Most Helpful Customer Reviews
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70 of 74 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
NOT the Complete album; TRACKS ARE DIFFERENT from US version, November 12, 2005
Jethro Tull Fans & consumers BEWARE!! There have been several misleading "Reviews" offered up about this album. BE CAREFUL about which version you are trying to buy.
I've been a Tull fan since about 1972 (when I was in High School); my first Tull LP purchases were "Thick as a Brick" and then "Living in the Past".
When the Tull CD's first came out, I bought almost all of them (naturally), and am now in the process of replacing my earlier versions with the newer "Remixed/Remastered" versions. However, I had bought the U.S. version of "Living in the Past", and chose not to buy the much more expensive "Gold CD"/"Mobile Fidelity" versions; these versions are, however, more "complete" in that they do include all of the tracks from the original 1972 vinyl release.
Many have noted that the one-CD versions of "Living in the Past" have deleted various tracks from the original '72 vinyl release due to "time constrictions", to keep things to one CD. These versions generally do add a track not found in the original ("Inside", from BENEFIT).
However, I recently purchased the UK Import version of "Living in the Past", after reading one of the reviews WHICH SHOULD ONLY HAVE APPLIED TO THE "GOLD CD"/MOBILE FIDELITY version, as it stated that "this is the only complete version available", etc.
Instead, *there are differences in the tracks* between the UK Import version and the apparently now-out-of-print US version (which I already had).
Here are the differences: BOTH one-CD versions (US & UK) omit "Bouree" and "Teacher"; this is not a terribly great loss to most Tull fans, as any Tull fan will probably have these previously-released tracks on another CD--although these are two of Tull's best songs!
BOTH one-CD versions (US & UK) add "Inside" (also previously-released), but which was NOT on the original 1972 vinyl LP.
However, here's the important distinction between the US & UK version: The US version DOES include "Alive and Well and Living In", and also includes "Hymn 43" (another excellent song), but does NOT have "Locomotive Breath" (which can also be found on AQUALUNG).
The UK version DOES NOT have "Hymn 43", but does include "Locomotive Breath" . . .! And again, it does not have "Alive and Well and Living In" (nor "Bouree" or "Teacher").
In a "side-by-side" comparison, and a close examination of the liner notes, etc., it appears that the US and UK one-CD versions are otherwise identical, and have the same recordings/mixes, but you'll get one more track in the US version than in the UK Import; unfortunately the US version now appears to be out-of-print . . .!
What we really need is a new, repackaged (orignial packaging, etc.) two-CD remixed/remastered version of this old favorite, with ALL of the original tracks included on the '72 LP, and which would have "room" for interviews, bonus tracks, or whatnot.
By the way, we need this because this is one terrific album!! A "complete" version would rate 5 stars.
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14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
From a True Tull Fan and Collector; Please Listen!!!, January 29, 2007
Yes, there are a few different versions of "Living in the Past" floating around, and I still have the original LP from which I can compare them all. I own the Mobile Fidelity Sound Lab, 2-disc, Original Master Recording UltraDiscII GOLD CD and it is the ONLY COMPLETE VERSION CURRENTLY AVAILABLE! With a grand total of 23 tracks, not to mention a faithful reproduction of the 35 page booklet included in the original album, this version has sonic quality far superior to any "CD" version you will ever hear. This is as close as you'll get to listening to the orginal "LP" on the finest turntable system. It's obvious that great care was taken when this package was put together, from the remastering to the detail that went into the booklet and packaging. In fact, it is probably the best sounding MFSL CD that I own, and I have quite a few. So, from one "Tull Fan" to another, this is the definitive version. I realize that it's likely to set you back few bucks (I've seen some of the prices!), but if you can find it, BUY IT! It's a worthy investment.
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12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Jam Sarnies? Say what?, June 27, 2006
If your just getting into Tull, try and get a copy with "Alive and well and Living in" which was on the original U.K. version and now the remastered Benefit CD. Don't worry about getting:
1.Bouree
2.Teacher
3.Locomotive breath(U.K. release)
4.Hymn 43(U.S. release)
They are all excellent songs but if you start to like Living In The Past you can get these songs on other great albums, which is really a much better way to hear them.
I first started listening to Jethro Tull in High School. Being part of the band geek community, my friends and I would spend any free time we had before or after school in the band room playing or listening to music.
This is one of the first albums I heard from them, along with "Songs from the Wood" and "Thick as a Brick"(besides Aqualung from classic rock radio).
This is the first music I ever heard with incredible ecclecticism in style and instrumentation, but not disparate sounding, from acoustic guitar and toy piano(Just trying to be),to heavy rock guitar and flute and tablas(Love Story).
From mandolin, whistle and strings(Christmas Story),
to a pop rock song with a clave and bass intro in 5/4(holy crap!).
From songs about the well told tale of touring woes(Driving Song), to discontent with holiday excess(Christmas Song).
From a simple thank you(Nursie), to cynical commentary on society(Wond'ring again).
From aimless lovelorn wandering (Singing all day),
to the beauty of realizing "that life is a long song, but the tune ends to soon for us all."
This album is filled with some of the best Tull songs from any of their various eras. These songs reflect Ian Anderson's songwriting before their extended song albums(Thick and Passion) changed their direction somewhat(not in a bad way!). These songs, excluding the two live cuts, are gems filled with exceptional musicianship, arrangements, idiosyncratic lyricism, weird esoteric british references(Up the 'pool), humor,touching sentiments, and total originality, each under four and a half minutes,some a minute and a half(Just trying to be, Nursie).
Ian's great singing and olde english, travelling minstrel acoustic guitar is all over them. And flute playing that ranges from little backround parts to huge in your face flurries, classical lines to Roland Kirk tinged blues licks, all the while infusing the flute into the band's sonic landscape so you never say to yourself "Oh there's the flute again".
This album really comes to life in the headphones, with great Beatles-esque stereo panning and intricate overdub layering. Once you start listening you're bound to find at least a handful of things sonically in each song that are interesting, like the far left and right panning of John Evans' piano and the acoustic guitar harmonizing in unison in "Witches Promise". Or the huge cavern reverb they throw on the very end of Martin Barre's guitar solo in "Sweet Dream". Just a couple of examples from a couple of songs!
If your already a fan, try listening to the album excluding the previously released tracks(when it came out) and the live cuts. Then throw "Living in the Past" on top:
1.Living in the past
2.Love Story
3.Christmas Song
4.Driving Song
5.Sweet Dream
6.Singing all day
7.Witches Promise
8.Alive and well and living in
9.Just trying to be
10.Wond'ring again
11.Life is a long song
12.Up the 'pool
13.Dr. Bogenbroom
14.For later
15.Nursie
This is the only way I listen to these songs now. I find the other songs great but I've grown to love these songs as their own album, and the other songs become intrusive. I listen to "Locomotive Breath" and "Hymn 43" on Aqualung, "Teacher" with Benefit, "Bouree" on Stand Up, and the live tunes with the Live from Carnegie Hall '70 disc from the 25th Anniversary Set.
Amid the hysteria of the satisfying but radio-drained alpha-male Aqualung riff which unfortunately went up the stairway to heaven and the Thick as a Brick "concept album" hype(albeit well deserved hype), this album proves what a great band and concept that Jethro Tull were based solely on the songwriting and execution of these relatively short pieces.
The thing about this set is it contains that intangible sense of place and time that great albums have. They have the ability to evoke images or feelings that belong specifically to an era I did'nt grow up in, or a place I've only seen second hand.
Hey Santa, pass us that bottle will ya?
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Ian Anderson shares his favorite music, books, and movies with Amazon customers. See all artists' picks on our Music You Should Hear page.
by Jethro Tull 
