Jethro Tull - War Child 40th Anniversary Theatre Edition


Year of Release: 2014
Label: Rhino
Catalog Number: 2564621627
Format: CD/DVD
Total Time: 117:35:00

I really enjoy covering these anniversary reissues of the Jethro Tull catalog. Although it seems like an eternity ago that these albums were first released it is still an enjoyable experience to hear the music in a different way if you are a big fan of the band.

With the 40th Anniversary of War Child (1974) I was transported back to the time I was in the Columbia Record Club and this very album was part of my membership package. It quickly became one of my favorite albums to spin on my little stereo system. Of course now I have my laptop, phone, tablet and a surround system that I can use to hear music. The different configurations of the album offered in the set make it unique. This music pops out at you with crystal clear definition like never before due to the care taken in the remastering process.

War Child was a highly underrated album and I believe it stands up well today as one of Jethro Tull's strongest outings. With Minstrel In The Gallery coming out in May as another amazing 40th anniversary reissue I am sure I will find myself saying similar things. That is another strong release that I played often and realize today how underrated it was.

The 70s was Jethro Tull's strongest and most creatively fertile period. That is a matter of my own opinion however although I think many folks would agree. There is not a bad track on the album.

This is a beautiful set in a book format/case with 2 CDs and 2 DVDs. Steven Wilson continues to apply his studio wizardry to the catalog and does a fine job. The set includes original album and bonus tracks (three previously unreleased), remixed in 5.1 surround and stereo versions and perhaps the most interesting and intriguing segment of the set, the 10 orchestral pieces (nine previously unreleased) written for the film's soundtrack which never saw the light of day until now. Four of the tracks are remixed in 5.1 surround and stereo by Wilson and when you hear them in that context it serves as a revelation of sorts. There were big plans for the full on production of the album and stage play but it never happened; 40 years on we finally get to hear what they had in mind.

And who can forget the mega hit single "Bungle in the Jungle" b/w "Skating Away On The Thin Ice Of The New Day." And yes I had the 45 and played it a lot and many of my friends liked "Skating Away On The Thin Ice Of The New Day" better. As time passed the track grew on me and now I feel that was a better track. Again my opinion and taste prevail here.

"The Third Hoorah" promo footage from a January 1974 photo session/press conference where the War Child project was announced is included. It serves as an interesting bit of the band's history and is fun to watch. Ian Anderson updates the listener with his typical witty commentary as the soundtrack.

The 80-page booklet featuring an extensive article on the preparation and recording of the album, a film script synopsis, track-by-track annotations by Anderson, plus rare and unseen photographs are all part of the complete package.

War Child was a superb rendering of progressive rock and remains so. With this remastered set in all the different formats and bonus tracks makes for quite an adventure and it most certainly will give the release new life and a boat load of fans to come onboard the Jethro Tull remaster train. All aboard folks Minstrel In The Gallery is right around the corner! It's time to paralyze the pumpkin eaters…

Key Tracks: War Child, Skating Away On The Thin Ice Of The New Day, The Orchestral War Child Theme

© Keith "MuzikMan" Hannaleck; review provided by and originally published March 4, 2015 at Prog Rock Music Talk


Tracklisting:
Disc One: War Child (4:38) / Queen And Country (3:00) / Ladies (3:19) / Back-Door Angels (5:27) / Sea Lion (3:41) / Skating Away On The Thin Ice Of The New Day (4:11) / Bungle In The Jungle (3:40) / Only Solitaire (1:30) / The Third Hoorah (4:52) / Two Fingers (5:07)

Disc Two - The Second Act: Associated Recordings: Paradise Steakhouse (4:01) / Saturation (4:20) / Good Godmother (4:26) / SeaLion II (3:19) / Quartet (2:43) / War Child II (3:14) / Tomorrow Was Today (3:53) / Glory Row (3:34) / March, The Mad Scientist (1:48) / Rainbow Blues (3:37) / Pan Dance (3:37) // War Child Orchestral Recordings: The Orchestral War Child Theme (9:34) / The Third Hoorah (Orchestral Version) (4:46) / Mime Sequence (7:08) / Field Dance (Conway Hall Version) (1:41) / Waltz Of The Angels (Conway Hall Version) (4:22) / The Beach (Part I) (Morgan Master Recording) (3:20) / The Beach (Part II) (Morgan Master Recording) (1:00) / Waltz Of The Angels (Morgan Demo Recording) (4:01) / The Beach (Morgan Demo Recording) (2:41) / Field Dance (Morgan Demo Recording) (1:05)

Disc Three (DVD): [Untitled] / Montreux Photo Session & Press Conference, January 11, 1974 / The Third Hoorah [Promo Footage]

Disc Four (DVD): [Untitled]

Musicians:
Ian Anderson - flute, acoustic guitar, alto and soprano sax, vocals
Barriemore Barlow - drums, glockenspiel, marimba, percussion
Martin Barre - electric guitar, Spanish guitar
John Evan - organ, piano, synthesizer
Patrick Halling - orchestra leader
Jeffrey Hammond-Hammond - bass guitar, string bass
David Palmer - conductor, orchestration

Discography:
This Was (1968)
Stand Up (1969)
Benefit (1970)
Aqualung (1971)
Thick As A Brick (1972)
Living In The Past (1972)
A Passion Play (1973)
War Child (1974)
Minstrel In The Gallery (1975)
M.U. The Best Of (1976)
Too Old To Rock 'N' Roll: Too Young To Die (1976)
Songs From The Wood (1977)
Repeat - The Best Of Jethro Tull Vol 2 (1977)
Heavy Horses (1978)
Bursting Out - Live (1978)
Stormwatch (1979/2004)
'A' (1980)
The Broadsword And The Beast (1982/2005)
Under Wraps (1984)
Original Masters (1985)
Crest Of A Knave (1987/2005)
20 Years Of Jethro Tull (1988)
Rock Island (1988)
Catfish Rising (1991)
A Little Light Music (1992)
The Anniversary Collection (1993)
25th Anniversary Box Set (1993)
Nightcap (1995)
Roots To Branches (1995)
J-Tull Dot Com (1999)
The Very Best Of (2001)
Living With The Past (2002)
The Jethro Tull Christmas Album (2003)
Classic Masters (2003)
Stand Up/This Was (2003)
Essential (2003)
Nothing Is Easy: Live At The Isle Of Wight 1970 (2004)
Aqualung Live (2005)
Jethro Tull/Ian Anderson (2005)
Extended Versions (2006)
Live At Montreux 2003 (2007)
The Best Of Acoustic Jethro Tull (2007)
Living With The Past/Nothing Is Easy (2008)
This Was (expanded) (2008)
Nothing Is Easy - Live At The Isle Of Wight 1970 (2004/2008)
The Anniversary Collection/A New Day Yesterday (2008)
Live At Montreux 2003 (2008)
Live At Madison Square Garden (2009)
Christmas Album (2009)
Live In Switzerland 2003 (LP) (2014)
A Passion Play - An Extended Performance (2014)
War Child - 40th Anniversary Theatre Edition (2014)
Minstrel In The Gallery - 40th Anniversary La Grande Edition (2015)

Living With The Past (DVD) (2002)
A New Day Yesterday: 1969-1994 - The 25th Anniversary Collection (VID/DVD) (1994/2003/4)
Nothing Is Easy - Live At The Isle Of Wight 1970 (DVD) (2005) Live At Montreux 2003 (DVD) (2008)
Jack In The Green - Live In Germany (DVD) (2008)
Live In Bethlehem, PA, 2003 (DVD) (2008)
Their Full Authorized Story (DVD) (2009)
Live At AVO Session 2008 (DVD) (2009)
Live At Madison Square Garden (DVD) (rec 1978, rel 2009)

Genre: Progressive Rock

Origin UK

Added: May 18th 2015
Reviewer: Keith "Muzikman" Hannaleck
Score:
Artist website: www.jethrotull.com
Hits: 4180
Language: english

  

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