Jethro Tull - Minstrel in the Gallery: 40th Anniversary La Grande Edition
by Kevin Wierzbicki
.
Jethro Tull fans will love this 2-CD/2-DVD set as not only does it present Minstrel in the Gallery in a slick remixed version (by prog kingpin Steven Wilson) but also plenty of other previously hard to find or unreleased material from the same era. Wilson's stereo remix is appended with five alternate versions of cuts from the album, including a BBC version of the title track and the fifth studio take on "One White Duck;" also tacked on here is a rare version of non-Minstrel cut "Aqualung." What many will find to be the real prize of this collection though will be a full live concert recorded in Paris in July of 1975, before Minstrel came out. Featuring hard rocking favorites like "Wind Up," "Cross-Eyed Mary" and "Aqualung," the show also includes a segment highlighting front man Ian Anderson's prowess on the flute via a medley of "My God," "God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen," "Bouree," "Quartet" and an instrumental snippet of "Living in the Past." Anderson, who demonstrates his sense of humor musically throughout the medley, intros the piece with an aside to God, "Put the kettle on, I'll be there in a minute." The show also includes a spirited run-through of "Bungle in the Jungle" and an early reading of "Minstrel in the Gallery." It is the only song from Minstrel performed and Anderson explains to the crowd that the band had just finished recording the album. The two CDs alone are worth the price of admission but audiophiles will get the added bonus of both programs presented in DVD audio, one of which also contains a nine-minute video promo clip. It all comes in a nice "case-bound DVD book" package with a bound-in 80 page booklet with lots of rare photos, the lyrics, track-by-track annotation from Anderson and much more.Order your copy here.
Jethro Tull - Minstrel in the Gallery: 40th Anniversary La Grande Edition
Rating:
