Jethro Tull - Living With The Past (DVD)

Year of Release: 2002
Label: Fuel 2000
Catalog Number: 302 061 201 9
Format: DVD
Total Time: 140:00:00

Tull's first official DVD release offers classic Tull songs in concert, mixed with band dialogue and a few surprises. The bands extensive catalogue gets tapped fairly, representing all eras of the band's career. Standards such as "Thick As A Brick" (where Ian jokes about progressive rock and concept albums) and "Cross-Eyed Mary" appear alongside newer tracks like "Hunt By Numbers" and "The Water Carrier" from Anderson's recent solo outing. If I may say so, no matter how often I hear "Aqualung" Martin Barre's guitar solo never fails to send a shiver up the old spine.

Never one without a trick up his sleeve, Anderson transforms two acoustic tracks "Wond'ring Aloud" & "Life Is A Long Song" by arranging music for accompaniment by a string quartet. Maybe I am getting old, but this intimate setting is one of my favorite moments. The reunion of the original band members (Mick Abrahams, Glenn Cornick, & Clive Bunker) takes place in a pub, showing off the bluesier roots of the band. Who would not enjoy sitting in an English pub, downing a few dark ales while these guys perform?

The concert footage was taken from the 2001 tour. The band appears to be in fine form. A powerful rendition of "Roots To Branches" establishes it as an essential track in the band's repertoire. "Jack In The Green" stays true to its original arrangement, and has always been a personal favorite. "Budapest" is the only track from the band's 80s output, but it stands up with all the rest. The music is timeless, whether it is the blues of "My Sunday Feeling" to the balls out "Locomotive Breath"; the songs are all played with passion and fire.

The dialogue is mixed in with the live performances, offering enjoyable banter from the members on their experiences, and the love they have for the music. The biggest disappointment is in the bonus material, and that is only because there is not enough of it. Just as the section titled Tull Talk gets going, it is over, with only one spot for each member. The live clips featuring Ian with Uriah Heep and Fairport Convention are only about 30 seconds long; I would have loved to see the whole track. These are only minor complaints, and the DVD is well worth the price for the concert footage alone. There is also a CD released with the same title, and it does have a few songs that do not appear on the DVD (clever marketing, damn) making it a must have for the Tull collector. The title Living With The Past is most appropriate. Tull is a band who realizes the value of the body of work they have created, and yet they continue to move forward with new music, not forgetting where they have been. So, crank up the surround sound and let the band work its magic upon you.

Tracklisting:
My Sunday Feeling / Cross Eyed Mary / Roots To Branches / Someday The Sun Wont Shine For You / Jack In The Green / Thick As A Brick / Wond''ing Aloud / Sweet Dream / Hunt By Numbers / Bouree / A Song For Jeffrey / The Water Carrier / A New Day Yesterday / Life Is A Long Song / Budapest / New Jig / Aqualung / Locomotive Breath / Living In The Past / Protect and Survive / Cherio

Musicians:
Ian Anderson - vocals, flutes, acoustic guitar, harmonica
Martin Barre - guitars
Doane Perry - drums
Andrew Giddings - keyboards, accordian
Jonathon Noyce - bass
Guests:

Mick Abrahams - guitar, vocals
Glenn Cornick - bass
Clive Bunker - drums

Acoustic Session:
James Duncan - drums
Brian Thomas - violin
Justine Tomlinson - violin
Malcolm Henderson - viola
Juliet Tomlinson - cello

Discography:
This Was (1968)
Stand Up (1969)
Benefit (1970)
Aqualung (1971)
Thick As A Brick (1972)
Living In The Past (1972)
A Passion Play (1973)
War Child (1974)
Minstrel In The Gallery (1975)
M.U. The Best Of (1976)
Too Old To Rock 'N' Roll: Too Young To Die (1976)
Songs From The Wood (1977)
Repeat - The Best Of Jethro Tull Vol 2 (1977)
Heavy Horses (1978)
Bursting Out - Live (1978)
Stormwatch (1979/2004)
'A' (1980)
The Broadsword And The Beast (1982/2005)
Under Wraps (1984)
Original Masters (1985)
Crest Of A Knave (1987/2005)
20 Years Of Jethro Tull (1988)
Rock Island (1988)
Catfish Rising (1991)
A Little Light Music (1992)
The Anniversary Collection (1993)
25th Anniversary Box Set (1993)
Nightcap (1995)
Roots To Branches (1995)
J-Tull Dot Com (1999)
The Very Best Of (2001)
Living With The Past (2002)
The Jethro Tull Christmas Album (2003)
Classic Masters (2003)
Stand Up/This Was (2003)
Essential (2003)
Nothing Is Easy: Live At The Isle Of Wight 1970 (2004)
Aqualung Live (2005)
Jethro Tull/Ian Anderson (2005)
Extended Versions (2006)
Live At Montreux 2003 (2007)
The Best Of Acoustic Jethro Tull (2007)
Living With The Past/Nothing Is Easy (2008)
This Was (expanded) (2008)
Nothing Is Easy - Live At The Isle Of Wight 1970 (2004/2008)
The Anniversary Collection/A New Day Yesterday (2008)
Live At Montreux 2003 (2008)
Live At Madison Square Garden (2009)
Christmas Album (2009)
Live In Switzerland 2003 (LP) (2014)
A Passion Play - An Extended Performance (2014)
War Child - 40th Anniversary Theatre Edition (2014)
Minstrel In The Gallery - 40th Anniversary La Grande Edition (2015)

Living With The Past (DVD) (2002)
A New Day Yesterday: 1969-1994 - The 25th Anniversary Collection (VID/DVD) (1994/2003/4)
Nothing Is Easy - Live At The Isle Of Wight 1970 (DVD) (2005) Live At Montreux 2003 (DVD) (2008)
Jack In The Green - Live In Germany (DVD) (2008)
Live In Bethlehem, PA, 2003 (DVD) (2008)
Their Full Authorized Story (DVD) (2009)
Live At AVO Session 2008 (DVD) (2009)
Live At Madison Square Garden (DVD) (rec 1978, rel 2009)

Genre: Progressive Rock

Origin UK

Added: June 2nd 2002
Reviewer: Eric Porter

Artist website: www.jethrotull.com
Hits: 2336
Language: english