Jethro Tull to Release ‘Aqualung’ Box Set
Jethro Tull’s landmark 1971 album Aqualung is the focus of an upcoming box set. The two-CD, two-DVD collection will be released April 22.
On the band’s Facebook page, they're calling it a "more accessible" version of the 40th anniversary edition that they released five years ago. It has the same 80-page book, but they removed the LP and Blu-ray versions. The two CDs contain a remix of the original album as well as the five-song Life Is a Long Song EP by Steven Wilson of Porcupine Tree. The DVDs include Wilson’s 5.1 surround mixes, hi-res stereo mixes, the 1974 quadrophonic mix and flat transfers of all the music. (The previous box lacked 5.1 mixes of “Just Trying to Be,” the early version of “Wind Up” and the Full Morgan version of “Wond’ring About, Again”). In addition, the 1971 promotional film for Life Is a Long Song appears on the second DVD.
Aqualung was Jethro Tull’s fourth album and first to reach the Top 10 in the U.S., peaking at No. 7. It was their first effort with bassist Jeffrey Hammond. John Evan, who had played keyboards as a session musician on their previous album, joined the group as a a full-time member for Aqualung, as well. The LP gave the world four classic rock-radio staples in the title track, “Cross-Eyed Mary,” “Locomotive Breath” and “Hymn 43,” the last of which dented Billboard’s Hot 100 when it reached No. 91. It has been certified triple-platinum in the U.S. and is Jethro Tull’s best-selling album.
The new box can pre pre-ordered at Amazon.
See Jethro Tull and Other Rockers in the Top 100 Albums of the '70s