Nightcap Unreleased 1973-1991

Jethro Tull | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (January 11, 2000)
• Original Release Date: January 11, 2000
• Number of Discs: 2
• Label: Capitol
• ASIN: B000007177
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (24 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #60,792 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

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39 of 39 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A nice old bottle left lying around the cellar., June 9, 2001

By 

Bellagio "Bellagio" (Las Vegas) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Nightcap Unreleased 1973-1991 (Audio CD)

A surprisingly strong compilation of "rejects" from over the many, many years of the band's recording career. It is a real hodge-podge which was released largely at the request of, and certainly for, those dedicated long-time Tull fans -- and I am among them -- who simply don't trust Ian and the boys when it comes to deciding what is worthy to grace an album. As long-time Tull fans will attest, often they reject songs for reasons no one else can understand. As we've found out over the years, through the compilation and retrospective albums that have been released, there is an amazing amount of truly outstanding material that gets buried in the studio vaults until someone goes digging for it for some reason.

The 1981 "Broadsword" sessions are a good example. The list of "rejects" (as we've found out over the years) is pretty long, certainly long enough to have resulted in that album being a double album. But what is more astounding is that the quality of these "old warts" is sometimes, arguably, superior to that of some cuts that made it onto an album. In the 20 Years Box Set we found out that outstanding songs like Jack-A-Lynn, Jack Frost and the Hooded Crow, Motoreyes, Down at the End of Your Road, Overhang, and Rhythm in Gold, along with some others, were left unreleased from those sessions. Now along comes Nightcap, a few years later, and we find out those weren't the only great tracks from those sessions that the band forgot about -- as out of the blue we discover the truly exceptional Crew Nights and Lights Out, along with some other pretty good efforts in No Step, The Curse, Commons Brawl and Drive on the Young Side of Life. It leaves one wondering how many other little jewels are stuck in some vault somewhere.

And it isn't only just the "Broadsword" sessions that yield strong "reject" material for this compilation: Silver River Turning and Man of Principle (which features a flute-led intro, middle bridge and outro that is based largely on Bach's Prelude and Fugue in D Minor) are exceptional offerings from the late 80's. Piece of Cake, Hardliner and Rosa on the Factory Floor are also enjoyable presentations from that era. How Broadford Bazaar, from the late 70's, never surfaced before this is almost unimaginable (but then we said that about at least a half-dozen cuts in the 20-Years Set too).

It is understandable why the band did not release some of the material here prior to this compilation. As Ian says, some of them are "just a little too different" -- this applies mostly to the lyrics (subject matter) or the circumstances of the recordings. Some of these were recorded between album sessions, and the music of the Chateau D'isaster tapes was, for the most part, reworked and released on A Passion Play or the later War Child (though the difference in tone between the original "Chateau" tapes and what finally became A Passion Play is striking). All the same, some of the more unfamiliar material in the "Chateau" tapes is a real revelation: Look at the Animals is an absolute scream (as in hilarious, not loud).

And it is certainly understandable that Ian didn't care to release The Curse -- I've never heard a song on that subject before, and Ian does have a wife after all. Let's just say that subject matter is...ummm...related to the biblical curse of women...ummm...well, its a...kind of...monthly thing, you know? Pretty good song otherwise, with a great performance by Martin Barre on the electric guitar. It's obvious why Sea Lion 2 didn't make the cut, and Quartet too, even though it is a nice piece which also, oddly enough considering Man of Principle, borrows from Bach's aforementioned Prelude and Fugue.

This is one of the most interesting of Tull compilations. More so when you realize that in some cases these are double "rejects" in that they didn't get on the 20 Year Set from a few years previously. In a handful of cases that is mind-blowing. When you compare these studio rejects to other anthologies or collections by bands you can not help but be amazed by Tull's standards -- and in some cases you can't help but question their judgement in leaving certain tracks off their studio albums.

20 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Diehard Tull fans will love this!, February 26, 2000

By 

Timothy E. Jackson, Jr. (Loveland, Ohio United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Nightcap Unreleased 1973-1991 (Audio CD)

"Nightcap" is a collection of rare and unreleased tracks by Jethro Tull, however the material of this album is actually pretty good (and what Jethro Tull songs *wouldn't* be good?) Disc 1 chronicles the "Chateau D'Isaster", a collection of songs recorded in 1973 which would evolve into "A Passion Play" later that year. The one track that especially stands out here is "Look At The Animals". The second disc features material recorded during the "Warchild" sessions as well as during the 80s and early 90s, but mostly focuses around songs recorded in 1981 (and knowing that they also made a number of other rare tracks such as "Jack-A-Lynn" during that year it would make you wonder why Tull hadn't released an album between the "A" and "Broadsword" albums showcasing these songs!) The "Warchild" outtakes are superb, and we also find Ian Anderson & Co. even trying their hand at a *country* song ("Truckstop Runner")! If you can't get enough of Jethro Tull, this album is definitely a keeper. Album Highlights: "Look At The Animals", "Paradise Steakhouse", "Sealion 2", "Quartet", "Commons Brawl", "Lights Out", "Truckstop Runner", "Hardliner".

17 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Something for Tull fans of all stripes to appreciate, November 17, 2003

By 

Moldyoldie (Motown, USA) - See all my reviews

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This review is from: Nightcap Unreleased 1973-1991 (Audio CD)

Instead of comparing the so-called "Chateau d'Isaster" suite on Disc #1 of Nightcap with A Passion Play, let's just say that the former has plenty of what Jethro Tull fans yearn for: loud and spirited playing, interesting musical progressions, inane yet strangely expressive and descriptive lyrics, fine acoustic playing, and vocals that leap and soar. Does it work? Yes, as a curiosity of what it might have become; no, as a coherent musical whole. Much of it simply lasts longer than it has to, but much of it is still a treat in its own right. I can see why it was abandoned as a commercial project; it was heading in no particular direction and even its creators couldn't figure it out! I know I was certainly confused by it all. For fans only.

Disc #2 presents many fine unreleased tracks, again displaying the qualities fans have come to appreciate. Some of these tunes are obviously latter-day recordings as they display Ian Anderson's graveling and narrowing voice, but many are from the early-mid '70s when said voice was in full flower. The disc is chock full and can be summed up by saying that it would be much easier to list the lesser tracks than the better. I believe all fans will love it! Even the uninitiated might find something here to savor.

I would suggest to all, fans included, to find a used copy of this 2-CD set as the full retail price is a bit rich, despite the richness of the content.