Label: Rhino Records
Release date: 16 April 2021
Sound production (remix, remaster): Steven Wilson
Number of discs: 3CD/3DVD
Genre: Progressive Rock
The years roll by and the anniversaries pile up. Jethro Tull albums aren’t the only ones getting reissues on occasions like this. This time it’s their album “A” on the spit. It already celebrated its first 40 years last year, but they decided to put out the reissue a year later. So the reissue landed on 16 April 2021. And what’s so special about it? Six discs, no less. 3 CDs and 3 DVDs. That’s a lot to take in. Hand on heart, it’s a bit overkill. The original album now has tracks tacked onto the end of the first CD that were recorded in the studio at the same time. We’re talking different versions of the single Working John, Working Joe and a different version of Crossfire, plus the track Coruisk makes its first appearance. Nothing wrong with that. Fans of the band will undoubtedly be thrilled to finally hear them.
But the real prize of this reissue is the second and third CD, which hold, for the first time ever, a recording of Jethro Tull’s complete live show from November 1980, when the band played the LA Sports Arena in Los Angeles. The setlist of this gig mixes new songs from the then-current album “A” with classics from the band’s staple repertoire. Some of these live versions later turned up on the video release (a VHS tape) that came out as “Slipstream” in 1981 (it first appeared on DVD in 2004). More on that in a moment.
Then there are the three DVDs. The first two are completely expendable. The first DVD holds the album “A” plus five bonus tracks, and the second has the complete Los Angeles concert. Both DVDs contain audio only. If you’re an eagle-eared audiophile, you’ll probably appreciate that move a lot, picking up on the sonic nuances between the audio on all the CDs and the DTS, Dolby AC 3, 5.1 surround and stereo 96/24 LPCM sound treatment that both DVDs carry. That’s all that sets them apart. The third DVD has the audio-refreshed film of the “Slipstream” concert. Nothing more. Even while reheating this well-known soup, Steven Wilson has of course tuned the sound up just the way it should be. Yes. Steven Wilson.
You can read below an in-depth review of the album “A”, written for RockLine way back on 3 June 2007 by Peter Dr. “ProgRock” Podbrežnik, which also touches on the content of the “Slipstream” film in an essay:
Jethro Tull: A (A La Mode) 40th Anniversary Edition
CD 1 – original album and associated tracks
(Steven Wilson Stereo Remix)
1. Crossfire
2. Fylingdale Flyer
3. Working John, Working Joe
4. Black Sunday
5. Protect And Survive
6. Batteries Not Included
7. Uniform
8. 4.W.D. (Low Ratio)
9. The Pine Marten’s Jig
10. And Further On
Associated Tracks
I. Crossfire (Extended Version)
2. Working John, Working Joe (Take 4)
3. Cheerio (Early Version)
4. Coruisk
5. Slipstream Intro
CD 2 – Live at the LA Sports Arena 1980 (Part 1)
(Steven Wilson Stereo Remix)
1. Slipstream Intro
2. Black Sunday
3. Crossfire
4. Songs From The Wood
5. Hunting Girl
6. The Pine Marten’s Jig
7. Working John, Working Joe
8. Heavy Horses
9. Band Instrumental Intro
10. Skating Away On The Thin Ice Of The New Day
11. Instrumental (including flute solo)
CD 3 – Live at the LA Sports Arena 1980 (Part 2)
(Steven Wilson Stereo Remix)
1. Trio Instrumental
2. Keyboard solo
3. Batteries Not Included
4. Uniform” (including drum solo instrumental)
5. Protect and Survive (including violin solo)
6. Bungle In The Jungle
7. Guitar Solo/Bass solo intro to encore
8. Aqualung
9. Locomotive Breath”/Instrumental/”Black Sunday” (reprise)
DVD 1 – original album and associated tracks (audio only)
Contains Steven Wilson’s 2020 remix of the album and 5 associated tracks in DTS and Dolby AC 3, 5.1 surround, and stereo 96/24 LPCM. Flat transfers of the original LP master in 96/24 LPCM
DVD 2 – Live At The LA Sports Arena November 1980 (audio only)
Contains Steven Wilson’s 2020 mix of the concert in DTS and Dolby AC 3, 5.1 surround and stereo 96/24 LPCM
DVD 3 – “Slipstream” (video)
With audio tracks remixed by Steven Wilson in DTS and Dolby AC 3, 5.1 surround and stereo 96/24 LPCM
