Jul 10
26
Jethro Tull – Bursting Out
Speaking of Tull…
Ok, there is good news and bad news. The bad news is that for some extremely inexplicable reason Ian Anderson, flautist, vocalist, and acoustic guitarist of Jethro Tull, decided not to record or issue an official live album of the group during their early heyday. That meant that the post-Aqualung tour, the much lauded Thick as a Brick tour, and basically everything from 1971 to 1978 went completely undocumented (well, at least officially although there are nice snippets here and there).
But the good news is that when he finally decided to document the group on Bursting Out, it was during the 1978 European tour and the band, after years of playing together, was one of the tightest bands on the planet. Not only that but it sounds fantastic in both performance and sound!
Now, for some reason I see the sound of this album getting bashed on music forums, mostly by snobby audiophiles and such, but even by ol’ regular folk as well. And I just don’t see why. For being recorded in 1978 on a mobile 8 track it sounds fantastic. For being recorded by anything it sounds fantastic. The sound is crystal clear, with every instrument clearly audible. The drums sound dynamic and full, the bass tight and nimble (incredibly so, actually).
Martin Barre on electric lead guitar is a monster here full of great guitar effect trickery and riffery. And then there’s that poor old sod Ian strumming away on acoustic guitar and singing in very fine voice. His flute is as powerful as ever and the flute improv on Disc 1 is a creative journey of awesomeness with the band fully embracing and backing their leader without a single misstep.
By 1978 Jethro Tull, along with other heavy hitters such as Led Zeppelin and the Grateful Dead, were considered rock dinosaurs by the newly emerging punk and new wave crowd. Heck, I consider that a compliment. They do sound like dinosaurs; big, huge, snarling, rock dinosaurs staggering about the stage like only they could. At times their stop/start riffing is absolutely staggering and they are playing with such pure power it’s almost unbelievable. There is something about this incarnation of Tull that is just spellbinding and I have to thank the Heavens that Ian had the good sense to finally push the record button on that mobile 8 track.
Every song is expertly played, but with a daring sense of wonder and adventure that veers far enough away from the studio version to keep it lively and interesting. In fact, some of these songs are played with such raw power that they render the studio versions almost tame. “Thick as a Brick” for instance is an album highlight. While it is a mere 12 minutes compared to the two part 40 minute extravaganza on the studio album, the slimmer version here works extremely well. Everything that is great about the long version (which I adore) has been pared down and compressed into a singular diamond of awesome. The guitars thrash about the stage, Ian is in full voice and deeply amazing flute solos, and the rhythm section of Barlow and Glascock on drums and bass is astounding (check out the bass work during the jam starting around 5:53. Like I said, tight with a capital ‘T’).
Later we get stellar versions of “Hunting Girl,” a very heavy “Cross Eyed Mary,” and a sinister version of “Aqualung” where Barre outdoes himself on the solo. Everything is played full tilt and all the amps sound like they are set to “explode” rather than just a mere ’10′ (or ’11′ for you Spinal Tap fans).
In the end everything about this album is fantastic. Heck, even the cover is cool, albeit weird. But that’s what Jethro Tull is: very cool and very weird and always completely awesome.
Note: For even more Tull from this period check out the recently released Madison Square Garden 1978 DVD/CD. Yes, Ian ran tape and film for this one!
Tracklist
Disc One:
- “No Lullaby” – 5:35
- “Sweet Dream” – 4:52
- “Skating Away On The Thin Ice Of The New Day” – 5:03
- “Jack In The Green” – 3:37
- “One Brown Mouse” – 4:08
- “A New Day Yesterday” – 3:08
- “Flute Improvisation / God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen / Bourée” – 5:42
- “Songs From The Wood” – 2:32
- “Thick as a Brick” – 12:32
Disc Two:
- “Hunting Girl” – 6:01
- “Too Old To Rock ‘n’ Roll; Too Young To Die!” – 4:19
- “Conundrum” – 6:55
- “Minstrel In The Gallery” – 5:47
- “Cross Eyed Mary” – 3:39
- “Quatrain” – 1:32
- “Aquaung” – 8:35
- “Locomotive Breath” – 5:32
- “The Dambusters March / Medley – 3:27
