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25 of 26 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
This Was (Collectors Edition), June 12, 2008
Two discs. 71,55 min. each. Remastered sound. I must first make a confession-this is still my favorite album in Jethro Tull's catalogue. So with that in mind,here we go. Recorded rather quickly and on the cheap,this contains a lot of why British "rock" music was so interesting. Take a bit of blues,some Roland Kirk-style flute,including singing into the flute while playing,a slight bit of folk music,and some good old rock and roll-English style- and there you have it. In 1968 I can remember purchasing this as an "import" from Tower Records. On first listen,I thought,what in the world is this? At the time very few people seemed to like it,thinking it a curiosity. Now we have the 40 year anniversary release,and if you liked the original,you'll like this. The new stereo mix lets the various instruments breathe a bit and the overall sound is cleaner than previous releases. There is a curious overall "lightness" in the sound,not in a negative way,but the combined force of the music is not as immediate when compared to the mono version. Being of an age when mono was the only way you heard most music,maybe that's a predjudice that can't be overcome. However,it's nice to have both in one handy package,along with other tracks from the period. The BBC session,while sounding a bit flat,is certainly nice to have. The first track,So Much Trouble,has the Tull slide guitar-harmonica sound which we all know. It's interesting but not truly essential. My Sunday Feeling and Serenade to a Cuckoo both follow the originals. That could also be said for the rest of this session. Not until we get to Stormy Monday do we hear a track not from the album,but a song Tull had in their live repertoire at the time. This track demonstrates why this album has always been a favorite of mine. Here they take a blues tune,add some jazz drumming and flute and Ian Anderson's best blues vocal,and come out at the end with that "This Was" sound. The two final tracks pretty much follow the originals,but as I said,for anyone who likes this era of Tull,thats just fine. As for the new stereo mixes of Love Story and Christmas Song on the second disc,they too have a much more "open" feel than previous recordings. Unlike the majority of this album,Christmas Story looks ahead to the Tull sound that went on to capture the imaginations of Americans everywhere. The vocal is pushed forward and the sound is leaning towards the minstral-folk sound Tull would make famous. The four mono tracks,all period singles, that conclude this set are typical Tull at that time,though I must say that One For John Gee is a personal favorite-what with the flute,bass and drums all pushing into jazz territory. So,like I said,if you liked this album and found so much to listen for throughout the original album,you will like this. Included is a booklet with period photographs,the original liner notes,and input from the band members looking back all those years. This is an album,that,while dated, will never go out of style,as long as people are interested in something,as Ian Anderson says,that is a bit off.
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16 of 16 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Excellent sound on a great classic album! , June 17, 2008
I have just A/B'd the stereo disc of this new 2CD version of "This Was" with two previously issued CD versions (the Chrysalis and Hollywood versions). This one is the big winner BUT some will have good counter-arguments because the mix presented here is not the original mix. The listener of the new set will notice the heavy reverb that was applied to Anderson's voice is nearly entirely gone. Both previous issues had heavy reverb on his voice. With the reverb gone, the mix sounds so much cleaner. The voice and instruments are still in their general stereo positions (voice on the right, lead guitar on the left, etc...). The EQ is significantly different than what we hear on the Chrysalis version, and not so different from the Hollywood label version. The old Chrysalis CD clearly used a tape mastered for lp with the heavy bottom sucked out to keep the consumer's stylus from jumping the groove. This new double CD issue is a great improvement on the original mix. The original mix can only be preferred for sentimental reasons.
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7 of 9 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Incredibly ahead of their time.., June 12, 2008
This was the only tull album I'd never heard, I was hesitant to pick up the collectors issue because of that fact,$20.00+ too. But as often I've discovered that I really enjoy the first albums put out by artists, they're always playing from the heart and soul, not quite stars yet and hungry for the limelight, fortune and fame. This album simply blew me away, I never realized they started out playing bluesy,jazzy,tunes.It is absolutely great music, So glad i purchased it you will too..You can't go wrong.
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