Jethro Tull‘s 1980 album ‘A’ will be reissued as a six-disc deluxe edition, in April.
The album introduced a different sound and a new line-up. It was originally intended as an Ian Anderson solo album, but pressure from the record label Chrysalis saw it credited to Jethro Tull, even though only two members from the band’s previous incarnation were featured: Anderson and guitarist Martin Barre. The title of the album refers to the studio tapes, which were marked ‘A’ for Anderson.
A was produced by Anderson and Robin Black and along with Anderson and Barre, the band also featured Dave Pegg (bass, mandolin) and Mark Craney (drums), along with guest performer Eddie Jobson – a Roxy Music alumnus – on keyboard, synthesizer and electric violin.
For this reissue – what they are calling the ‘A La Mode: 40th Anniversary’ edition – Steven Wilson has created new stereo and surround mixes of just about everything, including the album itself, associated recordings and the full concert from the LA Sports Arena recorded in August 1980. This package also contains a flat transfer of the original LP master and a DVD of Slipstream video (the conceptual video project from 1981 runs for almost an hour) remixed by Steven Wilson in surround sound and hi-res stereo.
CD1: Original Album and Associated Tracks
(Steven Wilson Stereo Remix)
- “Crossfire”
- “Fylingdale Flyer”
- “Working John, Working Joe”
- “Black Sunday”
- “Protect And Survive”
- “Batteries Not Included”
- “Uniform”
- “4.W.D. (Low Ratio)”
- “The Pine Marten’s Jig”
- “And Further On”
Associated Tracks
- “Crossfire” (Extended Version)
- “Working John, Working Joe” (Take 4)
- “Cheerio” (Early Version)
- “Coruisk”
- “Slipstream Intro”
CD2: Live at the LA Sports Arena 1980 (Pt 1)
(Steven Wilson Stereo Remix)
- “Slipstream Intro”
- “Black Sunday”
- “Crossfire”
- “Songs From The Wood”
- “Hunting Girl”
- “The Pine Marten’s Jig”
- “Working John, Working Joe”
- “Heavy Horses”
- Band Instrumental Intro
- “Skating Away On The Thin Ice Of The New Day”
- “Instrumental” (including flute solo)
CD3: Live at the LA Sports Arena 1980 (Pt 2)
(Steven Wilson Stereo Remix)
- Trio Instrumental
- Keyboard solo
- “Batteries Not Included”
- “Uniform” (including drum solo instrumental)
- “Protect and Survive” (including violin solo)
- “Bungle In The Jungle”
- Guitar Solo/Bass solo intro to encore
- “Aqualung”
- “Locomotive Breath”/Instrumental/”Black Sunday” (reprise)
