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No Longer Wond’ring Aloud: Details Finally Arrive For “Aqualung” Super-Deluxe Box

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The super-deluxe parade continues.

We first reported on the 40th anniversary box set of Jethro Tull’s Aqualung back on June 3, and now we can thank our pals at MusicTAP for revealing details of the set’s rather overwhelming contents!  On October 31 in the U.K., EMI will unveil the 2-CD/1-LP/1 DVD/1 BD Aqualung box set alongside a 2-CD distillation, housed in a digipak and containing a 48-page booklet.  Amazon isn’t currently showing an American release date, though a domestic arrival is expected shortly after the U.K. date.

Aqualung remains the all-time sales champion for British band Jethro Tull.  One of the very first albums recorded at Island Studios, it marked a departure for Jethro Tull’s original, heavier sound, with a track listing of primarily acoustic songs.  Bandleader, flautist and chief songwriter Ian Anderson, though, was at his most inspired.  Anderson divided the album into two suites entitled Aqualung and My God, one to each side of the LP.  Clearly the offstage turmoil facing the band and its line-up didn’t hold back Anderson’s prolific creativity.  The album was keyboardist John Evan’s first as a full-fledged member, first with new bassist Jeffrey Hammond, and last with Clive Bunker playing drums.  Upon its release, it went Top Ten in both the U.K. and America, hitting No. 4 and No. 7, respectively.  In many respects, the original LP defied categorization.  Anderson commented, “I always said at the time that this is not a concept album; this is just an album of varied songs of varied instrumentation and intensity in which three or four are the kind of keynote pieces for the album but it doesn’t make it a concept album.”  The actual concept album would come the next year, with 1972’s Thick as a Brick, and its nearly 45-minute single song album (split into two sides on vinyl, of course)!

In his own way, Anderson was commenting on English society of the day as much as, say, Ray Davies.  His lyrics featured pointed commentary on religion (“My God”, “Hymn 43” and “Wind Up”) but he also indulged a whimsical side (“Mother Goose”), and a contemplative one (“Wond’ring Aloud”).  With varying tempi and feel, Aqualung successfully mixed both gritty rock and more “highbrow” experimentation into an album that still sounds like no other, even today.  What has been added to make this the definitive Aqualung?  Hit the jump!

The 40th anniversary box set contains two CDs, one 180-gram audiophile LP, both a DVD and a Blu-Ray disc, plus a 48-page hardback book, all presented in a hardback slipcase.  The first CD offers a new stereo mix of the classic album, remixed by Steven Wilson.  (Wilson noted, “As always the remix is super faithful to the original, but with much improved sonic clarity, something that just can’t be achieved with remastering).”   The second CD offers additional 1970 and 1971 recordings, including some previously unreleased new stereo mixes by Wilson.  The LP also contains Wilson’s new stereo mix, but the gatefold sleeve design of the original LP has been retained.  The DVD features the album mixed to 5.1 surround sound, with four additional recordings.  All are playable in DTS Surround (96/24) and Dolby Digital Surround (48/24).  In addition, the new stereo mix and the four bonus tracks are available in 96/24 LPCM Stereo, and the original quadraphonic mix is also present in both DTS and Dolby sound.  On Blu-Ray, you’ll find 96/24 LPCM & DTS-HD Master Audio tracks for the album and the same four bonus tracks in 5.1 surround, plus the new stereo mix of original album  (96/24 LPCM), the additional 1970/1971 bonus recordings (96/24 LPCM), the quad mix (96/24 LPCM and DTS-HD Master Audio), and a flat transfer of the original 1971 album mix (96/24 LPCM).

The accompanying 12 x 12” hardcover book packs a generous amount of material into its 48 pages, including a 6,000-word note by Dom Lawson; an interview with Anderson conducted by Lawson; commentary by Jeffrey Hammond-Hammond (Bass Guitar), Martin Barre (Guitar), Clive Bunker (Drums), Barrie Barlow (Drummer following Clive Bunker’s departure), Glenn Cornick (Original Bassist on early recordings), Terry Ellis (Manager), Jennie Franks (Ian Anderson’s first wife and lyricist for title track “Aqualung”) and Billie Ritchie (from 60s rock band and labelmate Clouds); technical notes from remix producer Steven Wilson; a 1970/1971 tour chronology;  lyrics; tape box scans; the band line-up information;  “Inside Island,” a 1970 note on the studio; and rare photographs.

You can celebrate the 40th anniversary of Aqualung when the box set and 2-CD edition arrive in the U.K. on October 31.  The complete track listing and an Amazon (U.S.) pre-order link follows!

Jethro Tull, Aqualung: 40th Anniversary Edition (Chrysalis ILPS-9145 (U.K.), 1971 – reissued EMI, 2011)

180-gram LP: The Original Album (New Stereo Mix)

Side 1

  1. Aqualung (New Stereo Mix)
  2. Cross-Eyed Mary (New Stereo Mix)
  3. Cheap Day Return (New Stereo Mix)
  4. Mother Goose (New Stereo Mix)
  5. Wond’ring Aloud (New Stereo Mix)
  6. Up To Me (New Stereo Mix)

Side 2

  1. My God (New Stereo Mix)
  2. Hymn 43 (New Stereo Mix)
  3. Slipstream (New Stereo Mix)
  4. Locomotive Breath (New Stereo Mix)
  5. Wind-Up (New Stereo Mix)

CD1: The Original Album (New Stereo Mix)

  1. Aqualung (New Stereo Mix)
  2. Cross-Eyed Mary (New Stereo Mix)
  3. Cheap Day Return (New Stereo Mix)
  4. Mother Goose (New Stereo Mix)
  5. Wond’ring Aloud (New Stereo Mix)
  6. Up To Me (New Stereo Mix)
  7. My God (New Stereo Mix)
  8. Hymn 43 (New Stereo Mix)
  9. Slipstream (New Stereo Mix)
  10. Locomotive Breath (New Stereo Mix)
  11. Wind-Up (New Stereo Mix)

CD2: Bonus Material

  1. Lick Your Fingers Clean (New Mix) (original mix from 20 Years of Jethro Tull, Chrysalis F2-21655, 1988)
  2. Just Trying To Be (New Mix) (original mix from Living in the Past, Chrysalis CJT 1/2, 1972)
  3. My God (Early Version)
  4. Wond’ring Aloud (13th December 1970)
  5. Wind-Up (Early Version – New Mix)
  6. Slipstream (Take 2)
  7. Up The ‘Pool (Early Version)
  8. Wond’ring Aloud, Again (Full Morgan Version) (original version from Living in the Past, Chrysalis CJT 1/2, 1972)
  9. Life Is A Long Song (New Mix) (original mix from Living in the Past, Chrysalis CJT 1/2, 1972)
  10. Up The ‘Pool (New Mix) (original mix from Living in the Past, Chrysalis CJT 1/2, 1972)
  11. Dr Bogenbroom (2011 – Remaster) (from Living in the Past, Chrysalis CJT 1/2, 1972)
  12. From Later (2011 – Remaster) (from Living in the Past, Chrysalis CJT 1/2, 1972)
  13. Nursie (2011 – Remaster) (from Living in the Past, Chrysalis CJT 1/2, 1972)
  14. US Radio Spot

DVD:

  1. Aqualung (5.1 Surround Sound Mix)
  2. Cross-Eyed Mary (5.1 Surround Sound Mix)
  3. Cheap Day Return (5.1 Surround Sound Mix)
  4. Mother Goose (5.1 Surround Sound Mix)
  5. Wond’ring Aloud (5.1 Surround Sound Mix)
  6. Up To Me (5.1 Surround Sound Mix)
  7. My God (5.1 Surround Sound Mix)
  8. Hymn 43 (5.1 Surround Sound Mix)
  9. Slipstream (5.1 Surround Sound Mix)
  10. Locomotive Breath (5.1 Surround Sound Mix) 1
  11. Wind-Up (5.1 Surround Sound Mix)
  12. Lick Your Fingers Clean (New Mix) (5.1 Surround Sound Mix)
  13. My God (Early Version) (5.1 Surround Sound Mix)
  14. Up The ‘Pool (5.1 Surround Sound Mix)
  15. Life Is A Long Song (New Mix) (5.1 Surround Sound Mix)
  16. Aqualung (New Stereo Mix)
  17. Cross-Eyed Mary (New Stereo Mix)
  18. Cheap Day Return (New Stereo Mix)
  19. Mother Goose (New Stereo Mix)
  20. Wond’ring Aloud (New Stereo Mix)
  21. Up To Me (New Stereo Mix)
  22. My God (New Stereo Mix)
  23. Hymn 43 (New Stereo Mix)
  24. Slipstream (New Stereo Mix)
  25. Locomotive Breath (New Stereo Mix)
  26. Wind-Up (New Stereo Mix)
  27. Lick Your Fingers Clean (New Mix)
  28. Just Trying To Be (New Mix)
  29. My God (Early Version)
  30. Wond’ring Aloud (13th December 1970)
  31. Wind Up (Early Version – New Mix)
  32. Slipstream (Take 2)
  33. Up The ‘Pool (Early Version)
  34. Wond’ring Aloud, Again (Full Morgan Version)
  35. Life Is A Long Song (New Mix)
  36. Up The ‘Pool (New Mix)
  37. Dr Bogenbroom (2011 – Remaster)
  38. From Later (2011 – Remaster)
  39. Nursie (2011 – Remaster)
  40. Aqualung (Quad Mix)
  41. Cross-Eyed Mary (Quad Mix)
  42. Cheap Day Return (Quad Mix)
  43. Mother Goose (Quad Mix)
  44. Wond’ring Aloud (Quad Mix)
  45. Up To Me (Quad Mix)
  46. My God (Quad Mix)
  47. Hymn 43 (Quad Mix)
  48. Slipstream (Quad Mix)
  49. Locomotive Breath (Quad Mix)
  50. Wind-Up (Quad Mix)

Blu-Ray:

  1. Aqualung (5.1 Surround Sound Mix)
  2. Cross-Eyed Mary (5.1 Surround Sound Mix)
  3. Cheap Day Return (5.1 Surround Sound Mix)
  4. Mother Goose (5.1 Surround Sound Mix)
  5. Wond’ring Aloud (5.1 Surround Sound Mix)
  6. Up To Me (5.1 Surround Sound Mix)
  7. My God (5.1 Surround Sound Mix)
  8. Hymn 43 (5.1 Surround Sound Mix)
  9. Slipstream (5.1 Surround Sound Mix)
  10. Locomotive Breath (5.1 Surround Sound Mix)
  11. Wind-Up (5.1 Surround Sound Mix)
  12. Lick Your Fingers Clean (New Mix) (5.1 Surround Sound Mix)
  13. My God (Early Version) (5.1 Surround Sound Mix)
  14. Up The ‘Pool (5.1 Surround Sound Mix)
  15. Life Is A Long Song (New Mix) (5.1 Surround Sound Mix)
  16. Aqualung (New Stereo Mix)
  17. Cross-Eyed Mary (New Stereo Mix)
  18. Cheap Day Return (New Stereo Mix)
  19. Mother Goose (New Stereo Mix)
  20. Wond’ring Aloud (New Stereo Mix)
  21. Up To Me (New Stereo Mix)
  22. My God (New Stereo Mix)
  23. Hymn 43 (New Stereo Mix)
  24. Slipstream (New Stereo Mix)
  25. Locomotive Breath (New Stereo Mix)
  26. Wind-Up (New Stereo Mix)
  27. Lick Your Fingers Clean (New Mix)
  28. Just Trying To Be (New Mix)
  29. My God (Early Version)
  30. Wond’ring Aloud (13th December 1970)
  31. Wind-Up (Early Version – New Mix)
  32. Slipstream (Take 2)
  33. Up The ‘Pool (Early Version)
  34. Wond’ring Aloud, Again (Full Morgan Version)
  35. Life Is A Long Song (New Mix)
  36. Up The ‘Pool (New Mix)
  37. Dr Bogenbroom (2011 – Remaster)
  38. From Later (2011 – Remaster)
  39. Nursie (2011 – Remaster)
  40. Aqualung
  41. Cross-Eyed Mary
  42. Cheap Day Return
  43. Mother Goose
  44. Wond’Ring Aloud
  45. Up To Me
  46. My God
  47. Hymn 43
  48. Slipstream
  49. Locomotive Breath
  50. Wind-Up
  51. Aqualung (Quad Mix)
  52. Cross-Eyed Mary (Quad Mix)
  53. Cheap Day Return (Quad Mix)
  54. Mother Goose (Quad Mix)
  55. Wond’ring Aloud (Quad Mix)
  56. Up To Me (Quad Mix)
  57. My God (Quad Mix)
  58. Hymn 43 (Quad Mix)
  59. Slipstream (Quad Mix)
  60. Locomotive Breath (Quad Mix)
  61. Wind-Up (Quad Mix)
Joe Marchese

Joe Marchese

JOE MARCHESE (Editor) joined The Second Disc shortly after its launch in early 2010, and has since penned daily news and reviews about classic music of all genres. In 2015, Joe formed the Second Disc Records label. Celebrating the great songwriters, producers and artists who created the sound of American popular song, Second Disc Records, in conjunction with Real Gone Music, has released newly-curated collections produced by Joe from iconic artists such as Johnny Mathis, Bobby Darin, Laura Nyro, Melissa Manchester, Chet Atkins, and many others. He has contributed liner notes to reissues from a diverse array of artists, among them Nat "King" Cole, Paul Williams, Lesley Gore, Dusty Springfield, B.J. Thomas, The 5th Dimension, Burt Bacharach, The Mamas and the Papas, Carpenters, Perry Como, Rod McKuen, Doris Day, Jackie DeShannon, and Andy Williams, and has compiled releases for talents including Robert Goulet and Keith Allison of Paul Revere and the Raiders. Over the past two decades, Joe has also worked in a variety of capacities on and off Broadway as well as at some of the premier theatres in the U.S., including Lincoln Center Theater, George Street Playhouse, Paper Mill Playhouse, Long Wharf Theatre, and the York Theatre Company. He has felt privileged to work on productions alongside artists such as the late Jack Klugman, Eli Wallach, Arthur Laurents, Betty Comden and Adolph Green. In 2009, Joe began contributing theatre and music reviews to the print publication The Sondheim Review, and in 2012, he joined the staff of The Digital Bits as a regular contributor writing about film and television on DVD and Blu-ray. Joe currently resides in the suburbs of New York City.

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Comments

  1. The amount of superdeluxe edtion albums out now or due are so far amazing, Just picked up Pink Floyd’s DSOTM Immersion box set, and lo and behold Jethro Tull’s all time classic “Aqualung”, having bought the 25th Anniversary edition in 1996, i must say that version was very very poor sound quality, with the
    “new” edition due on the above dates, this massive 40th Anniversary one should sound superb? Can’t wait for this one, and let us not forget around the 18th-19th November a super deluxe edition of The Doors
    “L.A.Woman”, can’t wait too.

    Reply

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