This Was [50th Anniversary Edition]

by Jethro Tull

Overview

Jethro Tull was very much a blues band on their debut album, vaguely reminiscent of the Graham Bond Organization only more cohesive, and with greater commercial sense. The revelations about the group's roots on This Was -- which was recorded during the summer of 1968 -- can be astonishing, even 30 years after the fact. Original lead guitarist Mick Abrahams contributed to the songwriting and the singing, and his presence as a serious bluesman is felt throughout, often for the better: "Some Day the Sun Won't Shine for You," an Ian Anderson original that could just as easily be credited to Big Bill Broonzy or Robert Johnson; "Cat's Squirrel," Abrahams' big showcase, where he ventures into Eric Clapton territory; and "It's Breaking Me Up," which also features some pretty hot guitar from Abrahams. Roland Kirk's "Serenade to a Cuckoo" (the first song Anderson learned to play on flute), their jazziest track ever, is one of the best parts of the album. The drum solo on "Dharma for One" now seems like a mistake, but is understandable in the context of the time in which it was done. The one number here that everybody knows, "A Song for Jeffrey," almost pales amid these surroundings, but at the time it was a superb example of commercial psychedelic blues. This would be the last album of its kind by the group, as Abrahams' departure and the lure of more fertile inspiration tugged them toward English folk music. Curiously, the audio mix here is better than that on their second album, with a much stronger, harder group sound overall. In late 2001, This Was was reissued in a remastered edition with much crisper sound and three bonus tracks. The jazzy improvisation "One for John Gee" (a reference to the manager of the Marquee Club), the folky "Love Story" (which marked the end of Mick Abrahams' tenure with the group), and the novelty piece "Christmas Song" have all been heard before but, more to the point, they're worth hearing again, especially in the fidelity they have here. ~ Bruce Eder

Product Details

Release Date:	11/09/2018
Label:	Parlophone / Rhino
UPC:	0190295611484
Rank:	22816

Tracks

Disc 1

1. My Sunday Feeling [Steven Wilson Stereo Remix]
2. Some Day the Sun Won't Shine for You [Steven Wilson Stereo Remix]
3. Beggar's Farm [Steven Wilson Stereo Remix]
4. Move On Alone [Steven Wilson Stereo Remix]
5. Serenade to a Cuckoo [Steven Wilson Stereo Remix]
6. Dharma for One [Steven Wilson Stereo Remix]
7. It's Breaking Me Up [Steven Wilson Stereo Remix]
8. Cat's Squirrel [Steven Wilson Stereo Remix]
9. A Song for Jeffrey [Steven Wilson Stereo Remix]
10. Round [Steven Wilson Stereo Remix]
11. Love Story [Steven Wilson Stereo Remix]
12. A Christmas Song [Steven Wilson Stereo Remix]
13. Serenade to a Cuckoo [Take 1] [Steven Wilson Stereo Remix]
14. Some Day the Sun Won't Shine for You [Faster Version] [Steven Wilson Stereo Remix]
15. Move On Alone [Flute Version] [Steven Wilson Stereo Remix]
16. Ultimate Confusion [Steven Wilson Stereo Remix]

Disc 2

17. So Much Trouble [BBC Sessions]
18. My Sunday Feeling [BBC Sessions]
19. Serenade to a Cuckoo [BBC Sessions]
20. Cat's Squirrel [BBC Sessions]
21. A Song for Jeffrey [BBC Sessions]
22. Love Story [BBC Sessions]
23. Stormy Monday [BBC Sessions]
24. Beggar's Farm [BBC Sessions]
25. Dharma for One [BBC Sessions]
26. A Song for Jeffrey [Original Mono Mix]
27. One for John Gee [Original Mono Mix]
28. Someday the Sun Won't Shine for You [Faster Version] [Original Mono Mix]
29. Love Story [Original Mono Mix]
30. A Christmas Song [Original Mono Mix]
31. Sunshine Day
32. Aeroplane
33. Blues for the 18th
34. Love Story [1969 US Promo Single Stereo Mix for FM Radio Airplay]
35. US FM Radio Spot No. 1
36. US FM Radio Spot No. 2

Disc 3

37. My Sunday Feeling [Original Stereo Mix]
38. Some Day the Sun Won't Shine for You [Original Stereo Mix]
39. Beggar's Farm [Original Stereo Mix]
40. Move On Alone [Original Stereo Mix]
41. Serenade to a Cuckoo [Original Stereo Mix]
42. Dharma for One [Original Stereo Mix]
43. It's Breaking Me Up [Original Stereo Mix]
44. Cat's Squirrel [Original Stereo Mix]
45. A Song for Jeffrey [Original Mono Mix]
46. Round [Original Stereo Mix]
47. My Sunday Feeling
48. Some Day the Sun Won't Shine for You
49. Beggar's Farm
50. Move On Alone
51. Serenade to a Cuckoo
52. Dharma for One
53. It's Breaking Me Up
54. Cat's Squirrel
55. A Song for Jeffrey
56. Round

Disc 4

57. My Sunday Feeling [Steven Wilson 4.1 Surround Sound Mix in DTS and Dolby Digital]
58. Some Day the Sun Won't Shine for You [Steven Wilson 4.1 Surround Sound Mix in DTS and Dolby Digital]
59. Beggar's Farm [Steven Wilson 4.1 Surround Sound Mix in DTS and Dolby Digital]
60. Move On Alone [Steven Wilson 4.1 Surround Sound Mix in DTS and Dolby Digital]
61. Serenade to a Cuckoo [Steven Wilson 4.1 Surround Sound Mix in DTS and Dolby Digital]
62. Dharma for One [Steven Wilson 4.1 Surround Sound Mix in DTS and Dolby Digital]
63. It's Breaking Me Up [Steven Wilson 4.1 Surround Sound Mix in DTS and Dolby Digital]
64. Cat's Squirrel [Steven Wilson 4.1 Surround Sound Mix in DTS and Dolby Digital]
65. A Song for Jeffrey [Steven Wilson 4.1 Surround Sound Mix in DTS and Dolby Digital]
66. Round [Steven Wilson 4.1 Surround Sound Mix in DTS and Dolby Digital]
67. Love Story [Steven Wilson 5. Surround Sound Mix in DTS and Dolby Digital]
68. A Christmas Song [Steven Wilson 5.1 Surround Sound Mix in DTS and Dolby Digital]
69. My Sunday Feeling [Steven Wilson Stereo Remix]
70. Some Day the Sun Won't Shine for You [Steven Wilson Stereo Remix]
71. Beggar's Farm [Steven Wilson Stereo Remix]
72. Move On Alone [Steven Wilson Stereo Remix]
73. Serenade to a Cuckoo [Steven Wilson Stereo Remix]
74. Dharma for One [Steven Wilson Stereo Remix]
75. It's Breaking Me Up [Steven Wilson Stereo Remix]
76. Cat's Squirrel [Steven Wilson Stereo Remix]
77. A Song for Jeffrey [Steven Wilson Stereo Remix]
78. Round [Steven Wilson Stereo Remix]
79. Love Story [Steven Wilson Stereo Remix]
80. A Christmas Song [Steven Wilson Stereo Remix]
81. Serenade to a Cuckoo [Take 1] [Steven Wilson Stereo Remix]
82. Some Day the Sun Won't Shine for You [Faster Version] [Steven Wilson Stereo Remix]
83. Move On Alone [Flute Version] [Steven Wilson Stereo Remix]
84. Ultimate Confusion [Steven Wilson Stereo Remix]
85. My Sunday Feeling [Original Stereo Mix]
86. Some Day the Sun Won't Shine for You [Original Stereo Mix]
87. Beggar's Farm [Original Stereo Mix]
88. Move On Alone [Original Stereo Mix]
89. Serenade to a Cuckoo [Original Stereo Mix]
90. Dharma for One [Original Stereo Mix]
91. It's Breaking Me Up [Original Stereo Mix]
92. Cat's Squirrel [Original Stereo Mix]
93. A Song for Jeffrey [Original Stereo Mix]
94. Round [Original Stereo Mix]

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Jethro Tull   Primary Artist
Clive Bunker   Primary Artist,Drums,Hooter,Melodica,Percussion
Ian Anderson   Primary Artist,Vocals,Mandolin,Harmonica,Mouth Organ,Vocals (Background),Horn,Guitar,Flute,Piano
Dee Palmer   Horn
Mick Abrahams   Guitar,Vocals
Glenn Cornick   Bass,Guitar (Bass)
Michael Abrahams   Guitar,Vocals,Guitar (Electric),Vocals (Background)

Technical Credits

Ian Anderson   Composer,Cover Art Concept
Clive Bunker   Composer
Victor Gamm   Engineer
Dee Palmer   Horn Arrangements,Orchestral Arrangements
Derek Lawrence   Producer
Peter Mew   Mixing,Engineer,Digital Remastering
Allen Harris   Engineer
Dave Tate   Engineer
Steven Wilson   Engineer,Mixing Engineer,Mastering Engineer
Mick Abrahams   Arranger,Composer
Brownie McGhee   Composer
Isaiah Ross   Composer
Jethro Tull   Producer
Rahsaan Roland Kirk   Composer
Clive Anderson   Composer
Glenn Cornick   Composer
Terry Ellis   Composer,Producer,Cover Art Concept,Composer,Producer
Brian Ward   Photography
John Evans' Smash   Engineer
Len Barnard   Composer
Roland Kirk   Composer
T-Bone Walker   Composer
Traditional   Composer
Bernie Andrews   Producer
Bob Conduct   Engineer
Michael Abrahams   Composer