As Jethro Tull celebrates their 50th anniversary this year, the band has already give their fans several reissues beginning with a deluxe version of Heavy Horses in February and a pair of compilations in May.  But that's not all, because Parlophone/Rhino has just announced a new 3-CD/1-DVD deluxe edition of the group's debut album This Was, due on November 9.

After playing their first show under the name Jethro Tull in February, 1968, the group got into the studio to record their first album in June with sessions lasting through August.  This would be the only album to feature guitarist Mick Abrahams, who left Tull shortly after the release of the LP on Island Records in October over reported "musical differences."  And, indeed, This Was does have a different sound than subsequent Tull albums with a heavier blues influence.  Abrahams also provided the only vocal on a Tull studio album not to have Ian Anderson in the lead on "Move On Alone."  This Was reached No. 10 in the U.K. and No. 62 on the U.S. chart.

As with all of their recent deluxe reissues, Parlophone/Rhino's new anniversary edition starts off with a new stereo mix of the album by Steven Wilson. (This is not to be confused with the Peter Mew remix the album received for its 40th anniversary in 2008.)  Wilson has also mixed the album in 4.1 (yes, 4.1, not 5.1) DTS and AC3 Dolby Digital surround for the DVD.  In addition, Disc 1 also includes new mixes of two non-LP songs "Love Story" and "A Christmas Song" (both remixed into 5.1 surround on the DVD) and four previously unreleased tracks.

Disc 2 kicks off with nine live performances from the BBC Top Gear Session which made their CD debut on the 2008 reissue.  It continues with more bonus tracks including, among others, two single mixes of "Love Story," non-LP side "One For John Gee" and both sides of their debut single from February 1968 on the MGM label when the band was mis-billed as "Jethro Toe."  Another track, "Blues for the 18th" was recorded at the same time as that single and included here.  It has only previously been available on several rarer, non-Tull specific compilations.  The third CD includes the original U.K. stereo mix of the album and its original mono mix (in its 2008 remastering).

The DVD includes the aforementioned surround mixes as well as the new Steven Wilson mix in 96/24 LPCM stereo.  It also features the 1969 U.S. stereo mix in 96/24 LPCM stereo.

In keeping with tradition, this new deluxe reissue is presented in a case-bound DVD book with a history of the album, track-by-track notes by Ian Anderson and rare photographs.

If you would like to go back to the very beginning with Jethro Tull, we've got the full tracklisting and preorder links below!

Jethro Tull, This Was: 50th Anniversary Edition (Parlophone/Rhino, 2018) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada)

Disc 1 - Steven Wilson Stereo Remix

1. My Sunday Feeling
2. Some Day The Sun Won't Shine For You
3. Beggar's Farm
4. Move On Alone
5. Serenade To A Cuckoo
6. Dharma For One
7. It's Breaking Me Up
8. Cat's Squirrel
9. A Song For Jeffrey
10. Round
11. Love Story
12. A Christmas Song
13. Serenade To A Cuckoo" (Take 1)
14. Some Day The Sun Won't Shine For You" (Faster Version)
15. Move On Alone" (Flute Version)
16. Ultimate Confusion

Disc 2

1. So Much Trouble (BBC Sessions)
2. My Sunday Feeling (BBC Sessions)
3. Serenade To A Cuckoo (BBC Sessions)
4. Cat's Squirrel (BBC Sessions)
5. A Song For Jeffrey (BBC Sessions)
6. Love Story (BBC Sessions)
7. Stormy Monday (BBC Sessions)
8. Beggar's Farm (BBC Sessions)
9. Dharma For One (BBC Sessions)
10. A Song For Jeffrey (Original Mono Mix)
11. One For John Gee (Original Mono Mix)
12. Someday The Sun Won't Shine For You - Faster Version (Original Mono Mix)
13. Love Story (Original Mono Mix)
14. A Christmas Song (Original Mono Mix)
15. Sunshine Day
16. Aeroplane
17. Blues For The 18th
18. Love Story (1969 U.S. Promo Single Stereo Mix for FM Radio Airplay)
19. U.S. FM Radio Spot #1
20. U.S. FM Radio Spot #2

Disc 3

1. My Sunday Feeling (Original Stereo Mix)
2. Some Day The Sun Won't Shine For You (Original Stereo Mix)
3. Beggar's Farm (Original Stereo Mix)
4. Move On Alone (Original Stereo Mix)
5. Serenade To A Cuckoo (Original Stereo Mix)
6. Dharma For One (Original Stereo Mix)
7. It's Breaking Me Up (Original Stereo Mix)
8. Cat's Squirrel (Original Stereo Mix)
9. A Song For Jeffrey (Original Stereo Mix)
10. Round (Original Stereo Mix)
11. My Sunday Feeling (2008 Remastered Version - Mono)
12. Some Day The Sun Won't Shine For You (2008 Remastered Version - Mono)
13. Beggar's Farm (2008 Remastered Version - Mono)
14. Move On Alone (2008 Remastered Version - Mono)
15. Serenade To A Cuckoo (2008 Remastered Version - Mono)
16. Dharma For One (2008 Remastered Version - Mono)
17. It's Breaking Me Up (2008 Remastered Version - Mono)
18. Cat's Squirrel (2008 Remastered Version - Mono)
19. A Song For Jeffrey (2008 Remastered Version - Mono)
20. Round (2008 Remastered Version - Mono)

DVD

1. Original Album and Bonus Tracks Remixed by Steven Wilson in 4.1 DTS
2. Original Album and Bonus Tracks Remixed by Steven Wilson in 4.1 AC3 Dolby Digital
3. Original Album and Bonus Tracks Remixed by Steven Wilson in 96/24 LPCM Stereo
4. "Love Story" and "A Christmas Song" Remixed by Steven Wilson in 5.1 Surround
5. 1969 U.S. Stereo Mix is 96/24 LPCM Stereo

Disc 1, Tracks 1-10 New Remix of This Was Island Records LP ILPS 9085, 1968
Disc 1, Tracks 11-12 New remix of Island Records single WIP 6048, 1968
Disc 1, Tracks 13-16 and Disc 2, Track 12 previously unreleased
Disc 2 Tracks 1-9 Originally released on This Was: 40^th Anniversary Edition, Chrysalis CD 50999 206497 2, 2008
Disc 2, Tracks 10-11 from Island Records single WIP 6043, 1968
Disc 2, Tracks 13-14 from Island Records single WIP 6048, 1968
Disc 2, Tracks 15-16 MGM Records single MGM 1384, 1968
Disc 2, Track 17 Originally released on The Derek Lawrence Story - The Sampler, Line Records CD LICD 9.01138 E, 1991
Disc 2, Track 18 from Reprise Records Promo single 0815, 1969
Disc 3, Tracks 1-10 from This Was, Island Records LP ILPS 9085, 1968
Disc 3, Tracks 11-20 from This Was, Island Records LP ILP 985, 1968
DVD U.S. Stereo Mix from This Was, Reprise Records LP 6336, 1969