SLIPSTREAM (DVD)

Interesting to see this finally as I think I heard it at least 30 times, as back in the 80s the supervisor I worked with at a video store kept playing this every day and I took no noticeof the visuals as I was not into Tull back then and thought Anderson was just a nutter. Well I still think he is a nutter but now I like him. The video clips on this compilation confirm that he is a nutter but a loveable one.

The video promos for Too Old to Rock and Roll are weirdly charming though I used to cringe when he vomits green out of the funnel of the boat. Admittedly the ending is excellent especially the purple haired sax player in cat suit. The clip to Dun Ringill is like Bowie's Ashes to Ashes with the beach looking like an alien scape with 80s colourisations. Flyingdale Flyer is a clip with Anderson trying to look serious at an air traffic console, and then some Ultravox black ad white scenes with a few moments of people walking ominously in white with A emblazoned on the front to promote "A". There is a mannequin dressed in cat suit leather, and lots of painted eyelids on the extras.

Sweet Dream is also here, another weird clip with black and white Dr Caligari silent film style clips and then Anderson rises Vampirically out of a coffin, and stalks some weirdo in a theatre, which is himself as the Tramp who later runs ito vampire nurses. There are clips from all sorts of classic black and white movies, such as Tarantula, The Thing, The tramp runs down stairs chased by red balloons, and the Passion Play ballet dancer makes an appearance, a nun blesses the A which the tramp is able to use to stave off the vampire's attack. Rather silly really.

Of more interest are the live concert footage clips featuring Anderson decked out in white jumpsuit with the A all over it, and the A appears in lights above him, shameless promotion but it needed it as the album was a flop. When Tull perform Songs from The Wood it shows how great they can be, and it features silly 80s video Doppler effects but it is better than some of the 80s effects available back then. This is followed by Heavy Horses, with Anderson on acoustic and Jobson's beautiful violin and looking resplendent in purple jumpsuit. Skating Away is another favourite and also good to see the opener Black Sunday where Anderson has fun prancing around the stage.

The video ends on a high note with live performances of Aqualung, Barre has a brilliant lead break here and his riffin is incredible, and Locomotive Breath featuring the awesome violinist Jobson and Barre trading off and Anderson on one leg and flute, and he gets right into the crowd, even pushing red balloons into the crowd. The video is a great piece of nostalgia and I am glad I was able to hear it back in the 80s and now wish I had taken more notice of this innovative legendary band.