Jethro Tull 'Stand Up (Steve Wilson Remaster)

I've indulged myself and bought the 2CD + DVD Elevated edition. Not listened to the Live CD yet but ripped the DVD HiRes stereo versions to listen to on my streamer. I generally really like what SW does with these remixes and that's true of this one too. Stand Up isn't my favourite Tull album and maybe this edition suffers a bit as its release follows such later classics as Aqualung and Thick As A Brick etc.

As far as the bonus tracks, it's good to hear the single versions (mono and stereo) of Living in the Past/Driving Song and I really like the "live" sound of the Morgan studios version of "Bouree".

Not sure whether there are to be any further Tull releases in the series as this will depend on whether the multitrack tapes are available and in good condition. We know that the Too Old To Rock n Roll  multi tracks couldn't be used which is why the TV edition was used for the recent release.

Heavy Horses is probably my favourite JT album so I would dearly love to see this get the full SW treatment.

Oooh. Thanks for heads-up, Bruce. I didn't know this Wilson remaster was out. Stand-up and Benefit are my favourite Tull albums and since I have and enjoy the Wilson re-master of benefit I'll definitely want to get the Stand-up re-master. A nice pressie for Xmas.   

Just ripping it now. Should be a nice week end. I've heard snatches through the PC while ripping the DVD and like what I hear - so far.

It's remarkable. Wilson's remixes won't please everyone (that's the nature of remixes) but this one is sympathetic and enhancing. He's gone fairly easy on the sliders for most of Tull's back catalogue, particularly compared to some of his Yes remixes, and this album benefits from the subtle approach IMO.

But if that doesn't suit there's always the flat transfers from the masters. Again, can be a mixed bag but Wilson usually comes through in fine form. As the case here. This stuff was laid down in 1969. If only something recorded last month sounded half as good! Listening to these transfers is like time travel.

Highly recommended for the transfers as well as the remixes. A few odds and sods thrown in which in this release add value IMO and a nice booklet.  A Tull fan can't go wrong with this one.

oh oh oh oh my my!  I'd just moved to coastal CA in 70 at ripe age of 16 and heard Stand Up at another guy's house.  Totally blew me away, loved Aqualung, I still have that but want this remaster, I have a copy of Standup, sounds incredible.  Cruising Coast Highway with Tull, Stones, Beatles in a blue Pinto, life was good even tho I didn't have friends. Did make some, tho not the cool kids and surfers, I was a dweeb to them.

The first LP I ever bought was Benefit. Wilson's remaster of this is also excellent. So Tull have been with me from the beginning, although for the most part I don't listen to much of their output beyond 1985.

I can only get Benefit on CD not vinyl on Amazon in the States.  I played my old copy and it does have too many clicks and pops. Some rocker wasn't taking care of his albums.  But it does have that authentic feel of well used grunge rock.

Missed this thread first time around !

I have the SW remix of Aqualung and very good it is too ... may have to put this one on my Xmas list.

Earlier post mentioned Yes remixes that I was not aware of so there's another thing I'll have to research ...

Steve Wilson's Yes remixes have been in progress for a few years. It will be on his website and Yesworld. Not too badly priced and all worth having for the flat transfers if not always for the remixes. He's done similar for Caravan, Hawkwind, XTC, Steve Hackett and others. He should be cloned.

Harry posted:

Steve Wilson's Yes remixes have been in progress for a few years. It will be on his website and Yesworld. Not too badly priced and all worth having for the flat transfers if not always for the remixes. He's done similar for Caravan, Hawkwind, XTC, Steve Hackett and others. He should be cloned.

And particularly his work on King Crimson's discography.

sjbabbey posted:

Harry posted:

Steve Wilson's Yes remixes have been in progress for a few years. It will be on his website and Yesworld. Not too badly priced and all worth having for the flat transfers if not always for the remixes. He's done similar for Caravan, Hawkwind, XTC, Steve Hackett and others. He should be cloned.

And particularly his work on King Crimson's discography.

You cannot be serious. Have you actually listened to "RED" and the reviews afterwards? Do some research or at least listen to the original album!!! You're welcome to come to my place and listen to both. It F...ing sucks!!!

Hi Tony,

You obviously have very strong opinions about SW's remixes and possibly about his work on the remix of KC's "Red" in particular. I'd be interested to know which version(s) of SW's remix you've heard as there is certainly some confusion about these.

In particular, the 40th Anniversary CD & DVD (2009) release I own contains only SW's multichannel remix and a couple of remixed bonus tracks i.e. the Trio versions of "Red" and "Fallen Angel". As far as I know, neither the CD nor the Stereo Hi-Res original album versions are SW remixes as I understand that the CD is in fact the 30th anniversary remaster.

SW's stereo remix was eventually released as part of a double CD in 2013 (although even then the 2 CDs were mixed up/mislabelled) and that it also appeared as Disc 21 in the 24 Disc in the rather expensive "Road to Red" boxset. I gather too that a HiRes version of SW's Stereo remix has made it to the R2R boxset on DVD and BluRay and I assume that it is this version that has been reviewed and that you've compared to your own vinyl copy.

Incidentally, I'm struggling to find the critical reviews to which you referred but quote an extract from the allaboutjazz site review of The Road to Red boxset which compares the SW 2013 remix to the 30th anniversary remaster

Quote

As Fripp continues to spearhead his 40th Anniversary Editions of the King Crimson catalogue, after The Road to Red's 20 CDs of live performances, the 21st CD, which includes Wilson and Fripp's new stereo remix of Red, provides an opportunity to compare and contrast with the 30th Anniversary edition.

Ultimately, how the two mixes measure up is really a matter of personal preference. As has been his approach all along—one that has both supporters and detractors—Wilson's new mix of Red is considerably cleaner, its more transparent layers and a broader stereo image still remaining reverent to the overall instrumental positioning of the original mix. The result is a remix that, in its pursuit of translucence, may not be quite as ballsy as the original, but possesses its own charms, especially on the introduction to "Fallen Angel," where the more clearly articulated layers make it an almost new experience. Bruford's drums are more equally balanced on "One More Red Nightmare," while on "Starless," with Fripp's buildup of a spartan single-note motif mirroring each chord of what is, at its core, a dark, brooding minor- keyed blues, Bruford's percussive layers and Wetton's increasingly thunderous bass assume greater dynamics and, ultimately, greater power.

Unquote

For my own part, although "Red" is by no means my favourite KC album and I don't own a vinyl copy, I do have the 2009 CD/DVDA release and really enjoy SW's multichannel mix. Of course, SW is likely to have worked from digital transfers of the original multitrack tapes rather than the actual analogue master tapes and as far as I can see from the credits his multichannel mix was mastered outwith his control.

In any event, I think that any comparison between SW's digital remix or indeed the 30th anniversary remaster and the original vinyl would be like comparing apples and oranges but it was kind of you to offer.

Some third party crapped over Wilson's remix of Aqualung and the botch job went out as the Special 40th Anniversary Collector's Edition. I have it. 

It took until last year for Wilson's original remix to hit the streets as a download from the usual suppliers, as opposed to a box set. And it's very good indeed.

I don't know if any of his Crimson material was similarly hijacked?

Harry,

I think the issue with Aqualung was the mastering. The new "Adapted Edition" has been remixed and remastered by Steven Wilson whereas the original remix wasn't mastered by SW.

I seem to recall that there was also an issue with the original DVD of Tull's "Thick As A Brick" which necessitated replacement of the original DVD.

For KC's "Red" the mastering of the multichannel was credited to Neil Wilkes at Opus Productions Ltd. The Stereo files were mastered by Simon Heyworth at Super Audio Mastering.

My understanding is that the mix that went out on the 4oth Anniversary edition was Wilson's work after it had been put through a post Wilson process which over trebled it. The DVD-A material on this release certainly does ring and clang. The original Wilson tapes were put out later. Or something like that. This is the trouble with the industry, urban myths, bullshit and so many versions of a narrative by so many people who if they really had been there would not have all fitted in the building! It's like Barry Diamant's Zep remasters where he had (at the lat count) about 120 assistants sitting beside him, or that Walers Lyceem concert where everyone who claims to have been there would fill Wembley Stadium twice over, or that boat on the Themes where the 50 people who saw the Pistols have somehow, in the retelling turned into about five thousand. But I digress....

Harry,

Are you talking about KC's "Red" DVDA or Tull?

Greetings Bruce, et al.

I have the Steven Wilson Elevated 'Stand Up' CD box-set and I reckon he's done a grand job with the less than stellar forty seven year old master tape. Our Steven has worked his usual magic, generally cleaning things up without clobbering the dynamics and retaining the analogue (complete with tape hiss) charm of the original.

Delightfully quirky stuff from a talented band of minstrels.

John.

It's difficult to grasp now how quirky and different this album sounded in the context of its original era. The definition of original.

Not unique in this respect, but right up there.

I hoping Santa will bring me my copy (if I'm good)  

If I was Santa I'd pinch it.

Pub Quiz music trivia stuff. 'Hotel California' exactly replicates (copies?) the chord sequence of 'We Used to Know' on 'Stand Up'.

Ian Anderson has been gracious (and non-litigious) about potential plagiarism when interviewed on the subject.

John.

I didn't know that, John. And I love both songs. I shall listen to We Used To Know afresh next time. 

Well I'm pleased to say Santa delivered the goods and this evening I've had the opportunity to dip into this box set, playing disc 1 and reading some of the booklet. Very impressed so far. The book has a quality feel, enhanced by the fold-out feature inside the front cover mimicking the memorable feature of the cover to the vinyl album.  I'm only 40 or so pages into the booklet and have found it very interesting , giving me insights into the band I hadn't previously known.  Sound-quality of disc 1 didn't immediately strike me as being obviously superior to my re-mastered CD. I'd say the remastering is subtle but I appreciated it more the further I got into the CD. I liked the bonus material, even the mono stuff.   I'll obviously be listening to this a lot more, and when I have the time will do an A/B against my previous Stand Up CD. So first impressions are positive and I'd recommend it.  The package feels worth the £30 price (well, to an old Tull fan, it does ). 

MDS posted:

Well I'm pleased to say Santa delivered the goods and this evening I've had the opportunity to dip into this box set, ..........

Mike, if he'd delivered the goods he would have brought you a factory serviced CDS3

C.

Christopher_M posted:

MDS posted:

Well I'm pleased to say Santa delivered the goods and this evening I've had the opportunity to dip into this box set, ..........

Mike, if he'd delivered the goods he would have brought you a factory serviced CDS3

C.

Now, now, Chris. I would have been expecting you to be fully concentrating on the Saints v Spurs game!