Most Helpful Customer Reviews
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13 of 14 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Excellent package, but with some reservations....., 30 Jun 2008
Agreeing strongly with the other reviewer here who gave this 2-Disc set 4 stars, I was eagerly awaiting this release on the complete history of one of my favourite bands. The brand new interviews with all Tull associates over the years (plus great sleeve notes from IA and Jeffrey Hammond) are very informative and the history of the band from their formation through to "A Passion Play" is superb. This covers the first hour of the documentary. However, it is after this that the program becomes very patchy.
The late 70s 'Folk Tull' era is nearly totally ignored, as are other worthwhile important albums in their career ("Broadsword and The Beast") and the whole post "Crest Of A Knave" era (ie almost the last 20 years) too. The selection of live footage is also slightly limited and the continuing band line up changes documented in the sleeve notes are technically wrong in some parts - Jeffrey Hammond Hammond was most certainly on "Minstrel In The Gallery", not the sadly missed John Glascock.
As a dedicated Tull fan these are minor, but slightly frustrating quibbles as the whole set is worth it for the hours of fresh interviews (extended greatly on the 2nd disc) and certainly for the half hour German documentary from 1969 also on the second disc. It's fascinating how the other members perceive Anderson and one is left to judge fairly on his authoritative nature when guiding Tull. However, 4/5 is an accurate judging on this set, as the errors and left out parts of Tull's long and incredible career are inexcusable. I also find the disc holders, a bizarre jewel case clip on/in thingy unusable.
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7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
A 'must have' for Tull fans, 29 Jun 2008
When I saw this advertised a couple of months before the release date, I could hardly believe it. Over 3 hours devoted to a history of Jethro Tull on 2 discs! I had visions of all that great footage on You Tube appearing somewhere in the story - a last, footage from the Minstrel in the Gallery and Stormwatch tours. Well, sadly, we are still waiting, but this DVD package is an essential purchase if you are a Tull fan.
First of all, the packaging. I have to say that the design is spot on - the perfect image of Ian Anderson in all his codpieced glory! There is a booklet inside with retrospectives from Anderson and surprisingly Jeffrey Hammond Hammond. The overall design of this booklet is also excellent. I was disappointed though on how the 2 discs clip in the case - I always think I'll break one of them.
Now to the content. Disc 1 is a history of the band as told by many of the previous members, and management. This is absolutely absorbing stuff. Mainly interviews with clips of the band through the years (no full tracks), and perhaps the most surprising inclusion are the contributions from Dee Palmer. The price of the DVD is worth it for these interviews alone, but it was so gripping that I was disappointed when they skipped over a period in the late 70's, and then all too soon ended the main discussion after Crest of a Knave! Why couldn't they bring us completely up to date by continuing the discussion in the same way up to the present? This is the reason for only 4 stars, I felt an opportunity missed there.
On disc 2 we have an amazing documentary of the band on the road in 1969. We even get to meet Ian Anderson's mum and dad! Again this is absorbing stuff, watch out for the yougsters in the audience shaking their heads about at the end - great stuff! Also on this disc are a selection of photos of the band and other memorabilia like letters, tour posters etc.
To sum up, if you are a fan of Jethro Tull, there is more than enough on these discs to make the purchase worthwhile. We have been spoiled for Tull DVD releases recently, but are desperate for good quality concert footage from the 1970's. Can we start with the BBC documentary and Old Grey Whistle Test Live gig from Madison Square Garden on the next release please?
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3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
2.0 out of 5 stars
Whats there is great, BUT: missing big segments of their history!, 26 Oct 2008
Up until now the Classic Artists series had been almost without fault. They have produced in-depth documentaries of the histories of Cream, The Moody Blues and Yes, with contemporary interviews that offered candid insights into their careers. There was little or nothing of any significance that was not at least touched upon. The Yes documentary clocked in at 3 hours or so.
This is sadly not the case with Jethro Tull. While still a good quality documentary and definitely essential for any Jethro Tull fans video library, there are gaping holes in the bands history that are not discussed at all. Most dissappointing is that some of the 'progressive rock' and all of the 'folk-rock' years are glossed over or simply ignored. War Child, Songs From The Wood, Heavy Horses, Stormwatch and Broadsword And The Beast have gone missing. The last two decades of the band's work are mostly ignored as well.
Even though this documentary covers what it does in nice fashion, these glaring omitions are ruinous to a program that claims to tell the story of a band that has a 40-year history of shifting styles and musicians. Justice has not been served here.
I was really hoping for more great programs, perhaps on the likes of ELP, Deep Purple, The Rolling Stones, etc., etc., but now I'm not so sure. I'd rather not be disappointed like this again.
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