3 CD & 2 DVD Box Set! 40th Anniversary Edition!
The original 1977 album remixed to stereo and 5.1 Surround by Steven Wilson. The 3CD & 2DVD box set includes unreleased songs and alternate versions plus November 1977 U.S. Live Concert on Video in stereo and 5.1 Surround mixed by Jakko Jakszyk.
Songs From The Wood is often referred to as one of the most commercially appealing Jethro Tull albums, containing elements of rock, prog and folk-rock. Although media reaction at the time divided opinion, the album has certainly developed a nostalgic rapport with fans through the years and it is perceived today as one of the bandÂ’s most popular albums. Drummer Barrie Barlow comments that it sounds "Fresh, unique, great textures, interesting and dynamic!", while guitarist Martin Barre remembers that "It was a very tight band, one of the strongest line-ups Tull ever hadÂ… I think that Songs From The Wood and Heavy Horses [the follow up album] as a pair of albums are near the top of the tree".
Parlophone Records now releases the long awaited "Country Set", the deluxe version of Songs From The Wood.
The first disc of the set contains the Steven Wilson remix of the original studio album, accompanied by associated recordings. This includes the tracks "Old Aces Die Hard" and "Working John, Working Joe" which are being released here for the first time on any format. "Old Aces Die Hard", a title Ian Anderson recently gave the track in a subtle nod to Motörhead’s Lemmy Kilmister, is, according to Ian "an extraordinary find, because it’s a long piece, and quite evolved, and one that sounds like it is pretty much complete – it doesn’t sound as if it was waiting for me or anyone else in the band to go back and redo vocals or guitars or whatever."
CDs 2 and 3 in the box form 22 track live tracks, recorded on the Songs From The Wood Tour across two dates, Boston Garden, Boston, Massachusetts, USA on December 6, 1977 and Capital Centre, Landover, Maryland, USA on November 21, 1977. These tracks have been reconstructed as a complete set and then remixed to stereo by Jakko Jakszyk and are completely unheard.
DVD 1 contains 5.1 DTS, AC3 Dolby Digital Stereo Surround and 96/24 LPCM stereo versions of the original and Steven Wilson remixed album along with selected associated tracks, as well as various quad mixes and flat transfers.
The final disc in the package is the video footage taken live at the Capital Centre, Landover, Maryland on November 21, 1977 mixed to 16/48 stereo LPCM and 5.1 DTS, AC3 Dolby Digital surround by Jakko Jakszyk. This footage has never been publicly seen before. The concert venue was the home for Washington Wizards basketball team, then known as Washington Bullets – so the video footage comes directly from the film that was played to the big screens in the venue during the show and has since been seen nowhere else.
Completing the set is a beautiful 96 page book which contains extensive writing on the history of the album and how it came to be. Martin Webb reflects on the writing, recording and touring of the album whilst Ian Anderson gives a track by track annotation of the album and associated recordings. Alongside lyrics, thereÂ’s an interview with assistant engineer Trevor White, relevant photos and imagery and a full recording and touring chronology.
Features:
• 40th Anniversary Edition
• 3CD, 2DVD Set
• 96-page book
• Includes original album remixed by Steven Wilson
• Previously unreleased associated recordings & live tracks
• DVD components featuring a live concert, HD audio, and 5.1 mixes
• DVD contains some strobe lighting effects
Selections:
CD One
A Steven Wilson stereo remix:
1. Songs From The Wood
2. Jack-In-The-Green
3. Cup Of Wonder
4. Hunting Girl
5. Ring Out, Solstice Bells
6. Velvet Green
7. The Whistler
8. Pibroch (Cap In Hand)
9. Fire At Midnight
Associated Recordings:
10. Old Aces Die Hard [previously unreleased]
11. Working John, Working Joe [previously unreleased]
12. Magic Bells (Ring Out, Solstice Bells)
13. Songs From The Wood (unedited master)
14. Fire At Midnight (unedited master)
15. One Brown Mouse (early version - new mix)
16. Strip Cartoon
Original 1977 US Stereo Single Mix:
17. The Whistler
CD Two
Live In Concert 1977 (Part One):
Mixed to stereo by Jakko Jakszyk
1. WondÂ’ring Aloud
2. Skating Away On The Thin Ice Of The New Day
3. Jack-In-The-Green
4. Thick As A Brick
5. Songs From The Wood
6. Instrumental
7. Drum Solo Improvisation
8. To Cry You A Song
9. A New Day Yesterday
10. Flute Solo Improvisation/God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen/Bourée
11. Living In The Past
CD Three
Live In Concert 1977 (Part Two):
Mixed to stereo by Jakko Jakszyk
1. Velvet Green
2. Hunting Girl
3. Too Old To Rock 'n' Roll: Too Young To Die
4. Minstrel In The Gallery
5. Cross-Eyed Mary
6. Aqualung
7. Instrumental Imporovisation
8. Wind-Up
9. Back Door Angels/Guitar Improvisation/Wind-Up (reprise)
10. Locomotive Breath
11. Land Of Hope And Glory/Improvisation/Back Door Angels (reprise)
DVD 1 (Audio)
Contains: Songs From The Wood album - with additionally Old Aces Die Hard, Working John, Working Joe, Magic Bells (Ring Out, Solstice Bells), One Brown Mouse & Strip Cartoon remixed to 5.1 DTS, AC3 Dolby Digital surround and 96/24 LPCM stereo.
Additionally: Songs From The Wood (unedited master), Fire At Midnight (unedited master) as 96/24 LPCM stereo. The original album as 96/24 LPCM stereo. Original quad mixes of Songs From The Wood, Jack-In-The-Green, Velvet Green & The Whistler with DTS 4.0 and Dolby Digital AC3 4.0 surround sound.
DVD 2 (Audio/Video)
Jethro Tull live on video for almost 2 hours, at the Capital Centre, Landover MD 21st November 1977, mixed to stereo, 5.1 DTS and AC3 Dolby Digital surround, with additionally Beethoven's Ninth (original audio) and promotional footage for The Whistler single.
DVDs NTSC. Region 0 (All Regions) Exempt from classification.
DVD 1 audio sequences and menus in 16:9 (TT: 132.14 - new LP mix + bonus tracks + quad + flat transfer)
DVD 2 All video footage is 4: 3 with menus in 16:9 (TT: 123.53 - concert + bonus track + The Whistler)
96 PAGE BOOKLET INCLUDES:
• An extensive note by Martin Webb about the writing, recording and touring of Jethro Tull’s tenth studio album – Songs From The Wood
• A track by track annotation of the album and associated recordings by Ian Anderson
• Lyrics for the album and bonus tracks
• An interview with studio engineer Trevor White
• Steve Jeal explores the legends, myths and historical facts behind some of the album’s songs
• A recording and touring chronology from April 1976 to December 1977
• Jakko Jakszyk describes the technical challenge of synchronising video and audio recordings of a 1977 live concert
The original 1977 album remixed to stereo and 5.1 Surround by Steven Wilson. The 3CD & 2DVD box set includes unreleased songs and alternate versions plus November 1977 U.S. Live Concert on Video in stereo and 5.1 Surround mixed by Jakko Jakszyk.
Songs From The Wood is often referred to as one of the most commercially appealing Jethro Tull albums, containing elements of rock, prog and folk-rock. Although media reaction at the time divided opinion, the album has certainly developed a nostalgic rapport with fans through the years and it is perceived today as one of the bandÂ’s most popular albums. Drummer Barrie Barlow comments that it sounds "Fresh, unique, great textures, interesting and dynamic!", while guitarist Martin Barre remembers that "It was a very tight band, one of the strongest line-ups Tull ever hadÂ… I think that Songs From The Wood and Heavy Horses [the follow up album] as a pair of albums are near the top of the tree".
Parlophone Records now releases the long awaited "Country Set", the deluxe version of Songs From The Wood.
The first disc of the set contains the Steven Wilson remix of the original studio album, accompanied by associated recordings. This includes the tracks "Old Aces Die Hard" and "Working John, Working Joe" which are being released here for the first time on any format. "Old Aces Die Hard", a title Ian Anderson recently gave the track in a subtle nod to Motörhead’s Lemmy Kilmister, is, according to Ian "an extraordinary find, because it’s a long piece, and quite evolved, and one that sounds like it is pretty much complete – it doesn’t sound as if it was waiting for me or anyone else in the band to go back and redo vocals or guitars or whatever."
CDs 2 and 3 in the box form 22 track live tracks, recorded on the Songs From The Wood Tour across two dates, Boston Garden, Boston, Massachusetts, USA on December 6, 1977 and Capital Centre, Landover, Maryland, USA on November 21, 1977. These tracks have been reconstructed as a complete set and then remixed to stereo by Jakko Jakszyk and are completely unheard.
DVD 1 contains 5.1 DTS, AC3 Dolby Digital Stereo Surround and 96/24 LPCM stereo versions of the original and Steven Wilson remixed album along with selected associated tracks, as well as various quad mixes and flat transfers.
The final disc in the package is the video footage taken live at the Capital Centre, Landover, Maryland on November 21, 1977 mixed to 16/48 stereo LPCM and 5.1 DTS, AC3 Dolby Digital surround by Jakko Jakszyk. This footage has never been publicly seen before. The concert venue was the home for Washington Wizards basketball team, then known as Washington Bullets – so the video footage comes directly from the film that was played to the big screens in the venue during the show and has since been seen nowhere else.
Completing the set is a beautiful 96 page book which contains extensive writing on the history of the album and how it came to be. Martin Webb reflects on the writing, recording and touring of the album whilst Ian Anderson gives a track by track annotation of the album and associated recordings. Alongside lyrics, thereÂ’s an interview with assistant engineer Trevor White, relevant photos and imagery and a full recording and touring chronology.
Features:
• 40th Anniversary Edition
• 3CD, 2DVD Set
• 96-page book
• Includes original album remixed by Steven Wilson
• Previously unreleased associated recordings & live tracks
• DVD components featuring a live concert, HD audio, and 5.1 mixes
• DVD contains some strobe lighting effects
Selections:
CD One
A Steven Wilson stereo remix:
1. Songs From The Wood
2. Jack-In-The-Green
3. Cup Of Wonder
4. Hunting Girl
5. Ring Out, Solstice Bells
6. Velvet Green
7. The Whistler
8. Pibroch (Cap In Hand)
9. Fire At Midnight
Associated Recordings:
10. Old Aces Die Hard [previously unreleased]
11. Working John, Working Joe [previously unreleased]
12. Magic Bells (Ring Out, Solstice Bells)
13. Songs From The Wood (unedited master)
14. Fire At Midnight (unedited master)
15. One Brown Mouse (early version - new mix)
16. Strip Cartoon
Original 1977 US Stereo Single Mix:
17. The Whistler
CD Two
Live In Concert 1977 (Part One):
Mixed to stereo by Jakko Jakszyk
1. WondÂ’ring Aloud
2. Skating Away On The Thin Ice Of The New Day
3. Jack-In-The-Green
4. Thick As A Brick
5. Songs From The Wood
6. Instrumental
7. Drum Solo Improvisation
8. To Cry You A Song
9. A New Day Yesterday
10. Flute Solo Improvisation/God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen/Bourée
11. Living In The Past
CD Three
Live In Concert 1977 (Part Two):
Mixed to stereo by Jakko Jakszyk
1. Velvet Green
2. Hunting Girl
3. Too Old To Rock 'n' Roll: Too Young To Die
4. Minstrel In The Gallery
5. Cross-Eyed Mary
6. Aqualung
7. Instrumental Imporovisation
8. Wind-Up
9. Back Door Angels/Guitar Improvisation/Wind-Up (reprise)
10. Locomotive Breath
11. Land Of Hope And Glory/Improvisation/Back Door Angels (reprise)
DVD 1 (Audio)
Contains: Songs From The Wood album - with additionally Old Aces Die Hard, Working John, Working Joe, Magic Bells (Ring Out, Solstice Bells), One Brown Mouse & Strip Cartoon remixed to 5.1 DTS, AC3 Dolby Digital surround and 96/24 LPCM stereo.
Additionally: Songs From The Wood (unedited master), Fire At Midnight (unedited master) as 96/24 LPCM stereo. The original album as 96/24 LPCM stereo. Original quad mixes of Songs From The Wood, Jack-In-The-Green, Velvet Green & The Whistler with DTS 4.0 and Dolby Digital AC3 4.0 surround sound.
DVD 2 (Audio/Video)
Jethro Tull live on video for almost 2 hours, at the Capital Centre, Landover MD 21st November 1977, mixed to stereo, 5.1 DTS and AC3 Dolby Digital surround, with additionally Beethoven's Ninth (original audio) and promotional footage for The Whistler single.
DVDs NTSC. Region 0 (All Regions) Exempt from classification.
DVD 1 audio sequences and menus in 16:9 (TT: 132.14 - new LP mix + bonus tracks + quad + flat transfer)
DVD 2 All video footage is 4: 3 with menus in 16:9 (TT: 123.53 - concert + bonus track + The Whistler)
96 PAGE BOOKLET INCLUDES:
• An extensive note by Martin Webb about the writing, recording and touring of Jethro Tull’s tenth studio album – Songs From The Wood
• A track by track annotation of the album and associated recordings by Ian Anderson
• Lyrics for the album and bonus tracks
• An interview with studio engineer Trevor White
• Steve Jeal explores the legends, myths and historical facts behind some of the album’s songs
• A recording and touring chronology from April 1976 to December 1977
• Jakko Jakszyk describes the technical challenge of synchronising video and audio recordings of a 1977 live concert
