Jethro Tull Album: “Bursting Out [Remaster]”

It's not so ironic as it may seem that the intelligent, flabbergasting music of Jethro Tull became the center of one of the 70s' leading arena attractions. A Jethro Tull concert could be seen as a sanctuary for hard rock fans, especially in that decade, a time when prog-rock (and most of rock/metal labels) was widely dismissed as overblown, empty showiness. This was the band that proved a concert hall full of cheering teenagers were also capable of handling the mind-challenging music and lyrics of Ian Anderson with open-mindedness and maturity. That's why this definitive remaster of "Bursting Out" is such an important piece of rock history.

Culled from a captivating European tour, this double disc set defined both this era of rock in general, and this era of Jethro Tull specifically. There are some interesting improvisational moments, such as Anderson's antics on a flute improv including 'God Rest Ye Merry Men' and 'Bouree' (the image of a manic flute player at a rock concert is deliciously intriguing). But while many other places don't sound radically different from their studio versions (music-wise, not time-wise), it's the power and passion of the performance that counts. If you don't plan on buying the entire "Thick As a Brick" album, this is an ideal buy, as it features a 12-minute performance of that record's title song, but you'll also be getting several other Tull classics ('Aqualung,' 'Cross-Eyed Mary,' 'Locomotive Breath,' 'Too Old To Rock and Roll...'), as well as some pieces demonstrating the band's folk influences, ('Songs From the Wood,' 'Jack in the Green').

Hopefully with this great remaster, "Bursting Out" will get some more of the attention that it deserves. It is the remnant of a time when rock was striving to gain its respect, but the end of this era for Tull, as several members would soon depart, leaving Ian Anderson to re-craft the band's music.

As many times and as long as I've seen this title in stores everywhere,this is my first copy of 'Bursting Out' I've ever had.Originally released in 1978,'Bursting...' covers classic Tull material from their second lp,which was put out in 1969 through 1977.'Bursting...' appears to be the band's 12th actual release.The sound is great as the disc here gives all true Tull fans a chance to re-live or experience maybe for the first time a live Jethro Tull concert.Seems like EVERY music fan you run across usually likes at least one or two Tull albums.As for the tunes,I found myself keeping a sharp ear open for "Breaking Away...","A New Day Yesterday","Bouree","Songs From The Woods",the unforgetable "Thick As A Brick","Aqualung" and "Locomotive Breath".Line-up on this CD is:Ian Anderson-vocals&flute,Martin Barrie-guitar&mandolin,John Evans-organ&piano,Barriemore Barlow-drums,David Palmer-pipe organ&synthesizers and John Glascock-bass&vocals.Only downside is that "Living In The Past" isn't on here.That's okay.They can't play everything.Recommended.

Measure by measure this album -to my mind- occupies a predominant place among the twelve greatest live rock albums ever recorded.

The other eleven would be -without any specific order-: How the west was won , Made in Japan , Live at Leeds , Hendrix in Woodstock , Uriah Heep live , Humble pie performance ,Iron Butterfly live , Allman Brothers in Fillmore, Pink Floyd in Pompey , Woodstock and Cream live .

The ravishing moods of all the band headed for that monster musician and living legend Ian Anderson are present in this historic performing .

Consider Aqualung the best version ever recorded by them since its release , Thick is a brick is superb ; and so A new day yesterday , Crossed eyed Mary , Songs from the wood , Haunting girl ; Minister in the gallery or Too old to rock' n' roll.

Thnks to Ian Anderson , Martin Barre, john Evan , Barriemore Barlow , David Palmer and John Glasscock for this album with out time and obviously a classic among the classics albums in the rock story .

The transfer was glorious fortunately for that generation and the new listeners who will never be able to deny the virtues of that icon band of the last sixties which so many glories and good moments offered us .

Jethro Tull was all but finished as a major concert attraction by the time of this live recording from their 1978 "Heavy Horses" tour. I think Ian Anderson realized that if he was ever going to capture a live document of the classic band, he'd better do it quick. A year later, 3 of the five members of Tull were sacked and the band as we knew them ceased to exist.

Yet even as they had arrived at the end of their glory days Tull remained a superb, dynamic rock band in concert, virtuosos playing powerful, complex music with apparent ease. Despite the new focus on the folkier side of rock, a few classics make it into the set as well. The version of Crosseyed Mary played here alone is worth the price of the CD. Martin Barre on electric guitar and Barriemore Barlow on drums are stunning. This newly remastered version is a clear step up sonically, and now includes all the material from the original 2 LP album.

I only wish Anderson had thought to put out a live recording like this one a few years earlier, when the band - and the music - was truly at its best, around the Thick as a Brick era.

The original issue of this album on CD was lacking on a couple of levels. The track list was cut to squeeze it onto one disc and the recording was dumped without any remastering. Some albums do quite well without retouching, but this particular recording suffered from either bad equalization, too much compression, or a combination of both. The remastered edition takes care of both problems. The track list from the original album is restored and the remastering job does much to bring this otherwise challenged concert to life. The performance is impeccable of course. Some songs that are somewhat laid back in their studio versions get the "live" treatment in a big way. The condensed version of Thick as a Brick used to feel a little short, but the way they punch out its boiled down essence has grown on me over time. Another highlight is the updated take on A New Day Yesterday which sounds heavier and much more serious than the studio version. There are plenty of moments like this throughout the album. Jethro Tull was a force to be reckoned with in their time and an album like this is a great snapshot of a band in their prime.