LIVING IN THE PAST

In mid-1972, Jethro Tull released their quasi-compilation album, Living in the Past. This double album consists of a mix of non-album singles, live recordings, and album cuts. Most of the songs here were later released as bonus tracks on the CD remasters of Tull's first three albums. When consumed as a self-contained collection, it offers an interesting insight into the band's early evolution. It ranges from blues ("Driving Song") to heavy psychedelia ("Love Story", "Sweet Dream") to folk rock (the title track (which is notable for being a substantial hit despite being written in 5/4 time) and "Witch's Promise").

The pair of live recordings shows a side of Jethro Tull rarely heard in the studio. Both pieces center around extended solos and jamming. "By Kind Permission Of" is a John Evan composition and focuses on his piano skills. "Dharma for One" is a reworking of a song off This Was. It's a raucous, powerful, heavy piece centered around a skillful, dynamic drum solo.

Review originally posted here: theeliteextremophile.com/2019/07/25/deep-dive-jethro-tull/