release date: Sep. 22, 1978
format: digital
[album rate: 3,5 / 5]
producer: Ian Anderson
label: Chrysalis Records - nationality: England, UK
1st live album release by Jethro Tull was originally released as a double vinyl album. The recordings are not taken from one single concert but are excerpts from various live performances recorded during the band's European tour in May / Jun. '78 while promoting the band's most recent album Heavy Horses and put together by Anderson. The credited personnel include Ian Anderson on lead vocals, flute and acoustic guitar, Martin Barre on electric guitar, mandolin, marimba and backing vocals, John Evan on piano, organ, accordion, synthesizer and backing vocals, David Palmer on portative organ, synthesizers and backing vocals, John Glascock on bass, electric guitar and backing vocals, and Barriemore Barlow on drums, glockenspiel, backing vocals and flute. Although, it only contains two songs from Heavy Horses, which was the tour's main objective to promote, it's a rather fine and wide-ranged live album. There are no attempts in trying to mute the reactions from the crowd, and it reflects a fine level of energy, and also shows how much diversity the band's repertoire contains. The selection of songs are from all the band's albums, thus making it more of a compilation statement rather than a promotion. One could fear that playing older material alongside brand new compositions would make it a bit of a mixed bag it really isn't, as the band's playing style, arrangements and engagement make it a fine experience.
[ allmusic.com 3 / 5 stars ]
