Jethro Tull: Warchild II (Vinyl)

The Jethro Tull reissue activity continues apace with the interesting addition of a vinyl version of Warchild II, or to you and me ‘The Second Act - Associated Recordings’ bonus disc from the Warchild (The 40th Anniversary Theatre Edition) deluxe boxset, released in 2014.

For this first time on vinyl, Ian Anderson himself endorses the project by choosing the running order of the tracks, which differs from the order found in the anniversary set. In itself these 11 tracks now make for a fine album, “Paradise Steakhouse� an energetic and unmistakable Tull way of opening proceedings. At this stage, Tull were, as Ian Anderson freely admits, ‘Verging uncomfortably on Glam Rock - at least in terms of stage clothes [and] on the rebound from the excessively proggy A Passion Play of 1973’, hence the gloriously ridiculous standard holding, sparkling codpiece wearing image of Anderson on this release’s front cover (it’s matched by a marvellous Anderson bouffant on the inner sleeve where you’ll also find lyrics). However, on the rear cover all manner of wardrobe confusion ensues, here the mainman is in full on Godz like rocker gear, whereas Martin Barre, John Evan, Barriemore Barlow and Jeffrey Hammond-Hammond don’t know which way to turn as striped or flowery blazers stand next to what appears to be Ford Prefect and some brown leather jacket clad guy from down the street!

Thankfully the music, much though originally all of this can be found split off from the each other on Nightcap, 20 Years Of Jethro Tull, Repeat - The Best Of Jethro Tull Vol 2, Ring Out Solstice Bells EP, M.U. The Best of Jethro Tull and finally 3 tracks from the Warchild deluxe set (phew!), is much more cohesive. Personally I’ve always loved the spacey but full throttle and vaguely ludicrous “Sealion II�, whereas the more sprawling “Saturation� possesses both power and subtlety. “Quartet� finds Anderson in love it or loathe it mode - in other words with a saxophone between his lips - and rather jaunty form, while it’s the intrigue and authority of “Good Godmother� that now closes out side one with more sax and plenty flute - clever chap.

Martin Barre really was on top form during this era and his clever work against orchestration on “Warchild II� and the more rocking “Tomorrow And Today� still capture the imagination. From there his dancing fingers put in a wonderful shift on “Glory Row�, before the gentle strum of the short “March, The Mad Scientist� changes mood rather gloriously - it may be understated, but this has long been a favourite of mine. Mimicking the pipes mentioned in its title, “Pan Dance� adds an almost 70s children’s TV music like lightness, the marvellous arrangement lifting the spirits on every spin and leaving the strident “Rainbow Blues" to close this newly crafted old album out.

Of course, the song versions presented here are Steven Wilson remixes and I have to say that in an age where new vinyl can at times sound decidedly ropey, my copy of Warchild II fairly pirouettes from the speakers with both a confidence and lightens of touch. The ultimate questions, of course, is, do you need these tracks…again? That is an answer only those of a Tull persuasion can provide for themselves, but I have to say that I’ve had a rather spiffing time spinning this big, beautiful, black disc to find out.

Track Listing
Side 1
1. Paradise Steakhouse (4.01) First released on ‘Nightcap’ double CD in 1993
2. SeaLion 11 (3.20) First released on ‘Nightcap’ double CD in 1993        
3. Saturation (4.20) First released on ’20 Years Of Jethro Tull’ box set in 1998      
4. Quartet (2.43) First released on ‘Nightcap’ double CD in 1993                    
5. Good Godmother (4.27) First released on ‘Warchild 40th Anniversary Theatre Edition’ book set in 2014

Side 2
1. WarChild II (3.14) First released on ‘Warchild 40th Anniversary Theatre Edition’ book set in 2014
2. Tomorrow Was Today (3.54) First released on ‘Warchild 40th Anniversary Theatre Edition’ book set in 2014  
3. Glory Row (3.35) First released on ‘Repeat’ - The Best Of Jethro Tull-Vol 2 LP in 1977
4. March, The Mad Scientist (1.49) First released on ‘Ring Out, Solstice Bells’ EP in 1976
5. Pan Dance (3.37) First released on ‘Ring Out, Solstice Bells’ EP in 1976
6. Rainbow Blues (3.38) First released on ‘M.U. The Best Of Jethro Tull’ LP in 1976

Added: November 17th 2023
Reviewer: Steven Reid
Score:
Related Link: Jethro Tull online
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Language: english

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