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1979’s Stormwatch could have been the final Jethro Tull record.  The culmination of the band’s “folk-rock trilogy” that began with Songs from the Wood in 1977, Stormwatch was the final album to feature Tull’s classic line-up.  Barriemore Barlow, John Evan, and Dee Palmer all departed the group after the April 1980 conclusion of the Stormwatch tour, and John Glascock died during the tour.  With the band seemingly dissolved, Ian regrouped with guitarist Martin Barre to record a solo album.  But upon its completion, Chrysalis Records sensed the potential of releasing the LP under the Jethro Tull name.  And so, a “new” Jethro Tull was born in 1980.  On April 16, Rhino and Chrysalis will reissue A (A La Mode): The 40th Anniversary Edition, a 3-CD/3-DVD set in the ongoing Tull reissue series.

The new box set will include:

• The original album and associated recordings newly remixed by Steven Wilson;
• The original album and five associated recordings mixed in DTS and Dolby AC 3, 5.1 Surround, and 96/24 LPCM Stereo;
• A full concert from the L.A. Sports Arena recorded in August 1980;
• The full L.A. Sports Arena concert mixed by Steven Wilson in DTS and Dolby AC 3, 5.1 Surround, and 96/24 LPCM Stereo;
• A Flat transfer of the original LP master in 96/24 LPCM Stereo; and
• A DVD of the Slipstream video remixed by Steven Wilson in DTS and Dolby AC 3, 5.1 Surround, and 96/24 LPCM Stereo.

As with past titles in this series, A will be presented in a casebound book including comprehensive liner notes, track-by-track annotations from Ian Anderson, rare photos, and more.

The title of the album was derived from the first letter of the vocalist-flautist-guitarist’s surname which is how the original master tapes were marked.  Anderson and Barre were joined for the London sessions, held in the summer of 1980, by Dave Pegg on bass and mandolin and Mark Craney on drums, as well as Eddie Jobson, late of Roxy Music, on keyboard, synthesizer, and electric violin.  Anderson and Robin Black produced the sessions.

Five previously unreleased tracks make their debuts including an alternate take of the single “Working John, Working Joe,” the outtake “Coruisk,” and an extended version of “Crossfire.”  The live show (presented in full on two CDs) was captured in November 1980 at the now-demolished L.A. Sports Arena, today the site of soccer venue Banc of California Stadium.  Some of its performances were first released on the 1981 VHS and Laserdisc release Slipstream.  While Slipstream was issued on DVD in 2004 as part of a remastered edition of A, its audio has been newly remixed by Steven Wilson for inclusion here.

This deluxe anniversary set arrives on April 16.  You’ll find pre-order links and the track listing below!

Jethro Tull, A (A La Mode): The 40th Anniversary Edition (Rhino/Chrysalis, 2021) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada)

CD 1: Original Album (Chrysalis CDL 1301, 1980) and Associated Tracks

Steven Wilson Stereo Remix

1. “Crossfire”
2. “Fylingdale Flyer”
3. “Working John, Working Joe”
4. “Black Sunday”
5. “Protect And Survive”
6. “Batteries Not Included”
7. “Uniform”
8. “4.W.D. (Low Ratio)”
9. “The Pine Marten’s Jig”
10. “And Further On”

Associated Tracks

11. “Crossfire” (Extended Version)
12. “Working John, Working Joe” (Take 4)
13. “Cheerio” (Early Version)
14. “Coruisk”
15. “Slipstream Intro”

CD 2: Live at the LA Sports Arena 1980 (Part 1)

Steven Wilson Stereo Mix

1. “Slipstream Intro”
2. “Black Sunday”
3. “Crossfire”
4. “Songs From The Wood”
5. “Hunting Girl”
6. “The Pine Marten’s Jig”
7. “Working John, Working Joe”
8. “Heavy Horses”
9. Band Instrumental Intro
10. “Skating Away On The Thin Ice Of The New Day”
11. “Instrumental” (including flute solo)

CD 3: Live at the LA Sports Arena 1980 (Part 2)

Steven Wilson Stereo Remix

1. Trio Instrumental
2. Keyboard solo
3. “Batteries Not Included”
4. “Uniform” (including drum solo instrumental)
5. “Protect and Survive” (including violin solo)
6. “Bungle In The Jungle”
7. Guitar Solo/Bass solo intro to encore
8. “Aqualung”
9. “Locomotive Breath”/Instrumental/”Black Sunday” (reprise)

DVD 1: Original Album and Associated Tracks

• Contains Steven Wilson’s 2020 remix of the album and 5 associated tracks in DTS and Dolby AC 3, 5.1 Surround, and 96/24 LPCM Stereo. Flat transfer of the original LP master in 96/24 LPCM Stereo.

DVD 2: Live at the LA Sports Arena November 1980 (Audio Only)

• Contains Steven Wilson’s 2020 mix of the concert in DTS and Dolby AC 3, 5.1 surround and stereo 96/24 LPCM

DVD 3: Slipstream (video)

• With audio tracks remixed by Steven Wilson in DTS and Dolby AC 3, 5.1 Surround and 96/24 LPCM Stereo