Jethro Tull - Live At Madison Square Garde (NEW DVD+CD)

This DVD/CD package is an absolute must have for any Jethro Tull fan; finally a concert DVD from the classic 1970s period and the closest thing possible to having a video version of Tull's seminal live album `Bursting Out.'
The set comes in a fantastic shiny Digipak containing a booklet with photos and linear notes from Jethro Tull frontman Ian Anderson himself as well as manager Terry Ellis.

Now for the interesting part; the original broadcast only features 50 minutes of recorded footage, but Jethro Tull played an hour and a half long concert so the cd contains a 78 minute long version of the concert (with all the dead air and segments without music edited out) while the DVD contains the full video concert, plus seven audio only bonus tracks and you can choose to either `play all,' or `play video only.' Perhaps this was an inelegant solution but considering the fact that the rest of the concert wasn't filmed it seems to me the best solution available given the circumstances.

It also seems pertinent to mention that there are a few visual hiccups and one audio problem owing to the nature of the very old satellite broadcast from which the concert is taken but this are few and far between, easily forgivable and do not hamper your overall enjoyment of the show. The people putting the DVD together took every care to restore as much of the concert to as high a standard as possible without damaging the music and it shows.

Now with all that out of the way, it seems about time to discuss the concert. And what a concert it is, `On Fire,' scarcely describes just how energetic and captivating the Tull performance is, bringing the songs to life in ways the album versions hint at, adding proggy intros to `Sweet Dream,' and `Songs From The Wood,' and sticking extended jam sessions to the end of 'No Lullaby,' and `Locomotive Breath,' and adding a flair and energy to every single piece that justifies why fans have been crying out for live material from this era for so long. The band even have two uncredited jam sessions including a `Conundrum,' style piece with full Drum solo after the first performance of `Locomotive Breath,' and `God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen,' with a full band jam session after `No Lullaby.'

Ian's voice is magnificent and he rips through different styles from the soft `One Brown Mouse,' to the deep `My God,' with no trouble at all, and special mention must go to the absolutely storming rendition of `Thick as a Brick,' which is absolutely gigantic, if you had your doubts about the DVD they'll have been erased by the time the drums kick in.

That's not to say that Ian is the only one going above and beyond the call of duty, Martin Barre absolutely murders his guitar during the solos on `No Lullaby,' `Aqualung,' and `Locomotive Breathe,' while Barriemore Barlow rolls and flails his way across the drum kit like a madman at times, while always maintaining a precise and complicated beat that'd leave many other drummers scratching their heads.

When I first saw this package I was worried it would be some poor quality bootleg slapped together with compressed audio, blurry pixilated video and a terrible box and as it turns out nothing could be further from the truth, this is a fantastic package with excellently mixed audio (really clear mix, all elements be they guitar leads, kick drum, piano, xylophone or Mr. Anderson vocals are audible and either clear or punchy where appropriate) as great a job on the video as could be done with the source material (It looks better on my HDTV than even some of the stuff on Tull's `Jack in the Green,' and all of their `Slipstream,' DVDs) and a classy Digipak style box to house it all in.

Best of all; the CD/DVD package isn't going for a stupid high price either, so if you want a Jethro Tull DVD from the 70s you can sigh in relief knowing you won't be ripped off either monetarily or in terms of quality.

1978; sitting comfortably, glued to the goggle box, a 'live' transmission of Tull from the Madison Square Garden .... brilliant sixty minutes of the band in their prime. Since then I have often wondered whether or not it will be repeated (bbc3 or a music channel) no need to check now as with this package not only do we have the original transmission but in addition theres an extra thity minutes (audio only) of the three warm up songs plus three more that made up the finale.

Audio is top drawer, visual not at all bad, and as you would expect from a televised event, there appear to be cameras everywhere, and for anyone who has seen Tull you will appreciate the necessity, mr Anderson, forever the showman is in top form.

The set includes Thick as a brick, Songs from the wood, Aqualung, Locomotive breath among others, flute and drum solo's plus some ripping guitar leads from our Martin, all (as Delia would say) done to perfection.

At just under a tenner you would think this a good buy, but wait for it not only is there a dvd but also a cd to play in the car, now that can't be bad.

For me Jethro Tull's out put from Minstrel in the Gallery to Heavy Horses (and, maybe, Stormwatch, which I have only recently purchased) is their 'best' period - I got into Tull one Christmas while poorly in bed listening to my Christmas present of Too Old To Rock n Roll on musicassette via a Phillips mono cassette player. I was a fan from then.
This concert from 1978 during the tour from which the live album Bursting Out comes, is the concert tour I would really loved to have seen. Well now I can, or at least one show from that concert!, and it is a joy to see a live set from this era with this classic line up of Anderson, Barre, Barlow, Evans, Palmer and...oh, John Glascock was ill at the time so there is a last minute replacement on bass.
Being a satellite broadcast from 30 years ago the picture quality is variable, sometimes quite good, at others...well. But overall you can't really complain. The concert actually started 15 or so minutes before the satellite broadcast so there is no video footage of this, instead we get some still concert images over the first three songs, then the broadcast begins and Tull come back on stage as if just starting the concert, this for the 'home' audience who have just joined, the end of the concert is the same with still images over the second encore. And a cracking concert it is with Ian Anderson in full flow, and the rest of the band really tight and giving it their all- brilliant stuff- this really is the Concert DVD Jethro Tull fans have been waiting for, an excellent package which could only have been bettered had it been shot on 35mm film with an anamorphic transfer.
Packaged in a triptych digipack with a booklet which has notes from Ian Anderson and Terry Ellis, a bonus CD of a slightly edited concert it is great value for money. The cover picture features Ian holding his flute in a phallic way, learing at an hirsute and strangely suited Martin Barre.
The sound is a different matter to the video, available in DTS 5.1 (96/24) surround, Dolby Digital 5.1 and LPCM 2.0 Stereo, but it still needs turning up to 11!
Cannot recommend this DVD enough - every Tull fan should have a copy, and even if you've just a passing interest in Tull, or live gigs from the 70s, then this is an essential purchase. Surely THE DVD that Tull fans have been craving. It's going to see the inside of my DVD player a lot.
Buy it now!