Jethro Tull - This Was (Collector's Ed.) (2 CDs)

2008 two CD 40th Anniversary collector's edition of Jethro Tull debut album. Disc One contains the mono version of the album, which has never been available on CD, plus nine BBC tracks from sessions which relate to the album. Disc Two features a new stereo mix of the album plus four bonus tracks from rare early singles: 'Sunshine Day', 'Song For John Gee', 'Love Story' and 'Christmas Song'. This release also features new liner notes and anecdotes from the band members. This Was originally reached #10 in the UK charts, partly thanks to great airplay from BBC Radio DJ John Peel. 35 tracks. EMI. Album Description

Love the album, love the band ... but ...

My God, to coin a phrase, I bought the vinyl, twice, I bought the
original CD, and then I bought the remaster CD ... along with
almost everything else Jethro Tull and Ian Anderson and a lot
of what Clive Bunker, Glen Cornick, and Mick Abrahams did solo
... I think I ought to get a copy of this fantastic album for being
loyal fan and supporter of the band for 40 years ... enough is enough.

My favorites:
Dharma For One
Move On Alone
Beggar's Farm

But virtually everything is new fresh and good on this album. I
love the early Tull, and though I love the later Tull the dominance
of a certain ego both made the band, and ensured that it would
never break out of its confines. So what, it is all good and it
will continue to be good. November 20, 2008

Thanks Ian---but...

A great remaster of Tull's debut, with lots of extras added. Well worth pciking up. I only have one problem...it's more of the same.

Will we EVER see another NEW Jethro Tull album??? It has been WAY too long! Please Ian!!!!! October 29, 2008

Nice surprise for life time fan

Even as a life time (OK since 1973) fan of Jethro Tull, this double CD stands strong on the liner notes, extra material, and the revisted strength of this live recorded set. October 25, 2008

Massive Overkill But Still A Keeper

It doesn't seem so long ago that the first three Jethro Tull albums were remastered and reissued with bonus tracks. So why buy this Collector's Edition of This Was? Well, unless you are a huge fan of the earliest incarnation of Jethro Tull, there is no good reason to particularly if you already own the previous edition. But, if you began your Tull experience when This Was was originally released, then you certainly will want to add this to your collection.
Admittedly, the This Was Collector's Edition is massive overkill. Not only do you get the ten songs (in mono) from the original release, nine additional songs from a pair of John Peel sessions are tacked onto the first CD. The second CD features the entire original album remixed in stereo, four remastered mono recordings of songs related to but not included on the original release, and stereo mixes of two of the bonus tracks. To sum it up, there is an astounding amount of music provided for what is currently a very fair price.
To me, My Sunday Feeling and Serenade To A Cuckoo are two of the early Tull pieces which, though utterly different in style, helped bring the band attention from a much wider range of listeners than it might have received if it were not so eclectic. They certainly got my attention and remain favorites to this day. I also favor Beggar's Farm, Move On Alone, and It's Breaking Me Up. Among the cuts from the Peel Sessions, I most enjoy My Sunday Feeling, Serenade to a Cuckoo and Beggar's Farm.
On the bonus disc, I most enjoyed the stereo mixes of the ones I like best on the mono version as well as One For John Gee which is kind of a poor relation to Serenade To A Cuckoo. One I don't like is Sunshine Day which is very unTull-like. Indeed, overall the extras don't match the quality of the songs ultimately selected for inclusion on the original album.
The double gatefold style presentation includes a small booklet containing pictures, commentary and album notes. So to reiterate, if you are a Tull fan with no particular attachment to the early years then you might be better off buying the single-disc remaster of This Was issued several years ago. But if you are one like me who still thinks that the first few Tull albums are his best, then This Was (Collector's Edition) is a keeper that will give you pleasure for the rest of your life. October 13, 2008

Jethro Tull - This Was

I'm a big Tull fan, and was excited about the anniversary issue of their first album. Sadly, i had forgotten that I only liked three of the songs from this album, which are the same three featured on their various greatest hits collections. Save your money for the next release, due out early 2009! August 30, 2008

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