Jethro Tull's 1978 show at New York's Madison Square Garden has been circulating around the bootleg video lists for some time, and parts of this show have shown up on previous Tull DVDs in the past, but now Chrysalis have officially released the entire satellite TV broadcast plus all the additional audio of the songs that didn't make the BBC show. Jethro Tull were headlining MSG that night (with Uriah Heep as openers), and plans were made for the first live satellite transmission of a rock concert from the USA to the UK. Problem was, the entire broadcast was to be only 60 minutes, so Tull basically played a few songs, then took a quick break before coming back out to start the televised portion of the show (and look fresh for the TV audience who were under the impression that this was the beginning of the concert), then continue to play when the 60 minute time frame was up so they could satisfy the near 20,000 strong at Madison Square Garden, who were no doubt a little confused as to all the goings on that night. So, the DVD is basically set up just as things went that night, with DVD-audio of the first three songs ("Sweet Dream", "One Brown Mouse", and "Heavy Horses") before the video kicks in for the televised portion of the show. The band were spot on that night, and alongside Ian Anderson you had Martin Barre (guitar), Barriemore Barlow (drums), keyboard players John Evan & David Palmer, and bassist Tony Williams, who subbed for John Glascock (who was having heart surgery) on this, the Heavy Horses tour.
The band tears into classic numbers such as "Thick as a Brick", "No Lullaby", "Songs From the Wood", "Aqualung", "Locomotice Breath", and the medley of "My God/Cross Eyed Mary", thrilling the New York crowd with their mix of prog, hard rock, and folk styles. Anderson is as always the perfect frontman, his theatrical vocal style, flute, and acoustic guitar work constantly drawing attention, while the ever consistent Barre delivers plenty of crunchy riffs and blazing solos.
This DVD set also gives you a 78-minute CD of the show which you can then take and crank up in your car or load onto your iPod. Seeing as how this is such a strong performance from the band, having a live CD of the show is a welcome companion to the DVD as well as the other official live album from that time period, Bursting Out. Sadly, not much as far as extras on the DVD, but the sound and video are great as it's presented in 5.1 DTS and Dolby Surround. If you are a Jethro Tull fan, this will be an essential purchase.
Track Listing
DVD:
1. Bagpipe Intro (audio only)
2. Sweet Dream (audio only)
3. One Brown Mouse (audio only)
4. Heavy Horses (audio only)
5. Opening
6. Thick As A Brick
7. No Lullaby (Including Flute Solo Of God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen)
8. Songs From The Wood
9. Band Intro
10. Quatrain
11. Aqualung
12. Locomotive Breath (including Dambusters March)
13. Too Old To Rock 'N' Roll
14. My God / Cross Eyed Mary
Encore:
15. Locomotive Breath (including Dambusters March)
16. Aqualung
CD:
1. Sweet Dream
2. One Brown Mouse
3. Heavy Horses
4. Opening
5. Thick As A Brick
6. No Lullaby [including Flute Solo of 'God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen']
7. Songs From The Wood
8. Band Intro
9. Quatrain
10. Aqualung
11. Locomotive Breath [including Dambusters March]
12. Too Old To Rock 'N' Roll
13. My God / Cross Eyed Mary
Printer Friendly Page
Send to a Friend
