Jethro Tull - Songs From The Wood

Year of Release: 2003
Label: Chrysalis/Capitol
Catalog Number: 7243 5 81570 2 4
Format: CD
Total Time: 50:16:00

The perfect combination of electric and acoustic instruments blend together on the Jethro Tull album Songs From The Wood (1977). This radiant and lucid remaster is an absolute joy to listen to; in fact, I could not get it out of my CD player, which actually delayed getting this review completed. The theme of this album is the great outdoors, specifically the woods, and all its mystery and wonder. The stuff dreams and fairy tales are made of is what Ian Anderson, the modern day court jester and Robin Hood, and his band of merry men bring to you. Inspired by living in the country and reading about the folklore of his ancestors, Anderson took the group in decidedly more folk-rock direction. This did not hurt the band's image or reputation one iota. This is an outstanding album with the consummation of a marriage between Martin Barre's electric and Ian's acoustic guitars.

The Celtic and medieval influences prevailed once again for Mr. Anderson and company on this fine outing. The first two tracks set the atmosphere and mood beautifully. The classic tracks ?Songs From The Wood? and ?Jack-In-The-Green,? which are in concert favorites of mine, find Anderson following his muse and loving every minute of it, and it shows in his brilliantly spirited performances on literally every song on this album. ?Pibroch (Cap In Hand)? will satisfy those that enjoy the more electric JT and those that are just as pleased to hear both sides of their musical personality. I for one enjoyed the airy feeling of ?Velvet Green,? a live bonus track and the quick switch of atmosphere to the rocking ?Beltane? and ?Hunting Girl.? I am not hard to please when it comes to JT music; I love it all without any respite. In addition to the music, I found some pleasant humor on the back cover of the liner notes? A picture of a tree stump with a record player arm following the lifelines of the tree, which was an interesting metaphor. There are many more thought provoking things going on inside of this album that make the images click inside your head where that little switch is located, and the music flips that internal switch. As with all of this remastered series, the liner notes get the loving care of Ian Anderson himself.

Some truly fantastic tunes that have ever-changing music and lyrics bring you right into a living room in the countryside where Ian conjured up the principle of this album. I think what is most significant about this release is that it digs down and exposes all of the band's talents and influences all at once on one album, nothing is held back. I loved every second of it.

First released in 1977 by Chrysalis (CHR 1132)

Tracklisting:
Songs From The Wood (4:55) / Jack-In-The-Green (2:31) / Cup Of Wonder (4:33) / Hunting Girl (5:12) / Ring Out Solstice Bells (3:47) / Velvet Green (6:04) / The Whistler (3:31) / Pibroch (Cap In Hand) (8:35) / Fire At Midnight (2:33) / Bonus Tracks: Beltane (5:19) / Velvet Green (Live) (5:56)

Musicians:
Ian Anderson - vocals, flute, mandolin, acoustic guitar, whistles
Martin Barre - electric guitar, lute
Barriemore Barlow - drums, glockenspiel, marimba, bells, tabor, nakers
John Evan - organ, synthesizer, piano
John Glascock - bass guitar, vocals
David Palmer - synthesizer, piano, portative organ

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: August 3rd 2003
Reviewer: Keith "Muzikman" Hannaleck
Score:
Artist website: www.jethrotull.com
Hits: 2555
Language: english