A CLASSIC CASE

I am not fond usually of mixing regular rock songs with an often overwhelming orchestra. The only album i can think of a success is PROCOL HARUM ''iN CONCERT WITH THE EDMONTON ORCHESTRA'' which always suited GARY BROOKER songs anyway.And coming after the suffering of UNDER WRAPS, A CLASSIC CASE could only be a bowl of fresh air.

What got me interested with this release is the presence of DAVID PALMER who appears to be the head master of this project. We all know what DAVID did for the quality of the JETHRO TULL sound from STAND UP to STORMWATCH with all those lush arrangements and exquisite orchestrations especially with string quartets. So to see him back with IAN ANDERSON for this project (I guess water was not running under the bridge anymore since the acronymous separation from 1980) could only mean good things to come.

Every member of the JETHRO TULL line-up of the time is present, even with a real drummer this time, DAVE BURGESS. But the star is the mighty LONDON SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA- no less and of course the PALMER arrangements! What makes me like this album is also the selection of songs as i do like them all. The only problem is the constant inclusion of AQUALUNG and LOCOMOTIVE BREATH. I know they are 2 of the biggest JT hits like SMOKE ON THE WATER is for DEEP PURPLE, but these 2 songs absolutely don't mix with classical arrangements and should not have been included here.

FLY BY NIGHT comes from IAN ANDERSON solo album and quite succed in this new environment , but the real standouts are these pieces that were born to be heard with a classic orchestra like BOURREE or of course the beautiful ELEGY from STORMWATCH. WARCHILD is a great pleasure as is TOO OLD TO ROCK N ROLL which beneficiated already of lush arrangements on the originals.

This is not an album to rock; everything is subdued-even the guitar of MARTIN BARRE- but that was the purpose: sounding classical, not rock. A more successful experience than UNDER WRAPS definitely. Not an album i listen to often but an album i am proud to own!

3 STARS.

Share this JETHRO TULL review

Social review comments () BETA

---

---

Review related links

• Send comments to febus
• Report this review (#135339)
• Buy JETHRO TULL music online with PA partners
• Show all JETHRO TULL MP3/Stream
• Go to JETHRO TULL page for videos, full discography with ratings, reviews and much more
• Go to A Classic Case page for more details, where to buy and ratings/reviews
• Search the Forum for JETHRO TULL related discussions