Customer Reviews

20 Years of Jethro Tull

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This album is a must whether you are new to Tull or are an avid fan like myself. If you are new then the album takes you through the whole spectrum of Tull from the early heavy blues days to the modern, slick production material. But the real gems are the previously unreleased tracks - Part of the Machine , Kelpie , Overhang -Tull at their very best. Buy it just for these alone, you won't be disappointed.
And for those of you who are interested in the origins of songs there is a bonus . Lick Your Fingers Clean is a track recorded for Aqualung that didn't make the album. Tull fans will recognize the lyrics and basic song structure as Two Fingers that is on the Warchild album!
All in all , this album is worth every penny.

I stumbled across an audio cassette of this gem at a flea market years ago and wore out the tape from repeat use. Then I found the vinyl version and put that through the wringer as well. Finally, I picked up the CD and it's one of my regular staples. I've been a voracious Tull fan since THIS WAS and Ian does us all a huge favor by releasing this material, much of which never made it onto records. The selections are the equal and in many cases, superior to the albums that these songs were originally recorded for. Some tunes rock with the hallmark Tully fury of flute-guitar interplay, others are gentle ballads featuring Ian's great vocals and wonderful musical backing. 'Nursie' is a breathtaking diamond, with the simplicity of a child's song, relating Anderson's feelings of sympathy for his ill, hospitalized father. If you know of his strained relationship with his father, as he's recounted in interviews, this tune will bring tears to your eyes. Even if you own every Tull album, buy this for the tracks that don't appear on those -- it'll be dollars extremely well spent. Trust me.

This album wonderfully showcases the eclectic sound of Jethro Tull, ranging from the early, throaty blues of the first track lifted from a radio recording, through the gut-twisting rock classics of Aqualung and Locomotive Breath, and ending at rarer songs of wondrous lyrics which showcase Anderson's sexy voice. Any long-time fan will appreciate this for the different takes it has on many songs, while any budding fan will surely appreciate the wide range of musical styles presented throughout 23 years of this band.

If you are a fan of Jethro Tull this is a safe bet. Most of their hits are included, and there are several tracks that have not been released.

If you are not familiar with Jethro Tull this band has been around a LONG time. I became aware of them around the time the Beatles were winding down and Zepplin was getting started. This CD has a good selection of their hits and representative music.

Tull's "style" is very complex Rock; richly melodius with a strong Irish/British influence. If you like bands like U2, Phil Collins, or Elton John you will probably like Tull as they are similar in complexity and rythem. However Tull's music tends to use many more flats, sharps, and change beats than these artists and most other bands.

Tull's lyrics are written as ballids or poems, and there is nothing in the selections on this CD that would be offensive to even the most conservative Rock enthusiast.

If you are like me and missed out on the 20 year box set, then this CD is the best you can do. It features some Tull classics, and also showcases some new and rare songs done by the band through the years. My favorite cuts on the album are the 5 songs under the heading of "Flawed Gems (Dusted Down)" Kelpie and Jack-A-Lynn are great and I don't see why they never made onto a Tull album before now? If you have most of Tull's albums you already own about 75% of the songs presented here, but what I like about the "Best Of" selection of songs on this disk, is that it's not the usual Tull songs on other "Best Of"'s. Sure "Aqualung" and "Locomotive Breath" are here, but they are fantastic live versions we haven't heard before. Plus you get forgotten classics like "Witch's Promise" and "Wond'ring Aloud", as well as one of my favorite Tull tunes "Nursie". But I would only recommend this album to Tull fans, anyone interested in picking up a "Best Of" who is not familiar with the band should grab a copy of "Original Master" first. It's a little more mainstream and features all of the Jethro Tull songs you've heard on your local classic rock stations.

I generally don't purchase greatest hits CD's, only because most of the songs I already have on the originals. But this is a grand compilation of some of Tulls finest tunes. This is a marvelous walk down memory lane with songs so wonderful as Jack-A-Lynn, Wond'ring Aloud, Life's a Long Song & Nursie to just name a few..

I'm sure I will be listening to this for years and years to come, as will you if you buy it for your collection.

Seeing them live is by far the most magical treat ever in ones life of concerts. I took myself to see them in 2004, alone, as I couldn't find anyone to go with me...it was the best concert I've seen in decades.

This cd is a fantastic collection of both Live and their earlier works truly celebrating 20 years of Tull's music.The numbers that virtually stand out of the rest are 1.Parts of the Machine 2.Mayhem,Maybe 3.Stormy Monday Blues 4.Jack a lynn 5.dunringill 6.Grace 7.summerday sands.Not that other numbers aren't good,but they are too popular to be mentioned here.The reason I have specially mentioned the above numbers is that Anderson's Vocals is just a class apart Particularly in Parts of the Machine,Mayhem Maybe, Grace and in the live rendition of Dunringill. Also Listen to the Flute and Guitar work in Parts of the Machine and Mayhem May be.(Fabulous) Definitely a must for any Tull fan and also for those who are even faintly interested in Tull's Music

Buy this Cd if for no other reason than songs 13-16. Kelpie is one of the most beautifully composed songs that I have ever heard. The best Cd that exmplefies how truly great, and musically talented Ian anderson is. IT's up to you, but I strongly reccommend this for anyone who claims they know anything about music and lyrics.

Buy this Cd if for no other reason than songs 13-16. Kelpie is one of the most beautifully composed songs that I have ever heard. The best Cd that exmplefies how truly great, and musically talented Ian anderson is. IT's up to you, but I strongly reccommend this for anyone who claims they know anything about music and lyrics.

THIS IS TRULY A TULL FANS HOLY GRAIL. THE MUSIC FROM THE PAST AND PRESENT ARE COVERED IN THIS COLLECTION AND MANY MORE SONGS ARE STILL TO COME. WHILE THIS IS NOT THE BOXED SET THAT HAS BECOME EXTREMELY POPULAR AMONGST VETERAN BANDS, THERE IS STILL ENOUGH HERE TO TAKE YOU BACK AND BRING YOU FORWARD. THE BOXED SET INCLUDES THE SMASH CHRISTMAS SONG THAT WAS ORIGINALLY WRITTEN AND RECORDED FOR THE BROAD SWORD AND THE BEAST, THE SONG IS JACK FROST AND THE HOODED CROW. THE SET SPINS YOU THROUGH AQUALUNG TAKE OUTS, THE ORIGINAL MUSIC THAT WAS TO BE PASSION PLAY, LOST SONGS FROM STORM WATCH, AND MANY MORE. IF YOU ARE A TULL FAN, YOU MUST OWN THIS ALBUM, OR YOU WILL LOSE OUT.