25TH ANNIVERSARY BOX SET

An excellent box set ..!

It's quite odd that no one has put some words about this rare and wonderful box set. Yes, I am a die hard fan of Jethro Tull since I heard "War Child" album for the first time in the mid seventies. I really loved the music because it was very unique and no other band had similar style - especially with flute-work, acoustic guitar settings and unique vocal line. I knew the band before I had that album thru local music magazine which was very popular at that time: AKTUIL. After that I explored other albums of Jethro Tull.

I do not own this box set because the one at my hand was on a loan basis from a friend of mine, Pandu Ganesha. I really love the design of this box set because the box looks like a tobacco / cigarette box - even though I do not smoke. Proghead should not smoke! Release date were: 26. April 1993 (UK) and 20. April 1993 (USA). The box contains 4 CDs with different titles plus nice book about history of the band. The first CD contains "Remixes" of Classic Songs, the 2nd CD is the Recorded Live at Carnegie Hall, NY (1970), the 3rd is the "Tapes" and 4th CD is "Live Across The World & Through The Years".

CD 1 : "Remixed Classic Songs"

The first CD would serve really well for Jethro Tull's newbies because it covers the band's best tracks through the years until 1992. It's actually quite odd that "Aqualung" is not featured here but under CD 3. But it's OK. All songs featured in this CD is an excellent introduction to Jethro Tull's music. "My Sunday Feeling" will give you the roots of Jethro Tull's music when they explored blues. "Bungle in The Jungle" was my first introduction to Jethro Tull from "War Child" album. "Cross Eyed Mary" is my all time favorite with its blues-rock style. You may find "Songs From The Wood" is quite different from other Tull's music especially on the use of Hammond organ. Actually there is great song in this album ie "Pibroch" which is not featured here.

CD 2 : Recorded Live at Carnegie Hall, NY (1970)

This is to be enjoyed after you are familiar with the music of Jethro Tull because you will get how the subtleties are different from the studio versions. It kicks off brilliantly with "Nothing Is Easy" followed with "My God" with its bluesy style and very long flute improvisation. Yaeh, I like this flute improvisations especially during solo accompanied with vocal line. What a great live show! After this two opening tracks Ian did some chit chat with the audience and introducing the next exciting song: "With You There To Help Me". Those of you who have been familiar with CD 1 will find how "A Song For Jeffrey" being played now. "To Cry You A Song" is a powerful classic track. Well, this CD will serve really well for die hard fans of the band.

CD 3: Tapes

This CD will compare how the live version of "My God" in CD1 with the studio version. You can see the difference and both of them have certain value for enjoyment. The major hit by Jethro Tull "Aqualung" is also presented here. "Bouree" is a very nice classical track with flute interpretation. "Thick As A Brick" will introduce newbies on the band's full length album.

CD 4: Live Across The World & Through The Years

Again, this is another set of live performances by the band across the world. Some great and rare tracks include: "Budapest" and a meddley of "Wind-Up/Locomotive Breath/Land Of Hope And Glory". "Budapet" is presented much longer than the original studio version. "Passion Play" is presented in a very short version and it does not represent the whole nuance of the epic. Originally, this is a 44 minute track. "Back To The Family" is also an excellent track.

Conclusion

It's definitely an excellent addition to any prog music collection. This box set serves well for newbies as well as long time fans of Jethro Tull. On the studio tracks, it may not be an interesting point for longtime fans but the live parts must be a very enjoyable music. Even if you have "Bursting Out" album, it's still recommended to own this boxset. Keep on proggin' ..!

Peace on earth and mercy mild - GW

Now this is what a boxed set should be. There is a disk of remixed hits (mostly, a few are a bit obscure), a great concert from 1970, another great concert from 1992 (with an unreleased studio track from the same time strangely stuck in the middle), and disk of live odds and ends from all different periods from this long lived band. And each disk showcases Ian Anderson's genius, and provides many thrills for the prog fan.

Disk 1: Remixed Classic Songs - While a couple of track I would have considered essential (like Aqualung are missing from this disk, the remixes are incredible. The clarity is perfect throughout, and there are sounds that come through that I never heard on the original albums and CDs. And there is very little that doesn't emphasize the band's prog side. This disk alone would be a great introduction to Tull.

Disk 2: Carnegie Hall N.Y., Recorded Live 1970 - From a benefit concert (appropriate, since they were touring for the album Benefit, this concert mostly features that album (although I would have liked to have heard Teacher included) and a band that was much more raucous than later editions of the group. The highlight to me is an early recording of My God.

Disk 3: The Beacon's Bottoms Tapes - A fantastic concert from 1992, the band shows a lot more polish than in earlier years. And Dave Pegg (from Fairport Convention) is my favorite of all of Tull's bassists. While this entire show is amazing, the highlights are the nine minute edited edition of Thick As A Brick (usually, they played a much shorter version), and a contrasting version of My God. If you can get past Anderson's voice (since his medical problems that caused him to retire for a while, he sound a bit like Popeye), this is a great concert.

Disk 4: Live Across The World & Through The Years - Mostly rarely heard live tracks spanning the history of the band up to 1993. This is where you finally hear Aqualung.

There are three versions of A Song For Jeffery on this set of disks. I think that is used to show the changes in the group's approach over time.

This is just a perfect set of disks to show the history of a fantastic band. The best boxed set I have seen and heard.