How would you rate the JT reissues so far in terms of a) sound upgrade/remix/5.1 mixes etc. b) book content/package c) extras? This was: not done Stand Up: next release, I forecast a 10-10-8 Benefit: 10-7-6 Aqualung: new SW master : 9-8-10 TAAB: not quantifiable-10-4 APP: 9-10-8 Warchild: 9-10-10 MITG: 9-10-10 TOTRR: 10-10-10 SFTW: next after Stand Up, I forecast a 9-10-10 HH: not done Stormwatch: not done
As I'm sure you know, This Was was reissued with a stereo remix and the rare mono mix, as well as assorted singles, in 2008. But it was not remixed by Steven Wilson. I don't think there are plans to re-do it again.
As a band they rate more highly per album year now that we have the remixes. So many more great tracks now. Tull could have given us 10 classic prog related albums in the 70s judging by the stuff they left off every album. They tended to want to be more commercial in the mid 70s. I would have much preferred stuff like Good Godmother, Glory row, Strip cartoon, Commercial traveller etc to have been on their respective albums back then. It's the stuff I expect from this great band . Trying different songs from each remix to make a 40 minute album or 80 minute double album, I could rate them as follows, compared to original album ratings in brackets. benefit 8(7) aqualung 9(7.5)-double taab 9 app 8.5(8)-double warchild 8.5(7)-double minstrel 7.5(7) too old 8(6.5) Looking forward to the next remixes
Mew did a good job with the remix and I think his treatment there was quite different than his remastering efforts.
you rate the original aqualung a 7.5? our opinions are very different. aqualung is a 10 if ever there was a 10, up there with sgt pepper and dark side
I'd give it 7.5-8/10. Don't like side 2 much. Bit straight forward rock and the vocals are annoying. The quad versions of these side 2 songs are better though. If side 2 was the quad version I'd give the album a fairly good 8/10 or almost a very good 8.5/10. Hymn 43 quad is a big winner. Don't forget the 9 unrepeated studio songs on disc 2 which may be even better than the above. I don't really like 3 songs on Dark side. I'd give it a 7
News from Steven Also a reminder that my remix of Jethro Tull's "Stand Up" will be released on 18th November. I'm very much focussing on my own music these days, but will certainly keep slotting in the remix projects whenever I can. The other already completed mixes, Roxy Music's debut and Tears for Fears "Seeds of Love", remain in a holding pattern. I hope both will come out next year, but then the Roxy album has been "next year" every year since I did it in 2012! In the meantime another set of XTC tapes from the Virgin era have been found, and I certainly plan to continue with the Tull series (This Was, Songs From the Wood...etc), so look out for these in 2017.
Certainly the newsiest chunk of news there. Would be nice if he said which ones for Godssake! Black Sea? English Settlement? Is the secrecy really necessary? Perhaps Andy will tweet something soon. Sheesh.
Guess the SW Benefit will remain as is. No complaints. Looking forward to This Was. Should be some fine early nuggets and art floating around. I like the prior 2 cd mono and the remaster set.
I would definetively wait for any more official confirmation. It is weird that SW would want to remix This Was: not a prog album, no chance of mixing 5.1., a good remix already in existance...
Maybe they do invent somethin weird with This Was, in order to wait for 2018 and make HH a tru 40th ann. edition.
Oh, it is definitely feasible to mix a 4 tracks recording in "true" 5.1. It's just that the mix won't be as solid or beautiful as a 8+ tracks one. And depending on the tracks, the gain could not be as interesting.
