LIVING IN THE PAST

This is not a recording easy to review for diffeernt reasons:

1) The CD track list is not the same than on the original 2 LPS album. The LPs feature 21 tracks to the 19 you may find of the CD. Also, the LIVING IN THE PAST CD is the only one from the JETHRO TULL catalogue that has not been remastered. I thought, it would have been re-issued as a 2 CD set copying the original album. It hasn't happened yet!

2)there are NUMEROUS different versions of the original 2 LPs album; For example ,the tracklist from the PA review is different than mine. I do have LOCOMOTIVE BREATH on my version and the one here doesn't!

3) This was not considered a new original album when it came out,it was not a best-of or compilation either. You will find - almost all singles side 1 and 2 released back then -depending the different versions of the LPs - mostly absolute gems like the wonderful CHRISTMAS SONG, LOVE STORY or WITCH'S PROMISE. Also present are the hits SWEET DREAM and the title track, the sublime LIVING IN THE PAST and more. None of those songs were featured before on the original albums. - 2 live tracks BY KIND OF PERMISSION OF and DHARMA ONE taking a full LP side showing some kind of self indulgence well in the spirit of the time with a over-long JOHN EVAN piano solo on the first track and a good extended CLIVE BUNKER drums solo on DHARMA. I just hope you like extended drums solo!!! - 5 songs only released on an EP like the beautiful acoustic LIFE IS A LONG SONG , UP THE POOL or the hidden gem DR BROGENBROOM. - Some LPS hits to cover every angle of the JT production like BOURREE , LOCOMOTIVE BREATH and SONG FOR JEFFREY. -You even have a reworked version of WOND'RING ALOUD from AQUALUNG which become WOND'RING ALOUD on this album!

So i guess you find everything on LIVING IN THE PAST to please any TULL fan, especially early JETHRO TULL as the music covers the period 1968-1971 from TIME WAS to AQUALUNG. It gives you a perfect understanding of the multi-faceted sides of IAN ANDERSON and mates, and talent there is plenty of it galore!

Also it is worth adding that the original packaging of the 2 LPs set may have been one of the nicest ever made in the history of rock. It was more like a chic, very styled hard cover book than a simple LP cover, with its own gold lettering and a LP size very nice booklet inside: very classy indeed! People like to show off their coffee table books for decoration; LIVING IN THE PAST might be the first and only coffee table LPs i know.

With the releases of the new remastered JETHRO TULL , the importance of LIVING IN THE PAST is dwindling as most of tracks of this album, mostly the singles side A and B has been added to the original albums. Nevertheless, this is is great recording and wish it comes out one day in one of those japanese LPs reproduction CD!

4 STARS!

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