Jethro Tull - Aqualung Live (17 tracks) +Album Reviews

An Update version of the original

Michael Wheeler | Las Vegas, Nevada United States | 03/11/2006

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Aqualung is one of the all-time Rock Classics. Ian Anderson now 35 years later has decided to do a live version.

This recording will never replace the original. Andersons' voice has aged. Anderson continues to fight the battle with his voice. But the vocals all considered are not bad.

This is not a note for note live copy of the original, this is a close imitation with a few updated arrangements.

The most noticeable would be his version of Mother Goose with an accordian. He adds a solo in the middle of the song, that gives it a whole new flavor. Up To Me is another song where he plays with the arrangement. They both are arranged as he says, the way they should have been in the first place.

The acoustic songs such as, Cheap Day Return, Wondering Aloud, and My God have a very chrisp sound. His acoustic guitar is among the finest of Tulls' career.

At the end Ian Anderson does a nice interview and recalls the recording of the original album.

Martin Barre as usual is playing very good electric guitar and Ian Andersons' flute sounds fantastic as always.

This is not some throw away album, it is a very good album with alternate versions and arrangements of the original.

If you are a Tull collector you need to have this........"

Interesting new live recording of a classic.

Valnastar | Deep 13, USA | 10/27/2005

(4 out of 5 stars)

"I was lucky enough to see Jethro Tull live again recently in Washington, D.C. and received a copy of this disc free at the concert. It is an interesting live take of all the material on Aqualung, which, according to Ian Anderson, was recorded earlier in 2005 at the XM Radio studio in D.C. As any long-time fan will know, most of the players on this album are different than the band members one hears on the original studio recording. That, combined with the passage of time and slightly different arrangements on some songs, gives this album a slightly different feel than the original, but it's pleasant enough and skillfully done. Although it's no replacement for the original, fans should find this CD interesting and fun. Some of the comments and discussion recorded during the session appear on this CD, thankfully placed together at the end so as not to interrupt the music (unlike the Jethro Tull Live At Isle of Wight DVD). Proceeds from this CD go to charity. Any Tull fan looking for some "new" Tull material will enjoy this. Recommended."

17 twice, this CD is nice!

AnimeJaz | Burbank, CA | 11/14/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"My mom took me to see Tull tonight at the Kodak. I am 17, a senior in CA. My mom saw Tull when she was 17, in Ohio in 1977. It's kinda trippy that we both saw them at this age! Jethro Tull's music is one of my favorites & this was a special night for both of us, thank you Ian and band! Please come back again & again! We listen to this music every day, have every album or CD. There is no other band that covers this much ground. All of you who want to be critical about Ian's singing are wrong - he makes it work and these guys did it all tonight in Hollywood - take it from a 45-year old fan & a 17-year old fan, both who have already cracked open this CD before bed at 2 am! :-D"

A Fitting Homage, With Some Nice Surprises

G-Dexter | Lakewood, NY United States | 08/22/2006

(4 out of 5 stars)

"AQUALUNG LIVE; well sort of. This album was recorded before a small audience at the XM Radio studio in Washington D.C. When I heard there was a new "live" album coming out I was hoping it would be more in the line of BURSTING OUT, where thousands of rabid Tull fans could be heard cheering, clapping and singing along on the quite bits. Instead we are privy to a very intimate setting in which the band performed this landmark album in arrangements familiar to most concert goers of the last few years.

So, while the musicians were undoubtedly ALIVE, and the songs they played were the current concert versions, there is a certain lack of excitement one associates with a concert recording. This is especially true of the quintessential show stopping tune, LOCOMOTIVE BREATH, which usually draws deafening applause and shouts in a concert, yet here only garners the praise of a very small group of people. Don't get me wrong, I would have given my right arm to be among the two score of fans who were lucky enough to attend this performance. As you would expect, the track list is exactly that of the original album.

Many of the songs are nearly indistinguishable from versions available on other live albums. The title track is perhaps the weakest on the album; I much prefer the recent live version on IAN ANDERSON PLAYS THE ORCHESTRAL JETHRO TULL. (Check that one out if you can, it's worth the money!) The real departure on this album is a Celtic gigue version of HYMN 43 that moves along at a brisk pace and includes some very creative flute improvisation. Some bonus chatter is included at the end of the disc.

This is a nice, but not necessary addition to any Tull collection. If you're on the fence as to buying it or not, note that all the band's proceeds are being donated to various charities for the homeless - a fitting homage to a character forever associated with this band and this album."

Then and Again...Again...and Again...and Again!

Larry A. Curtis | 02/13/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"If you are like me (haven't been able to get enough Jethro Tull since I was about 15...Aqualung era) this album is a must to add to your Tull collection. I was not so fortunate as to attend the recent concert where this was given away...however I got MINE right here at good ole amazon.com! I've hardly stopped listening to it!

Some folks are overly conservative when it comes to their favorite tunes having to conform to the original sound...if you fall into that category you may have a little difficulty with a few of the songs...like our friend whose review you see a few posts back. Quite honestly...I thought the little folksy twist added to the beginning of Hymn 43 was very delightful and quite Tullish. I will not do a review of each song because I don't wish to taint your own first impressions...but I will say this is certainly worth having.

And for those of you who seem to have a great knack for being critical of IA's singing...you can only hope that you, too, would be able to continue to rock and roll when everyone else thinks you are too old! GO IAN!

LC"

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