Jethro Tull questions...

Well here is something I know about as my very good mate Dave Pegg played bass/mandolin in this organization from 1979-1995. If you like Aqualung and care about sound quality, then by all means pick up Aqualung Live which was recorded for a studio audience in 2005. The best sounding studio version IMO is on the latest Chrysalis remasters.

Crest of a Knave is great musically, Ian's singing was purposely dumbed down so that he could get through the live performances after having gone through some vocal problems in the mid-80's. Sonically the best studio album IMO is The Jethro Tull Christmas Album. If you liked Songs from the Wood, you are sure to enjoy this.

Are any Tull enthusiasts also fans of Faiport Convention? Lots of cross pollination between these two musical organizations. FC members who have recorded with Tull include Dave Pegg (bass/mandolin), Martin Allcock (keys), Dave Mattacks (drums), Gerry Conway (drums and Ric Sanders (violin).

I really enjoy the last five Fairport studio releases starting with 1997's appropriately named Who Knows where the Time Goes through 2007's Sense of Occasion. These are all exceptionally well recorded with production values and arrangements that are light years beyond Liege and Lief. L&L is no doubt a groudbreaking work which charted the course for almost 40 years now. I had the good fortune of seeing the entire album performed live with that version of Fairport (included Richard Thompson with singer Chris While standing in for the late Sandy Denny) at the band's annual summer festival in 2007 (Fairport's Cropredy Convention). Coincidentally, Jethro Tull performed later on the same evening.

BTW, I very much enjoy Tull's live 1992 release entitled A Little Light Music. Stripped down (mostly acoustic) arrangements with the Fairport rhythm section of Dave Pegg (bass/mandolin) and Dave Mattacks (drums). A high quality recording with a somewhat distant perspective.

The Jethro Tull Christmas album marks a return to the sound of the acoustic folk idiom that was popular from 1975-1979 (Songs from the Wood thru Stormwatch). Although Ian has lost his vocal range of 30 years ago, JT was never a vocal band IMO.

The Acoustic Strawbs are touring the US (northeast) this September.

I'm going to see Jethro Tull on Tuesday in Boston.

Tull is still a great band!!