounding like something that could have come straight out of the "Wandering Aloud" sessions from "Aqualung" – both it and "Quatrain" are fabulous outtakes – the second with Anderson's frustration and mistakes left on the tape. The Live Double is cool icing on the cake with barnstorming versions of "Skating Away On The Thin Ice Of The New Day", "Sweet Dream" and "Cross-Eyed Mary". And the DVD promo videos are a hoot if not a tiny bit cringeworthy now.

I full appreciate that "Heavy Horses" and Jethro Tull in general will not be everyone's idea of 1978 - but man you have to give credit where credit's due. This is an amazing reissue and well done to all involved...

"Emerson, Lake & Palmer: Deluxe Edition" by EMERSON, LAKE & PALMER (2016 BMG/Manticore 2CD 'Deluxe Edition' Reissue - Andy Pearce and Steve Wilson Remasters) - A Review by Mark Barry...

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"...Oh What A Lucky Man He Was..."

In many ways Emerson, Lake & Palmer's November 1970 debut LP (Island Records in the UK and Cotillion in the USA) was Part 2 of the Prog explosion set off in earnest by another extraordinary debut - King Crimson's "In The Court Of The Crimson King" in October 1969.

Dorset Guitarist and Singer GREG LAKE had been a founder-member of Crimson and featured on that first LP – Yorkshire keyboard virtuoso KEITH EMERSON had played with Gary Farr, The V.I.P’s and done his five-album stint with The Nice (even adding keyboard touches to Rod Stewart's "I Wouldn't Ever Change A Thing" on his debut album "An Old Raincoat Won't Let You Down" released February 1970 in the UK) - whilst Brummie Drummer CARL PALMER had whacked his sticks for The Crazy World of Arthur Brown and formed Atomic Rooster with Vincent Crane. When these three huge forces of 60ts Avant Garde came together as a band in June 1970 - their initial album was always going to be an event.

But before they unleashed that beast on a fractured counter-culture - a spot of Proggy grandstanding was in order. On the 29th of August 1970 - they took to the stage at the Isle Of Wight Festival with suitably bombastic crowd-pleasing results - cannon fire mixed with neo-classical arrangements and squealing keyboards with more wires and jump leads than Mission Control at Cape Canaveral. Island Records immediately thought - that's the band for me. They signed ELP pronto and in November the record was out - peaking at No.4 in the UK album charts with the Yanks waiting until February of 1971 to eventually push it up to No. 18 (it stayed on their charts for an impressive 42 weeks only to be replaced in July 1971 with the similarly challenging "Tarkus"). Which brings us to an equally tortured history of this first ELP album on CD...

In truth I've lost count at how reissues/remasters of their catalogue there's been – seven or eight hundred maybe – but I'm sure that this 2CD 'Deluxe Edition' for 2016 will offer fans what they've always wanted – the album in its best sound and tastily presented too. But therein again lies another battle. Some felt that the 2012 remix done by Reissue Godhead Steve Wilson was clean for sure but also sonically neutered from the waist down. Others loved it. What you get here is two versions – the 2012 Remaster carried out by an Engineer I hugely favour – ANDY PEARCE (who works in tandem with MATT WORTHAM) on Disc 1 – with the STEVE WILSON Alternate Version of Disc 2. Andy has even mastered this release for both discs. If the Wilson Mix is too clinical for your tastes – the warmer Pearce version is the baby for you. Pearce and Wortham have twiddled the knobs on CD reissue catalogues for Rory Gallagher, The Kinks, Frankie Miller, Pentangle, Thin Lizzy, Wishbone Ash, Budgie and the recent Free reissues (all praised) and are currently tackling Deep Purple's Seventies output as we speak (a knicker-wettingly exciting prospect). Wilson has transformed Jethro Tull, King Crimson, Gentle Giant and Yes catalogues with universally worshipped outcomes. All three Audio Engineer names are about as respected as it can get these days. So let's knuckle down to the details at hand...

UK released 29 July 2016 (1 September 2016 in the USA) - "Emerson, Lake & Palmer: Deluxe Edition'" by EMERSON, LAKE & PALMER on BMG/Manticore BMGCAT2CD1 (Barcode 4050538179897) is a 2CD 'Deluxe Edition' which features the Andy Pearce Remaster of the album on Disc 1 (2012) and the Steven Wilson 'Alternate Album Stereo Remix' from 2012 - both mastered in 2016 by Andy Pearce. It plays out as follows:

Disc 1 - The Original 1970 Album (2012 Remaster) - 41:18 minutes

1. The Barbarian

2. Take A Pebble

3. Knife-Edge

4. The Three Fates [Side 2]

(i) Clotho - Royal Festival Hall Organ

(ii) Lachesis - Piano Solo

(iii) Atropos - Piano Trio

5. Tank

6. Lucky Man

Tracks 1 to 6 are their debut album "Emerson, Lake & Palmer" - released November 1970 in the UK on Island ILPS 9132 (Pink Label Pressing) and February 1971 in the USA on Cotillion SD-9040. Arranged by ELP and Produced by GREG LAKE (Eddy Offord of Yes fame was the Engineer) - it peaked at No. 4 in the UK and No. 18 in the USA. "The Barbarian" is based on "Allegro Barbaro" by Bela Bartok (arranged by ELP), "Take A Pebble" by Greg Lake (arranged by Keith Emerson), "Knife-Edge" by Leos Janacek and Johann Bach (arranged by ELP), "The Three Fates" by Keith Emerson (all three-parts), "Tank" by Keith Emerson and Carl Palmer with "Lucky Man" by Greg Lake.

Disc 2 – The Alternate Album (2012 Steven Wilson Stereo Mix) – 55:41 minutes

1. The Barbarian

2. Take A Pebble

3. Knife-Edge (With Extended Outro)

4. Promenade

5. The Three Fates: Atropos

6. Rave Up

7. Drum Solo

8. Lucky Man

9. Take A Pebble (Alternate Take)

10. Knife-Edge (Alternate Take)

11. Lucky Man (First Greg Lake Solo Version)

12. Lucky Man (Alternate Version)

The three-way foldout card digipak has a series of three black and white photos of the boys larking about (ELP Archives) – various live shots of all three – a superlative worldwide 7” singles display on the centre-pages of the album's lone 45 "Lucky Man" b/w "Knife-Edge" (Holland, Germany and Japan are in there) – as well as new liner notes from noted writer and music buff CHRIS WELCH. The reissue is dedicated to Keith Emerson who died 14 March 2016 – and released in July 2016 – couldn't have known of Greg Lakes' sad passing on 7 December 2016. There's a full page trade advert for the album on Page 13 – the usual reissue credits – and interviews with Emerson and Lake regarding the recordings (Keith was only just learning the Moog when he played his solo on "Lucky Man" – done in one take – it was owned by Mike Vickers of Manfred Mann). Downsides - both CD labels are Manticore only - the reissue label from the mid Seventies - where's the British 'Pink I' Label or the American Cotillion original? The liner notes are good as I say but there's not a word on Disc 2 – no insights into the Alternates or Remix process. But that all goes out the window once you hear the actual audio on 'both' CDs...

ANDY PEARCE did the Remaster for Disc 1 back in 2012 – while Disc 2 is Porcupine Tree's STEVEN WILSON version also from 2012 – with both now mastered by ANDY PEARCE is 2016. I take on board what some have said about the cleanness of Wilson's take in 2012 – but frankly whatever Andy has done with this slight tweak in 2016 - I think most will absolutely love it. So if you want more breathing - AP's take is the one for you – if you want a more humane clean cut – then Disc 2 is your go-to. Either way – you're quids in. And I'm also shocked at the quality of the outtakes on Disc 2...superb stuff we'll get into later...

As the heavy-heavy monster sound of "The Barbarian" comes stomping into your living room (based on "Allegro Barbaro" by Bela Bartok and arranged by ELP) – in less than 20-seconds you’re immediately aware of the power of the band and that this is no-prisoners Progressive Rock. The audio is amazing – full and in your face – not over-trebled – but thumping you in the chest and making you think – this is probably what that Isle of Wight audience felt. "...Then watch the ripples that unfold into me..." – Greg Lake sings on the undeniably pretty "Take A Pebble" – for me one of their greatest moments on record. Opening with piano-frame strums that are soon followed by Bass and Drums – the Audio on this 12-minute album centrepiece is fabulous – Emerson showing beautiful piano delicacy as he plays – Palmer snaking his percussive way over those hi-hats. Then you get that distant acoustic guitar section – a very sweet transfer where Lake’s playing comes sailing out as the hand-claps build – finally followed by Keith showing his musicality. Before all the pomp took over – this is surely the ELP many fans want to remember – minus all the flashy synths – there’s just the three of them and their virtuosity making a sound that is Emerson, Lake & Palmer. For a band that’s (let’s face it) so often derided – I often play this track alone to prove the opposite – a piece of music that warrants respect. Again amazing clarity on the Bass and treated-vocal of Greg Lake as he sings about spread-eagle claws on "Knife-Edge" – a very Crimson song and the one chosen to represent ELP on the 2005 Island Records 3CD Mini Box Set "Strangely Strange But Oddly Normal".

Based on a Greek legend of three sisters who could control a person’s destiny and fate - Side 2 opens with the "The Three Fates" Suite by Keith Emerson. The first part is suitably grandiose utilising the Royal Festival Hall’s Organ for the massive chords of "Clotho" (special permission sought and given) while Part 2 is pure Emerson – sat at Advision Studios' seven-foot long Yamaha grand piano giving it some finger-plonking welly. Palmer and Emerson then join forces for the frenzied Piano/Percussion battle of "Atropos" that again feels like King Crimson having an epiphany moment. The near seven-minutes of "Tank" is a big ELP fan fave – a dancing Clavinet perfectly matched by Lake and Palmer – rounded off by Palmer giving it some Ginger Baker – a drum solo. Quite aside from the naff nature of Drum Solos in the live environment for the whole of the Seventies – you have to say that the audio here rocks. "Lucky Man" was apparently the first-song Greg Lake wrote after his mum bought him an Acoustic Guitar at the age of 12 (nice one Mrs. L). An obvious single with its ‘ooh what a lucky man he was’ voices and those lovely acoustic guitars – and of course the rupture-the-sky Moog solo that to this day sends chills up my arms (he used the Moog Mike Vickers from Manfred Mann had left in the studio).

Disc 2 offers up a lot more than I’d bargained for. The very hissy “Promenade” features Lake and Emerson duetting on Vocals and Organ for one and half minutes – while track 5 cleverly isolates "Atropos" in "The Three Fates" Suite and accentuates that rattling percussion as Keith hammers those piano keys. Of real interest is the near five-minute "Rave Up" where Lake flicks about on an Electric Guitar as Emerson and Palmer keep jabbing with Keyboards and Drums – like they’re searching for something interesting to happen. It descends into a go-as-fast-as-you-can-go race to the instrumental finish – but I love it and the Audio is absolutely blistering. The three minutes of "Drum Solo" pretty much does what it says on the tin – Carl hitting his kit like he’s doing Brand’s Hatch in a E-Type Jag and needs to get round in a hurry. If I’m truthful I prefer Wilson’s version of "Lucky Man" – gorgeous Audio that seems to get more out of the Vocals. The Alternate "Take A Pebble" is preceded by some studio banter (let’s do it from the top) but despite its wickedly good sound quality – it disappointingly only lasts just under four minutes. But that’s not to say that I don’t think ELP fans will be chewing this up for breakfast – Keith’s playing – Greg on a clear Bass while Palmer caresses those cymbals. It ends quickly because someone fluffed their part and they giggle about it in some more dialogue. It’s fantastic stuff. The Alternate Take of "Knife-Edge" has huge sound and Keith’s extraordinary playing. Another prize is surely Greg Lake’s First Acoustic Solo Version of "Lucky Man" – those voices different yet still beautiful and no Moog break - while the final Alternate Version of the song has a thrashing Electric Guitar solo instead of that keyboard moment we all know and love – interesting

ELP would conquer the Prog world with "Tarkus" in 1971, "Trilogy" in 1972 and the delightfully titled "Brain Salad Surgery" in 1973 – before it all went preposterous and OTT. But there was a reason why they were huge – and that’s more than evident of this timely 2016 reissue. And with the 2012 version deleted and now starting at £50+ on the used marketplace – this is a ten-spot well spent on Amazon (UK)...

PS: This review is affectionately dedicated to Keith Emerson and Greg Lake who both passed in 2016 - thanks for the pebbles and the ripples...

"Benefit: A Collector's Edition" by JETHRO TULL (2013 Chrysalis 2CD/1DVD Set – Steve Wilson Remasters) - A Review by Mark Barry...

"...Alive And Well And Living In..."

When Tull fans clapped their weary lugs on Steve Wilson's spectacular Remaster of Jethro's legendary 1971 LP "Aqualung" – they promptly sat bolt upright and took notice. Since then there's been a steady stream of Wilson-wonders and now its time to get perpendicular again for "Benefit" - their under-appreciated 3rd album from the spring of 1970. Having lived with this multi-disc baby for some months now – there's no doubt in my mind that this 2013 '2CD/1DVD' overhaul is yet another sonic jewel in a growing crown of audio-restoration achievements. Here are the breathy details...

UK released 28 October 2013 (29 October 2013 in the USA) – "Benefit: A Collector's Edition" by JETHRO TULL on Warner Brothers/Chrysalis 825646413270 (Barcode is the same) is a 2CD + 1DVD Reissue/Remaster featuring 'New 5.1 & Stereo Mixes with Associated Recordings 1969-1970' and plays out as follows:

Disc 1 – The Steven Wilson 2013 Stereo Mixes (65:01 minutes)

1. With You There To Help Me

2. Nothing To Say

3. Alive And Well And Living In

4. Son

5. For Michael Collins, Jeffrey And Me

6. To Cry For A Song [Side 2]

7. A Time For Everything?

8. Inside

9. Play In Time

10. Sossity: You're A Woman

Tracks 1 to 10 make up their 3rd album "Benefit" – released 20 April 1970 in the USA on Reprise RS 6400 and 1 May 1970 in the UK (delayed from 24 April 1970) on Chrysalis/Island ILPS 9123.

EXTRA TRACKS:

11. Singing All Day (Stereo)

12. Sweet Dream (Stereo)

13. 17 (Stereo)

14. Teacher – (4:58 minutes, UK Single Version, Stereo)

15. Teacher – (4:03 minutes, US Album Version, Stereo)

Disc 2 – Associated Recordings 1969-1970 (58:28 minutes):

1. Singing All Day (Previously Unreleased 1969 Mono Mix)

2. Sweet Dream (Mono Single Mix)

3. 17 (Mono Single Mix)

Tracks 12 and 13 are the A&B-sides of a non-album UK 7" single released 17 October 1969 on Chrysalis/Island WIP 6070

4. Sweet Dream (Previously Unreleased 1969 Stereo Mix intended as a Promo)

5. 17 (Previously Unreleased 1969 Stereo Mix intended as a Promo, B-side of "Sweet Dream")

6. The Witch's Promise – Original 1969 Mono Mix used in Europe and USA - double A-side with "Teacher" (UK used the Stereo version, see Track 9)

7. Teacher - Original 1969 Mono Mix used in Europe and USA – double A-side with "The Witch's Promise" (UK used the Stereo version, see Track 10)

8. Teacher – US Album Version in Mono. Also issued as a double-A side with "The Witch's Promise" in Reprise Records territories

9. The Witch's Promise – original 1969 UK 7" single Stereo Mix issued 16 January 1970 on Chrysalis/Island WIP 6077, double-A with "Teacher"

10. Teacher - original 1969 UK 7" single Stereo Mix issued 16 January 1970 on Chrysalis/Island WIP 6077, Double-A with "The Witch's Promise"

11. Teacher – US Album Version, Stereo. Also issued as a US Promo 7" single with "Witch's Promise" on Reprise 0899

12. Inside (Single Edit, Mono) – Original 1970 UK 7" single Mono Mix/Edit – released May 1970 on Chrysalis/Island WIP 6081 – shorter in length to the LP version

13. Alive And Well And Living In (UK Single Mix, Mono) – released May 1970 on Chrysalis/Island WIP 6081 as the B-side to "Inside". A Stereo variant prepared in 1971 appeared on the 1972 double-album "Living In The Past"

14. A Time For Everything – A Mono Reduction of the 1970 Stereo Album Mix used on the Reprise Records LP - also a B-side to "Inside" in certain Reprise Records territories

15. Benefit AM Radio Spot No. 1 (Mono)

16. Benefit FM Radio Spot No. 2 (Stereo) – issued to US Radio Stations May/June 1970 on Reprise PRO 395

DVD, NTSC, All Regions (0), Aspect Ratio 16.9

Steven Wilson's 2013 Stereo Mixes of "Benefit" and 5 Extra Tracks in DTS and Dolby AC3 5.1 Surround & Stereo 96/24 LPCM (65:06 minutes)

Flat transfers of the Original UK and US LP Master in 96/24 LCPM (59:59 minutes)

Additional Tracks "Sweet Dream", "17" and "The Witch's Promise"

AUDIO Formats: DTS 96/24 5.1 Surround, Dolby AC3 5.1 Surround 96/24 Stereo LPCM

The 42-page booklet is superbly done and properly packed with fan-pleasing info. MARTIN WEBB gives a hugely detailed and deft history of that 'difficult' third album. After a successful tour supporting Led Zeppelin in the USA – Tull popped back to Blighty to record tracks. But the text cites Tull's inner-camp suspicion that singles were breaking the band. And even though the 45s were chart successes - the group felt it was album-buyers who loved them most (and they were proven right). Alongside all the discussion of American Tours and songwriting - you're treated to trade adverts for the LP (advertised as due 24 April 1970 but more likely to have arrived 1 May 1970) and rare Euro picture sleeves for "Sweet Dream" and "Witch's Promise/Teacher" (with or with the prefix 'The' on both tracks). On top of that there's caustic and witty track-by-track discussions by Ian Anderson (Lead Vocals, Flute, Principal Songwriter), Martin Barre (Guitars), Glenn Cornick (Bass) and Clive Bunker (Drums). It even references a 1999 interview with John Evans who was called in to lay down Piano and Organ (credited as John Evan on the LP). There's a 'Sessionography' page cleverly laid out in the text style of a Morgan Studios Tape Box (3 September 1969 to 25 February 1970), a list of US and UK Tour Dates for 1970, Terry Ellis notes on ‘Managing and Touring with Jethro Tull’ and finally STEVEN WILSON explanations on the Remasters in all its transfer complexity.

SOUND: I have to say that Wilson has once again done wonders with a Tull album. I’ve had my A1/B2 matrix LP of ILPS 9123 for way too many decades now and it's sounded brill – but these CD Remasters are glorious – full of warmth, detail and a musicality that I’ve not heard on any Previous CDs or Vinyl pressings. The Stereo imaging is noticeably better – not harsh left and right panning – but more centred. I don’t have a 5.1 system but a mate does and he’s been raving about the 'band in the living room' and sense of 'awe' that the Surround Mixes offer. Niggles – with all that effort and number of pages – it would have been good to include the lyrics this time around (songs like "For Michael Collins, Jeffrey And Me" cry out for it).

As you can see from Disc 2 – Jethro Tull 7" singles in the UK, USA and other territories (Europe and Japan) were released in a plethora of Mono and Stereo Mixes and Edit variants that dizzies the brain. I never knew that the Double-A of "The Witch's Promise" and "Teacher" was issued in Stereo in the UK but only as Mono in European countries - while our American pals had to wait until the 1988 "20 Years Of Jethro Tull" Box Set to get their Mono version. At least this comprehensive issue sorts that out and other odd LP anomalies. The Steve Wilson Stereo Mix of "Teacher" on Disc 1 (Track 14) that runs to 4:58 minutes is a fabulous sonic revelation. Nearly 50 seconds longer than the American Reprise Records album version – US fans are going to love that stretched out guitar and the beautiful remaster. The notes also advise that the mixes for "Singing All Day", "The Witch's Promise" and "Teacher" that appeared on the 1972 "Living In The Past" double-album were actually done in 1971 so that would make the 1999 Mobile Fidelity 2CD versions of them exclusive. They've even fixed 'pitch' mistakes on both versions of "Teacher" faultily recorded on 8-track at the time. And of course those Previously Unreleased versions are amazing finds after all these years.

That wild Flute & Vocals flourish that begins "With You There To Help Me" opens Side 1 with a sinister almost creepy song of longing. The Remaster really accentuates those acoustic guitar strums from Barre. "Nothing To Say" is probably the most Prog song on the album and a musical fave of Martin Barre – sounding bigger now than ever. "Alive And Well And Living In" was the first track I really liked on the album and it's funny to read that in 2013 - Ian Anderson would 'bin it!' according to his typically forthright liner notes. Dustbin or no - the remaster on "Alive And Well And Living In" is wonderfully clear – especially those piano and acoustic battles between John Evans and Martin Barre supported so sweetly by the rhythm section of Glenn Cornick and Clive Bunker. "Son" is a nasty and hard-rocking 'father and son' parable with treated Ian Anderson vocals and at 1:29 minutes suddenly breaks into the most brilliant music/lyrics/in/tandem refrain. The largely Acoustic "For Michael Collins, Jeffrey And Me" is brilliant - my personal poison for this LP. Written in the USA about the Moon Missions while they absorbed musical breakthroughs like the first Crosby, Stills & Nash LP – it has fabulous acoustic interplay between Anderson and Barre – and the Remaster is so damn good.

That Tull signature guitar sound opens Side 2 with "To Cry You A Song" – a song about displacement and being far away (three US tours) – and it continues with the 'little song' that is "A Time For Everything" – another Tull winner that straddles complex and simple in their strange song-structure way. Glenn Cornick rightly espouses his Bass line contribution to the superb "Inside" – but if I'm truthful I prefer the more prominent vocal on the Mono single mix. Funny how they all seem to hate "Play In Time" – a lyrical pun by Anderson on the difficulty of the band's time signatures. But I actually like its riffing guitars and mock Psychedelic sound effects. Even better is awesome audio quality to "Sossity: You're A Woman" – the album's accomplished finisher. Overall the whole LP transfer is a rip-roaring success to my ears...

Jethro Tull would go global in 1971 with "Aqualung" and rightly so. And it has to be truthfully said that Benefit's illustrious follow up is a better crop of songs and a more coherent LP in every way. But this fabulous 2013 reissue of 1970's "Benefit" should surely mean that this forgotten bow in Tull's arsenal of strings should be reappraised. Well done to all involved...

"Relayer: Definitive Edition CD+DVD-A" by YES (2014 Panegyric CD/DVD-A Reissue - Steven Wilson Remaster) - A Review by Mark Barry...

"...One To Seek And See In Every Light..."

After the incredible tape transfer and audio restoration work STEVE WILSON of PORCUPINE TREE did on the early catalogue remasters of KING CRIMSON and JETHRO TULL – the other big Proggy Monster was always going to be YES. I've heaped praise on Wilson's fabulous work on their 3rd breakthrough album from 1971 "The Yes Album" – but for many the beast was always going to be the dense and problematic "Relayer" from 1974 (for many their last truly great record). And as I deliriously stated before - man has our Stevie stepped up to the Topographic plate. 

This November 2014 CD and DVD-A Reissue (there’s also a CD and BLU RAY variant on Panegyric GYRBD50096 – Barcode 633367900623) is awesome stuff and worthy of the praise so far heaped on it. No harm then in a little more – because this is one Sound Chaser you need in your Gates Of Delirium…

UK released November 2014 – "Relayer: Definitive Edition CD + DVD-A" on Panegyric GYRSP50096 (Barcode 633367900524) breaks down as follows:

Disc 1, Definitive Edition CD, 2014 Stereo Mixes, 48:13 minutes:

1. The Gates Of Delirium

2. Sound Chaser [Side 2]

3. To Be Over

Tracks 1 to 3 are the vinyl LP "Relayer" – released December 1974 in the UK on Atlantic K 50096 and Atlantic SD 18122 in the USA

ADDITIONAL TRACKS:

4. Soon (Single Edit) – issued as the A-side of a 7" single in the USA on Atlantic 45-3242 in January 1975. It runs to 4:14 minutes and is an excerpt of a slow passage towards the end of "The Gates Of Delirium" on Side 1. The edited "Sound Chaser" was its B-side.

5. Sound Chaser (Single Edit)

Note: Booklet mistakenly credits these as Tracks 7 and 8 when they’re 4 and 5. The two single edits appear to be the 2002 Rhino remasters (unaltered).

Disc 2 is the Definitive Edition DVD-A. It’s a NTSC Region 0 Hybrid DVD-A compatible with all DVD Players and DVD-ROM Drives. From the visual/audio menu on your television or computer - it allows you to choose from 4 menus:

1. 2014 STEREO MIX:

96 kHz Sample Rate/24 Bit Depth - MLP Lossless 2.0 Stereo Mix of the album

2. ORIGINAL STEREO MIX and 5.1 SURROUND MIX:

48 and 96 kHz Sample Rates/24 Bit Depth – LPCM 2.0 Original Stereo Mix (Flat Transfer of the album)

3. 96 kHz Sample Rate/24 Bit Depth - DTS 5.1 Digital Surround Mix of the album

4. ALTERNATE ALBUM:

1. The Gates Of Delirium (Studio Run-Through)

2. Sound Chaser (Studio Run-Through)

3. To Be Over (Studio Run-Through)

A gatefold digipak with two see-through trays is housed within an outer card wrap/slipcase giving the reissue the same 'boxed' look as the two other Reissues in this Steve Wilson Remaster Series - "The Yes Album" and "Close To The Edge". It looks and feels classy - although I’d say that the spine on future issues should state more clearly which 'Definitive Edition' it is – CD and DVD or CD and BLU RAY?

CD to the left tray, DVD-A to the right and the 20-page booklet loose between them – each disc pictures the albums original ROGER DEAN label artwork - while the album’s inner gatefold is beneath the see-through tray for the CD with the Donald Lehmkuhl poem under the DVD-A tray to the left. The well-stocked 20-page booklet offers photos of rare 7” picture sleeves from France, Spain and US promo labels dotted through the text - as well as a lot of colour photos from the 1976 American "Relayer" Tour with the Crab Nebula set design by Martyn Dean. There are clusters of concert tickets, local posters for gigs (with Gryphon as the support act) and a Village Voice trade advert thanking Madison Square Gardens for a successful show. Lyrics are reproduced and there are detailed paragraphs on the 'audio sources' that explain how the new 2014 Stereo Mixes were made (some of the Battle sound effects in "The Gates Of Delirium" are missing from the master tapes) and the 5.1 Surround Mixes. As with "The Yes Album" and "Close To The Edge" – noted Prog Music lover and Writer SID SMITH gives us superb liner notes on the creation of the album. The artwork for the original vinyl album alone was a thing of beauty (gatefold sleeve and inner) - and cleverly both the booklet and the onscreen display for the DVD-A use a Roger Dean painting that wasn’t used on the original inner gatefold – a sort of squatting Relayer 'Fly' that bears a passing resemblance to the Fly creature that used to adorn the Motown Chartbuster LP covers of the early Seventies. Apart from that sloppy typo-error in the booklet re the track numbers on the CD - it’s all exemplary stuff…

Because of its density (particularly the near 20-minute opus "The Gates Of Delirium" on Side 1) – Yes's 8th studio album "Relayer" has always had a so-so reputation on original 1974 vinyl copies. The Rhino CD remaster of 2002 had a fair stab at it – but again many felt that it was still muddied in places. Wilson has no doubt been aware of these 40-year complaints and his 2014 Remix/Remaster can only be described as an awakening (if I might get so profound on a Tuesday) – a de-cluttering that will thrill fans of this brilliant Progressive Rock LP to the very core. I’m amazed at the clarity on offer here –in fact some portions of "Sound Chaser" and "To Be Over" are so clean that it’s almost disconcerting - not supressed nor trebled for effect – just treated with care and attention to transfer detail.

With the Jon Anderson (Vocals), Steve Howe (Guitars), Patrick Moraz (Keyboards), Chris Squire (Bass) and Alan White (Drums) line-up at the helm – there was a concerted effort by YES to get back to the glory of "Close To The Edge" after the slightly indulgent four long sides of 1973's "Tales From Topographic Oceans". Relistening to "The Gates Of Delirium" now (minus its Battle Sequence bits from some studio effects library LP) is a blast (can't say I missed the bits). If I was to identify one aspect that hammers home how good the 2014 version is – once again it’s the rhythm section of Squire and White. The drumming that rattles from speaker to speaker is amazingly clear - as are the perfectly playing bass parts – and this is even in the wild centre-passages where Howe and Moraz are letting rip on the Guitars and Keyboards. When that huge drum/keyboards break occurs at 12:53 – ushering in the musical repeat that finishes off the piece (just before the soothing "Soon" passage) – it’s power is utterly amazing (not to mention the playing).

The glory continues on Side 2. When Jon Anderson’s vocals first come in on the surprisingly lovely "To Be Over" – the wallop of them comes as something of a shock. And again you notice the clarity of the rhythm section – Chris Squire’s Bass and Alan White’s Drumming. Then there’s Howe’s wonderful Pedal Steel followed by Rock bursts on his axe that he never lets get out of control (this is Yes at their mad Proggy best). The big synth and moog tones flesh out the centre-passage as all the voices chant "...child like..." – Moraz getting his moment towards the end (clarity is amazing). And as all those guitars and synths erupt in that fabulous melodic last passage (joined slowly by complimentary voices) – I’m blubbing freshly-minted Proggy tears - newly moved.

I nipped round to my mate's house for a 5.1 Surround moment and 'Mother of God' was heard to be uttered on quite a few occasions – the dreamy soundscape that precedes "Soon" is gorgeous and full of space. The drumming that precedes the Guitar Break on “Sound Chaser” where Howe gets funky is whacking the speakers like it wants to start a fight. But I must admit I found the Flat Transfer just that – flat.

So there you have it – a genuine triumph. I can imagine that nowadays there’s probably a queue of Prog band’s sat outside Steve Wilson’s front porch clutching bags of master tapes – hoping to catch his eye as he exits for a latte and a croissant. And on the strength of this strangely groovy reissue – I can totally understand why…