Jethro Tull 1980 'A [2004 Japan Emi Toshiba Rec., # Tocp 67288]'

Stormwatch is the twelfth studio album by the progressive rock group Jethro Tull, released September 1979. It is considered the last in the trilogy of folk-rock albums by Jethro Tull (although folk music influenced virtually every Tull album to some extent.). Among other subject-matters, the album touches heavily on the problems relating to the environment, oil and money. Stormwatch was notably the last Tull album to feature the "classic" line-up of the 1970s, as drummer Barriemore Barlow and keyboardists John Evan and David Palmer left the band the following year after the end of the Stormwatch tour, while bassist John Glascock died from heart complications during the tour.

Jethro Tull - War Child (1974) {Japan Mini LP Edition 2003, TOCP-67182}
EAC rip (secure mode) | FLAC+CUE+LOG -> 428 Mb | MP3 @320 -> 158 Mb | Artwork (web)
© 2003 Toshiba-EMI / Chrysalis | TOCP-67182
Rock / Prog Rock / Art Rock

Two years on from the conceptual innovations of THICK AS A BRICK, Tull had learned how to crystallize the creativity of that prog-rock masterpiece and incorporate it into more traditional song structures. Thus, the songs here are full of daunting time signatures and dazzling feats of instrumental derring-do, but all in the context of shorter, more concise composition. There's also a darker edge to things here, as introduced by the tumultuous title cut.

Jethro Tull's best album of the 1990s, a surging, hard-rocking monster (at least, compared to anything immediately before or since) that doesn't lose sight of good tunes or the folk sources that have served this band well. The lineup this time out is Anderson on acoustic and electric guitars, flute, and electric and acoustic mandolins, Martin Barre on electric guitar, Doane Perry on drums, Dave Pegg on bass, and Andrew Giddings on keyboards. The real difference between this and most of the group's output since the end of the '70s lies in the songs, all of which are approached with serious energy and enthusiasm; the lyrics are completely forgettable, but for the first time since War Child, the band sounds like they're playing as though their lives depended on it.

Jethro Tull - Heavy Horses (1978) {Japan Mini LP Edition 2003}
EAC rip (secure mode) | FLAC+CUE+LOG -> 340 Mb | MP3 @320 -> 118 Mb
Full Artwork @ 400 dpi (jpg) -> 12 Mb
© 2003 Toshiba-EMI / Chrysalis | TOCP-67186
Rock / Prog Rock / Art Rock / Folk Rock

HEAVY HORSES brings together the best elements of Jethro Tull's sonic arsenal: heavy guitars, intricate, evolving song structures, folk tendencies, and Ian Anderson's inimitable growl. The album opens with the bouncy "And the Mouse Police Never Sleeps," a fairy tale-like song about the adventures of a group of forest animals. "Acres Wild" features a disco-esque groove held down by funky drums and bass.

Jethro Tull - This Was (1968) {Japan Mini LP Edition 2001}
EAC rip (secure mode) | FLAC+CUE+LOG -> 281 Mb | MP3 @320 -> 105 Mb
Full Artwork @ 300 dpi (jpg) -> 23 Mb
© 2001 Toshiba-EMI / Chrysalis | TOCP-65879
Rock / Prog Rock / Art Rock

Jethro Tull's first album, THIS WAS, recorded and released in 1968, shows a band that is a far cry from their better-known incarnation as a prog rock outfit in the late 1970s. Instead, Tull come across here as a solid and talented blues band with elements of jazz, folk, and psychedelia thrown in. The band's sound was heavily influenced by guitarist, singer, and songwriter Mick Abrahams, whose bluesy singing and leads distinguish this disc in Tull's discography. Frontman Ian Anderson also shines with tunes like "Some Day the Sun Won't Shine for You" and the excellent cover of Rashaan Roland Kirk's "Serenade to a Cuckoo."

Aqualung Live (2005) is a live album by Jethro Tull, a live performance of Aqualung before an audience of 40 invited guests at XM Studios in Washington, D.C.

Jethro Tull - 17 Chrysalis Album Collection (1968-87) [19CD+DVD] {2001-2005 Japan Mini LP Remaster} [combined repost]
EAC rip (secure mode) | FLAC(tracks)+CUE+LOG -> 6.36 Gb | MP3 @320 -> 2.39 Gb
Full Artwork @ 300 dpi (jpg) -> 336 Mb
© 2001-2005 Toshiba-EMI / Chrysalis | TOCP-65879~67682
Rock / Prog Rock / Art Rock

Jethro Tull's first album, THIS WAS, recorded and released in 1968, shows a band that is a far cry from their better-known incarnation as a prog rock outfit in the late 1970s. Instead, Tull come across here as a solid and talented blues band with elements of jazz, folk, and psychedelia thrown in. The band's sound was heavily influenced by guitarist, singer, and songwriter Mick Abrahams, whose bluesy singing and leads distinguish this disc in Tull's discography. Frontman Ian Anderson also shines with tunes like "Some Day the Sun Won't Shine for You" and the excellent cover of Rashaan Roland Kirk's "Serenade to a Cuckoo."

Gone are the longtime Anderson images of the vagabond/sage (the group is clad in white jumpsuits on the cover) – also gone are the historical immersion of their music and anything resembling Dickensian, much less Elizabethan sensibilities. And nearly gone was Jethro Tull itself, for A started life as an Ian Anderson solo project but ended up as a Jethro Tull release, probably for commercial reasons. The difference is probably too subtle for most people to comprehend anyway. It is more reflective than Tull's usual work, but lacks the sudden, loud hard rock explosions that punctuate most of the group's albums.

Jethro Tull - Living In The Past (1972) [2CD] {Japan Mini LP Edition 2004}
EAC rip (secure mode) | FLAC+CUE+LOG -> 505 Mb | MP3 @320 -> 197 Mb
Full Artwork @ 300 dpi (jpg) -> 60 Mb
© 2001 Toshiba-EMI / Chrysalis | TOCP-67369/70
Rock / Prog Rock / Art Rock

With hit albums like BENEFIT and AQUALUNG (as well as a spectacular live show), Jethro Tull became one of rock's most popular bands by the early '70s. While many were quick to categorize its music as prog-rock (а la Yes, Genesis, etc.), Tull also dabbled in folk, jazz, heavy metal, and blues. After the K161success of the band's previous two albums, Chrysalis Records issued the double album LIVING IN THE PAST, a mix of hits, important album tracks, single/EP-only material, and previously unreleased live tracks.

This is the band in top-flight form and the remastering certainly gave this recording a newfound crispness and clarity. Ian is in splendid voice and the band is as tight as it was going to get on that particular tour. For those of us who wish we were there (yours truly) and those that were, this double CD set is a must have acquisition. You cannot say you are a true JT fan if this album is not in your collection. This collection of live tracks epitomizes the JT sound of that era.