Jethro Tull’s “Aqualung” Turns 40, Gets Deluxe Edition From EMI

First Quadrophenia, now Aqualung!  Yes, in advance of an official announcement, remix producer Steven Wilson has spilled the beans on an upcoming deluxe reissue of Jethro Tull’s Aqualung!  (Big thanks to our friends at MusicTAP for passing the news on!)  The British band’s fourth album, Aqualung remains Jethro Tull’s all-time biggest seller, not to mention one of the most beloved rock albums of all time.  It’s tentatively scheduled for September release from struggling juggernaut EMI, and like Quadrophenia, will include surround-sound mixes.  Who could ask for anything more?  Well, if you could, you’ll be rewarded!  It appears that there will be bonus tracks, too!

In Wilson’s words, “Since Ian Anderson has been talking about this, I guess it’s now official. I recently completed a brand new mix of Jethro Tull‘s Aqualung for a 40th anniversary edition. As always the remix is super faithful to the original, but with much improved sonic clarity (something that just can’t be achieved with remastering). Also remixed for inclusion were many other studio tracks from the 1970-71 period (several previously unreleased), and a 5.1 mix. It should be out on EMI in September.”

Aqualung was one of the first albums recorded at Island Studios, and marked a departure for Jethro Tull in that its songs are primarily acoustic.  Bandleader and chief songwriter Ian Anderson, though, was at his most inspired, dividing the album into two suites entitled Aqualung and My God, one to each side of the LP.  The album also marked a number of personnel changes for the band which had formed in 1967.  It was keyboardist John Evan’s first as a full-fledged member, first with new bassist Jeffrey Hammond, and last with Clive Bunker playing drums.  Upon its release, it went Top Ten in both the U.K. and America, hitting No. 4 and No. 7, respectively.  Past reissues have added six bonus tracks, including BBC performances and an interview.  It’s unclear whether these tracks will be retained or new bonus tracks will take their place.

Hit the jump for the track listing to the original Aqualung, and watch this space for updates as to the confirmed content and release date!

Jethro Tull, Aqualung (Chrysalis ILPS-9145 (U.K.), 1971)

1. Aqualung
2. Cross-Eyed Mary
3. Cheap Day Return
4. Mother Goose
5. Wond’ring Aloud
6. Up to Me
7. My God
8. Hymn 43
9. Slipstream
10. Locomotive Breath
11. Wind Up

Friday Feature: “White Nights”

Quick! What’s the last big hit you can name from a soundtrack?

It’s not easy, is it? The world of music and movies used to be so intertwined, with chart-topping hits spinning off of blockbuster movies like nobody’s business. 1984 was a great year for that, with Purple Rain, Footloose, Ghostbusters and even The Woman in Red yielding high-selling, award-winning singles. Today, though? The most recent soundtrack hit I can think of might be Kelly Clarkson’s “Breakaway,” and nobody remembers it came from the soundtrack to 2004’s The Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement before Clarkson put it out on her album of the same name.

Today’s Friday Feature – the first in far too long – focuses on an ’80s soundtrack that yielded a pair of great hits…although only one of them appeared on the accompanying album. It’s not a classic by any means, but it combines the artistry of modern dance – too often overlooked in contemporary film – with political topicality of the age.

Read on for always about White Nights after the jump. That’s the way it should be.

Another British Invasion From RPM: Ian and the Zodiacs, Katch-22 Reissued

The RPM arm of the U.K.’s mighty Cherry Red empire has had a busy 2011, recently highlighted by the first-ever collection of the young Dusty Springfield’s recordings with The Lana Sisters.  The label’s latest titles shed light on two largely-overlooked bands to come out of England in the 1960s, Ian and the Zodiacs and Katch 22.  The Best of Ian and the Zodiacs: Wade in the Water and Major Catastrophe: The Katch 22 Story are both in stores now, and have much to offer fans of Merseybeat, mod, sunshine pop and lite psychedelia.

Crosby, Merseyside, may be best-known today as the home of Anne Robinson (“You are the Weakest Link.  Goodbye!”) but it also birthed Ian and the Zodiacs.  Bassist Charlie Flynn told John Reed, “Right from the off, I wanted to do Gene Vincent, that sort of stuff.  But the Zodiacs were different.  Ian [Edwards] was more ballady and that suited me because I was more into rock ‘n’ roll and soul with a more raucous voice.  So we mixed it up.”  The mixing up of styles is in evidence on “Wade in the Water,” their swansong single that sounds every inch a hit.  The new compilation chronicles the band’s various line-ups, taking in the best of their output for Fontana, Philips and the Star Club label, a joint venture between that legendary venue and Philips.  Like their Liverpool contemporaries The Beatles, Ian and the Zodiacs played successful residencies at The Star Club.  They tipped their hat to their mates with a cover of George Harrison’s “I Need You,” included on the new disc.  (The Zodiacs’ “Help!” and “Nowhere Man” are absent.)  There are Motown tributes with “Going to a Go-Go,” “Baby, I Need Your Loving” and Shorty Long’s “It’s a Crying Shame.”  You’ll also find guitar-driven spins on Burt Bacharach classics like “Any Day Now,” “Message to Martha” and Merseybeat favorite “This Empty Place,” although their “Make It Easy on Yourself” didn’t make the cut. 

Among the other familiar songs are Allen Toussaint’s “Ride Your Pony,” the Dobie Gray hit “The In Crowd” and Otis Redding’s “Respect” in a rocking rendition.  The originals showed that The Zodiacs were closely studying their influences, as they’re equally terrific: the fuzz-guitar-led “No Money, No Honey,” and the freakbeat-style “Na-Na-Na-Na-Na.”  “Why Can’t It Be Me” takes off from Roy Orbison’s “Oh, Pretty Woman” riff.  The Zodiacs navigated Teddy Randazzo’s sophisticated soul on “Can’t Stop Running Away” and Mick Jagger and Keith Richards’ pop-ish “So Much in Love with You” (given by The Glimmer Twins to the band The Mighty Avengers!) with equal aplomb.  The Zodiacs never hit in big in America, despite their rendition of “The Crying Game” racking up huge sales in Texas, of all places!  But Wade in the Water finally gives stateside listeners a chance to see what all the U.K. fuss was about!

Hit the jump for the story of Katch-22!