LIVING IN THE PAST

No Jethro Tull collection is complete without this. It is a compliation but many songs didn't actually appear on the band's studio albums. It is full of the traditional elements which make early Jethro Tull music so great, combining upbeat folk guitar styles, with Anderson's exquisite, and sometimes frantic flute playing. The lyrics are thoughtful as well as witty and are delivered in such a way by Anderson, that you feel confident in what he is expressing. What makes this album truly wonderful though is the way it mixes the laid back playful nature of folk with the more jazzy edgier rock motifs which work their way in many songs. If you are a fan of Jethro Tull and especially early Jethro Tull then you will enjoy this album immensely. It's hard to pick highlights out of this lot, but my absolute favourites have to be the title track,"Witch's Promise", "Life Is A Long Song" and "Up The Pool". There are two astonishing live tracks too. These are "By kind permission of" and "Dharma for one" and showcase Clive Bunker's extraordordinary talent. If you are a fan of progressive music from the late sixties, early seventies, then I also think this should be in your collection.