Thoughts on Jethro tull-This was?

The debut album is different as most have already pointed out and while, in a lot of ways, I'm kinda glad that Ian took full control, per se, with the leadership of the band and its musical direction, tracks like "Some Day the Sun Won't Shine for You", "Move on Alone", "It's Breaking Me Up" and "Cat's Squirrel" are certainly an indication of Abrahams' influence and input; it gave a glimpse of how varied they could be at that point in time. I don't play This Was as much as other Tull titles, but I do get a "kick" out of it from time to time.

 

This Was always sounded a bit too bright and with reduced bottom end on CD. The remix sounds really nice. Bring on a This Was book edition (10 years after the Collector's Edition) as well as Benefit redone in book format and TAAB re-released minus Peter Mew's mastering. I would be suspicious that the increased bottom end of the remix has reduced the DR score, barring seeing waveforms.

 

One of my favorite albums of all time. Clive Bunkers drumming is great everywhere on every song. I was pulled in when My Sunday Feeling appeared on FM radio. The end section of Beggars Farm is just about my favorite moment in Rock music.

 

Agreed! Clive is an absolute BEAST on This Was.

 

I have decided to pull the trigger on both the new mix double cd from 08 and the 2014 remastered LP.Will put an order in tomorrow.And if SW decide to do a new mix of this in near future i buy that one too.
As usual i will give this one a lot of spins to really grab it before moving on too STAND UP but thats for another thread.Good times ahead!!!

 

My favorite Tull album, although I listened to "Stand Up" the other day and still enjoy that as well. As well as random tracks from other albums.

Hope Wilson gets around to "This Was," would love a definitive version.

 

Essential

 

As i understand a lot of people think the 08 mixes sound really good and would be difficult to better!

 

like it, but I prefer the Benefit/ Aqualung albums...

 

Dusted off my 2008 reissue. Bought this at age 20, never knowing the true value of mono. Tonight I've plugged in my HD600s, popped the disc in my Cambridge and hit the mono switch on my Marantz. Nothing but the album and a bottle of french red to keep me company.

Dharma for One! Glory be!!

I've never known an album to be as simultaneously trashy yet sophisticated.

 

Bought it when it first came out and have always loved it.

 

Love the original UK cover, with no band name nor title on the front. I wonder if they were the first hip group to disguise as old men on their album cover. Ian does look like an old man here... and he's barely 21!

 

Me too. I would definitely rate it lower than Aqualung Benefit and Stand Up. Plus it has one of the worst album covers ever. Though I do like this photo and the inside photo.

 

Abrahams told a UK magazine years ago they used to play the old blues chestnut Rock Me Baby live.
wow, to have heard that
Interestingly, he resurrected it for Blodwyn Pig near the end of the band

 

"This Was" is not among the best albums; it's exciting but uneven in spots. Yet it remains fascinating to me because it represents a Jethro Tull that will never return again after just one album and one stand-alone single. A Jethro Tull with two frontmen! Martin Barre gracefully said once in an interview, I believe in the late 90s, that he still thought of Mick Abrahams as Jethro Tull' s guitar player!

 

I have a remastered 180gm from 2008 or so and love it. If the 2014 is a repress, you are good.

 

I recommend both the 2008 remaster and all the Steven Wilson remixes on vinyl except Thick as a Brick. Find a nice older pressing of that one.

 

Ditto

 

Thanks for the info Sir Marc

 

Thanks....but looking at discogs the only remastered Lp of this came in 2014?2008 was only cd.Maybe discogs is wrong?

 

Bad mastering or did SW not succed with the mixing on this one?

 

Jeffrey plays the claghorn. I've been loving This Was since I bought it in 1971. Linear notes that were a great reflection of Ian's personality.

 

....oh, and I love that LP cover....

 

I only like early Tull, and I think This Was is one of their best albums.

 

I was mistaken, the version I own is the EMI Millenium 180gm analog cut from 1999.
Here’s a link:
Jethro Tull - This Was