LIVING IN THE PAST

This compilation might have been interesting at the time of release. It provided an opportunity to discover some single tracks not available on albums as well as live tracks from the Tull (which will be very scarce till much, much later). I have purchased the CD version for this in ... 2004. That year, I almost purchased their entire remastered CD catalogue which makes this compilation far less interesting since several tracks were available as bonus tracks. Today, live rendition for "Dharma for One" is available (on the "Live At The Ilse Of Wight"). The original was a bit over four minutes, but the Tull will quite expand this song in their live sets (regularly over ten minutes).

The other live track is "By Kind Permission Of" : the most interesting part of this long tune (over 10 minutes) are IMO the funny words from Ian to introduce it and the intro which sounds like the start of "Locomotive" (this should tell you enough...). The rest of the song is a loooong piano impro (quite jazzy at times, classical at others). During very (too) brief moments, nice flute playing as well.

Both live tracks were recorded at the Carnegie Hall (NYC) in 1970 (I never could find the exact date though). Only the last five songs are more difficult to find elsewhere and were new to me. "Life Is A Long Song", "Up The Pool" and specially "Dr. Bogenbroom" are really worthy. I am not too positive about "For Later" which is a short jam intrumental nor about "Nursie".

My advice is the following : if, like me, you have the remastered versions of their first four albums, it is not really worth to buy this one. On the contrary, if you don't, this is a good introduction to their early work.

Pay attention though :

1. The remastered CD version contains only 19 tracks : Bourée, Teacher, Hymn '43 and Alive & Well & Living are missing while Inside and Locomotive Break are included and were not on the original double album.

2. There are not enough jewels on this compilation.

Interseting for die-hard fans (like me). Still, three stars.