Living with the Past [Live]

Jethro Tull | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (January 19, 2010)
• Original Release Date: 2010
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Live
• Label: Eagle Records (Fontana)
• ASIN: B002BVUBSM
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (33 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #238,917 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

This is a beautifully packaged and thoughtfully programmed compilation of recent live recordings of songs across the span of Jethro Tull's sizeable catalog. Their origins as a blues band with folk leanings made them a welcome alternative to the power trio back in the late '60s. That period is covered here on "Some Day the Sun Won't Shine for You," recorded by the original band when they reunited in 2002. Their commercial high-water mark was Aqualung, as brilliant and lasting a statement as any in classic rock. Here, in crystal-clear recordings of utterly respectful versions, the current lineup takes on "Locomotive Breath" and the title track. Elsewhere, Ian Anderson is joined by a string quartet for new takes on some early and obscure single sides. The band's penchant for long-form rock-operatic fare, which put them in a progressive cul-de-sac alongside Yes and Genesis, lost them critical support but not their legion of fans. The fans, who refer to them simply as "Tull," know that this band still has its chops. In particular, longstanding guitarist Martin Barre is among the most underrated of classic rock axmen, and this fine live album is as much his as it is Anderson's. --Rob Stewart

Product Description

Living With The Past was primarily recorded at Hammersmith Apollo in November 2001, it also features tracks from Paris and Holland in 1999, Zurich in 1989, some acoustic tracks from January 2002 and a reunion of the original 1968 line up (Ian Anderson, Mick Abrahams, Clive Bunker, Glenn Cornick), also from January 2002.

The line up for the Hammersmith recordings (tracks 1-11 & 21), the Paris track (12) and the Dutch tracks (18-19) is:

Ian Anderson - Vocals, Flute, Acoustic Guitar Martin Barre - Guitars Doanne Perry - Drums Andrew Giddings - Keyboards Jonathon Noyce - Bass

This line up also does the acoustic tracks (13-14) with the addition of a small strings section. Dave Pegg plays bass on the Zurich tracks (15-17).

TRACK LISTING 1. Intro 2. My Sunday Feeling 3. Roots To Branches 4. Jack In The Green 5. The Habanero Reel 6. Sweet Dream 7. In The Grip Of Stronger Stuff 8. Aqualung 9. Locomotive Breath 10. Living In The Past 11. Protect and Survive 12. Nothing Is Easy 13. Wond'ring Aloud 14. Life Is A Long Song 15. A Christmas Song 16. Cheap Day Return 17. Mother Goose 18. Dot Com 19. Fat Man 20. Some Day The Sun Won't Shine For You 21. Cheerio

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

25 of 26 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A tribute to great musicians., May 3, 2002

By 

G-Dexter (Lakewood, NY United States) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Living With the Past (Audio CD)

I've had the pleasure of seeing Jethro Tull Live many, many times; from the halcion days in the late 70's with the 'ultimate lineup' that included John Evans, David Palmer, Barrimore Barlow, and the late John Glascock, through that abysmal mid 80's time period when Ian Anderson's voice was bent and broken to the point that even the die hard fans were calling for his early retirement, to present lineup evident on this terrific new album. I'm pleased to announce that Ian's voice has completely healed and this band is doing better than ever.

This CD does a very good job of covering a huge catalog, giving snippets that range from the earliest to latest albums. Present are the ubiquitous AQUALUNG and LOCOMOTIVE BREATH - great old songs that many fans don't really need to hear agian; (I own at least 6 or 7 copies of these on various live releases.) but I understand why they need to be there. Also present are some favorite gems long ignored in the live show playlists: JACK IN THE GREEN, PROTECT AND SURVIVE and LIFE IS A LONG SONG. Perhaps the weak point of this disc, if there is one to be found, is the rather plodding performance of SWEET DREAM. It picks up at the end of the song, but it seems slow and stiff compared with other live versions on earlier albums; noteably on the BURSTING OUT album. The highlights of this album for me are THE HABANERO REEL, IN THE GRIP OF STRONGER STUFF and SOMEDAY THE SUN WON'T SHINE FOR YOU - that final song performed by the original Tull lineup of Anderson, Abrahams, Bunker and Cornick.

Now to the reason I'm writing this review - The great, the amazing, the highly underappreciated and underglorified, the masterful.....Martin Barre. This album features Martin's terrific playing, and he's never been sharper. This man is one of the finest masters of the electric guitar on the planet today, yet he is frequently ignored in the popular press, and is still often referred to as being the replacement guitar player for the band. While Ian Anderson is acknowledged as the driving force behind Tull, Martin Barre must be recognized as the power that has made this band a major force in rock history for more than 30 years. My goodness, he's been there since 1968 - playing on every album but the very first. Even Ian Anderson has said that without Martin, there would be no Jethro Tull!

In conclusion - this is a great CD with great performances from one of the most consistently popular bands in history. Worth every penny spent.

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Let's Go Living With The Past!, May 1, 2002

By 

Paul E. - See all my reviews

This review is from: Living With the Past (Audio CD)

Tull fans for years have been asking for the release of more live music. However, given the specific choice of which live music they would like to listen to, well that could be debated. Would it be from the Aqualung tour? Or maybe even from the Songs from the Wood tour. Or maybe a collection of songs throughout the years? The only thing for certain in this reviewer's mind is that the songs would not be from a recent tour. Granted, the current band sounds as good or better than any Tull line up. But we all know that father-time has not been that kind to Ian's vocals.
So in true Tull fashion they release Living With The Past. A collection of live recordings primarily from 2001! And what of my skepticism you ask? This CD kicks some serious arse! The sound quality is superb, with Ian's vocals and the band sounding great! The inclusion of "Wond'ring Aloud" and "Life's A Long Song" backed by a string quartet are a delight as well, with the exception that they remind me of the genius of David Palmer who is no longer with the band. But, the highlight of the CD has to be the 1968 Reunion of original members performing "Someday the Sun Won't Shine for You". Sort of makes you wonder what might have been, had they stayed together? All in all this is a surprising "must-have" for my collection. Oh, did I forget to mention that Tull is currently on tour? Don't miss them.

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Third behind "Bursting Out" and "A Little Light Music", May 19, 2002

By A Customer

This review is from: Living With the Past (Audio CD)

"LWTP" is, for this long-time Tull fan, something of a bittersweet offering. On the one hand, it's always great to hear the band play its classic tunes in a live setting. On this CD, the sound is excellent and the selections are played tightly and mostly with conviction. On the other hand, "LWTP" really can't touch Tull's live masterpiece, "Bursting Out." "BO" is so graceful, so fluid, so wonderfully loose and confident, I still hear fresh things in it even after countless listenings. Of course, that was when Tull was in its absolute prime - the SFTW/Heavy Horses era - and at the top of their game. Likewise, I must place "A Little Light Music" ahead as well. That CD is brimming with imaginative variations, clever arrangements and some really inspired song selections from lesser known albums. The musicianship on that CD is top-notch, the music buoyant and joyful.

"LWTP," while certainly worth owning, lacks some of the risk-taking, creativity and surprises of these earlier live recordings. Sure, the band sounds great, but to these ears, just a little of the old Tull magic is missing. Nothing on "LWTP," for example, can touch the beauty of "One Brown Mouse" or the fury of "Minstrel in the Gallery" from "Bursting Out," or the gentle elegance of "Look into the Sun" or "One White Duck" from "ALLM."

Also, the set list here is a little too safe for me. Rather than the predictable inclusion of Aqualung and Locomotive Breath (both of which I am quite sick of), the inclusion of Dun Ringill, One Brown Mouse, With You There to Help Me, Reasons for Waiting, Velvet Green, Only Solitaire or Skating Away would have been far preferable. Of course, those are my personal favs and perhaps not yours. But do we really need to hear Aqualung and Locomotive Breath again? I will say, however, that the inclusion of Fat Man, Nothing is Easy, Roots to Branches and Habanero Reel are appreciated.

In summary, Tull fans will enjoy this. Just don't expect the Tull of 1978 or even 1992.