Jethro Tull remasters

Posted by: Bruce Woodhouse on 18 January 2006

As a bit of a Jethro Tull completeist (hey, we all have our dark secrets) I have been adding to my collection by buying a few remasters. Yesterday I had a trip down memory lane by going to a record shop (remember those?) and spotting a remaster copy of my favourite Tull album-Stand Up.

My experience so far with the remasters has been a bit patchy. 'Aqualung' is crisp, dynamic but a bit shiny perhaps, 'Broadsword' fine without blowing your socks off but 'Stand Up' is magnificent.

So, anyone also buying Tull remasters? How do you rate the work on 'Minstrel, Thick As A Brick' and 'Passion Play' in particular before I invest?

Bruce

Posted on: 24 January 2006 by HTK

Ah yes indeed there are Stephen. I got a Japanese import in cardboard case remaster which is probably exactly the same as the one before the 25th anniversary that you can get in the UK. You can't polish a turd but I thought it came out pretty well, all things considered. And I love the songs. Passion Play will be the last one I buy - but I will buy it

Cheers

Harry

Posted on: 24 January 2006 by HTK

Oh - and comparing old with remastered Warchild, I think the latter has more vitality and bass information, but it still sounds somehow compressed, well, maybe stretched, or something - I don't know. But have a listen to "Two Fingers" and let me know if I'm losing my mind!

Cheers

Harry

Posted on: 27 January 2006 by stephenjohn

Harry, you might be loosing your mind for all I know but it has nothing to do with the volume change during Two Fingers: it does get louder about half way through!

I thought the rest of the disk sounded fine though. Mind you I'm no judge, I can't remeber what my old vinyl sounded like in the 70s [see my earlier post to see my difficulty in comparing]

SJ

Posted on: 27 January 2006 by HTK

I thought the vinyl (or at least the one I have - it could be so hit and miss) sounded very good. Yeah, OK, the remaster isn't a lemon although it doesn't sound too brilliant to my old tired ears but that volume shift is just depressing. How on earth did that get through?! Songs From The Wood next. Or maybe Brick. Oh hell! Why don't I just get both...

Cheers

Harry