The Jethro Tull Super Deluxe editions have really become an “industry standard model” when it comes to content and packaging. With the studio albums up to 1982 covered, many would have assumed that a reassessment of Under Wraps would be next. Instead it’s the 1972 compilation album Living In The Past has been given this special treatment.
The original was a double album, housed in an elaborate gatefold sleeve and appeared in the aftermath of Thick As A Brick. Its contents were: Sides A, B & D contained various single (non-album) and album tracks, some remixed in stereo for the first time, and some previously unreleased tracks; Side C contained two live tracks from 1970. Many of the songs had only appeared in the UK and so the compilation brought them to the wider world. So this compilation isn’t quite “Greatest Hits” (but one can only assume it got its title to help those looking for the hit single / non-album title track to find it) and it’s not quite “Past Masters” (the Beatles compilation of all the non album singles) – but it’s a substantial and valuable item in the catalogue, and perhaps like The Beatles Red and Blue compilations, hearing these tracks in this order/ sequence is very much part of Tull fans’ listening experience over the 50+ years since it was released. To quote the press advert of the time, reproduced in the book, “All the Jethro Tull singles collected together on an album with three previously unreleased tracks and a side recorded at Carnegie Hall, New York”.
The 2025 version contains:
– the original 1971 mixes of the non-live content plus some extra tracks
– 2 CDs of Steven Wilson mixes of the tracks, many exclusive to this set, some drawn from previous sets.
– 2 CDs of the complete 1970 Carnegie Hall show from which the original Side C was compiled, also remixed by Wilson
– A Blu Ray packed full of the new mixes and some of the originals including some 5.1 mixes and some video material.
With the extensive reissues from this era that have already come out, what’s of interest to deeper Tull fans is new material / remixes – so I’ll look at a few of those. The 2025 remix of Song For Jeffrey has all the elements we come to expect of a Steven Wilson remix, evident throughout the new versions, which is new levels of clarity but a mix that reproduces rather than deviates from the original. So – it’s sounds just like you remember it… only better! Rather than be fearful of AI, sensitive use of that technology means we now have a stereo version of the b-side of the Jeffrey single, Song for John Gee, created from the mono master. The 2025 remix of Love Story opens a window to the variety of instrumentation and nuance in that track – Mick Abraham’s swan song has mandolins, wah guitar, tabla drums, and flute which now leap from your speakers! An early version of My God featuring Glenn Cornick on bass has some different elements amongst what for many is a familiar track – the clarity of the acoustic guitar at the start of this version makes you feel you’re right there with the band!
Wond’ring Aloud is another familiar track, and you have a choice of 4 versions here, if you count the Wond’ring Aloud Again and Wond’ring Again variants which feature here, with lyrical and other variations. Tull do the Stones is the feel of Lick Your Fingers Clean, an energetic gang performance. It was a possible single that never appeared and morphed into Two Fingers many years later on the War Child album because, as Anderson says in the book, they ran out of songs! There’s much more to find in this audio treasure trove which is definitely worth exploring.
The two live discs present the complete November 1970 Carnegie Hall show in a fresh 2025 remix. Featuring the Anderson / Barre / Bunker / Cornick / Evan line up which would not last much longer after this show and by the time Aqualung appeared in March 1971 and arguably took the band to a new level, Glenn Cornick had been fired. Martin Barre had been in the band less than 2 years at this point and had made 2 albums. In the sleeve notes Ian Anderson says that the band didn’t do anything special for this show which as well as being in a prestigious venue was also a benefit show for a drug and alcohol rehab centre. But take “special” as meaning: different from what we did at every show, because this performance is brilliant – and in this new mix you’re hearing it in its best form.
Listening to this it’s easy to see how Tull took the world by storm. As a band they play with the tight knit sound of, say, Cream, but with a spirit of not taking themselves too seriously. Anderson’s intros are often hilarious but not staged or scripted. From the electric shuffle of Nothing Is Easy, to the (ahead of release and work in progress) My God, through Barre’s take on early tracks like Song For Jeffrey, boisterous With You There To Help Me, complete with flute/ guitar jousting, its frantic stuff. If you’re after a 15 minute drum solo, Dharma For One is here in all its excessive fullness – a bit much for me personally – soon followed by an 8 minute guitar solo which gives way to a fantastic For A Thousand Mothers which ends the show.
With a lot of written and visual material in the book which doesn’t overlap with the pieces from the studio albums, plus a Blu Ray containing lots of variations of all of the audio, from flat stereo to 5.1 studio and the full live concert, together with 4 music videos, you’ll need to carve out a day to get through it all… and if that’s even vaguely tempting I say – get this set! If you know Tull from the Aqualung years onward, this is a great summary of all that went before and well worth getting.
IF YOU WANT ALL THE TRACK INFO
Full tracklisting
5CD/BR
CD ONE
ORIGINAL MIXES, REMIXES, EDITS & DEMOS 1968-1971
1. A Song For Jeffrey (Remixed at Morgan Studios in April 1971 for the Living In The Past album)
2. Love Story (Remixed at Morgan Studios in April 1971 for the Living In The Past album)
3. A Christmas Song (Remixed at Morgan Studios in April 1971 for the Living In The Past album)
4. Living In The Past (Remixed at Morgan Studios in April 1971 for the Living In The Past album)
5. Driving Song (Remixed at Morgan Studios in April 1971 for the Living In The Past album)
6. Sweet Dream (Remixed at Morgan Studios in October 1971 for the Living In The Past album)
7. Singing All Day (Remixed at Morgan Studios in October 1971 for the Living In The Past album)
8. Teacher (US Album Version) (Remixed at Morgan Studios in October 1971 for the Living In The Past album)
9. Inside (Andy Johns Mix) (Mixed at Olympic Studios on 18th September 1969 by Andy Johns)
10. My God (Early Version) (Mixed at Morgan Studios on 12th April 1970)
11. Just Trying To Be (Mixed at Morgan Studios on 12th April 1970)
12. Wond’ring Aloud Again (Demo)** (Recorded on 2-track at Morgan Studios in June 1970)
13. Wond’ring Again (Mixed at Morgan Studios in June 1970)
14. Lick Your Fingers Clean (1970 Mix) (Mixed at Island Studios on 31st December 1970. Working Mix #4)
15. Locomotive Breath (DJ Single Edit) (Mixed at Island Studios in February 1971, edited for US Radio in March 1971)
16. Life Is A Long Song (Mixed at Sound Techniques Studios in June 1971)
17. Up The ’Pool (Mixed at Sound Techniques Studios in June 1971)
18. From Later (Alternative Master Mix) (Mixed at Sound Techniques Studios in June 1971. Unused master mix)
19. Life Is A Long Song (Alternative Master Mix) (Mixed at Sound Techniques Studios in June 1971. Unused master mix)
**Mono recording
CD TWO
LIVING IN THE PAST (Part One)
The Steven Wilson Stereo Remixes [Sides 1 & 2] except+
1. A Song For Jeffrey (2025 Remix)
2. One For John Gee (2025 AI remix from mono master)
3. Love Story (2025 Remix)
4. A Christmas Song (2018 Remix. Previously released on This Was 50th Anniversary Edition book set)
5. Living In The Past (2016 Remix. Previously released on Stand Up Elevated Edition book set)
6. Driving Song (2016 Remix. Previously released on Stand Up Elevated Edition book set)
7. Bourée (2016 Remix. Previously released on Stand Up Elevated Edition book set)
8. Fat Man (2016 Remix. Previously released on Stand Up Elevated Edition book set)
9. Singing All Day (2013 Remix. Previously released on Benefit Enhanced Edition book set)
10. Sweet Dream (2013 Remix. Previously released on Benefit Enhanced Edition book set)
11. 17 (2013 Remix. Previously released on Benefit Enhanced Edition book set. Edited in 2024)
12. Teacher (UK Single Version) (2025 Remix)
13. The Witch’s Promise+ (Remixed at Morgan Studios in October 1971 for the Living In The Past album)
14. Teacher (US Album Version) (2025 Remix)
15. Inside (2013 Remix. Previously released on Benefit Enhanced Edition book set)
16. Alive And Well And Living In (2013 Remix. Previously released on Benefit Enhanced Edition book set)
17. Just Trying To Be (2011 Remix. Previously released on Aqualung Adapted Edition book set)
+Remastered by Steven Wilson, 2025
CD THREE
LIVING IN THE PAST (Part Two)
The Steven Wilson Stereo Remixes [Sides 3 & 4] except+
1. By Kind Permission Of (Live) (2025 Remix)
2. Dharma For One (Live) (2025 Remix)
3. Wond’ring Aloud (Early Version) (2011 Remix. Released on Aqualung Adapted Edition book set)
4. Wond’ring Again (2011 Remix. Released on Aqualung Adapted Edition book set)
5. Lick Your Fingers Clean (2025 Remix)
6. Up To Me (2011 Remix. Released on Aqualung Adapted Edition book set)
7. Hymn 43 (2011 Remix. Released on Aqualung Adapted Edition book set)
8. Locomotive Breath (2025 Remix)
9. Life Is A Long Song (2011 Remix. Released on Aqualung Adapted Edition book set)
10. Up The ’Pool (2011 Remix. Released on Aqualung Adapted Edition book set)
11. Dr. Bogenbroom+ (Mixed at Sound Techniques Studios in June 1971)
12. From Later+ (Mixed at Sound Techniques Studios in June 1971)
13. Nursie+ (Mixed at Sound Techniques Studios in June 1971)
BONUS TRACK
14. Locomotive Breath (Unplugged Mix) (2025 Remix)
+Remastered by Steven Wilson, 2025
CD FOUR
LIVE AT CARNEGIE HALL, NOVEMBER 4, 1970
Part 1: 2025 Steven Wilson Stereo Remix
(Recorded on 16-track by Fedco Audio Labs at Carnegie Hall, New York, NY
on November 4, 1970. Engineered by Kim King, assisted by Vin Leary and Dave Palmer)
1. Introduction to Nothing Is Easy
2. Nothing Is Easy
3. Introduction to My God
4. My God (including flute solo)
5. Introduction to With You There To Help Me
6. With You There To Help Me / By Kind Permission Of
7. Introduction to A Song For Jeffrey
8. A Song For Jeffrey
9. Introduction to To Cry You A Song
10. To Cry You A Song
CD FIVE
LIVE AT CARNEGIE HALL, NOVEMBER 4, 1970
Part 2: 2025 Steven Wilson Stereo Remix
(Recorded on 16-track by Fedco Audio Labs at Carnegie Hall, New York, NY
on November 4, 1970. Engineered by Kim King, assisted by Vin Leary and Dave Palmer)
1. Introduction to Sossity; You’re A Woman
2. Sossity; You’re A Woman / Reasons For Waiting
3. Introduction to Dharma For One
4. Dharma For One (including drum solo)
5. Introduction to We Used To Know
6. We Used To Know
7. Guitar instrumental
8. For A Thousand Mothers
CD1: Tracks 9, 10, 12, 14, 18 & 19, CD2: 1, 2, 3, 11, 12 & 14,
CD3: 1, 2, 5, 8 & 14, CD4 & CD5 Previously Unreleased
DISC 6: BLU-RAY AUDIO
Steven Wilson studio remixes in 24/96 PCM stereo
(and Steven Wilson studio remasters in 24/96 PCM stereo)
Steven Wilson studio remixes in DTS 5.1 surround
Steven Wilson remixes [sides 1 & 2]
Steven Wilson remixes [sides 3 & 4]
Flat stereo 24/96 transfer of original
Living in the Past studio album reels (UK & US versions combined)
Flat stereo 24/96 transfer of bonus unreleased original mixes
Live Carnegie Hall 1970, 2025 remix in 24/96 PCM stereo
Steven Wilson Live Carnegie Hall 1970, 2025 remix in DTS 5.1 surround
BLU-RAY AUDIO/VIDEO
The Witch’s Promise (March 1970 Promo Film)
Teacher (UK Single Version, March 1970 Promo Film)
Teacher (US Album Version, March 1970 Promo Film)
Life Is A Long Song (September 1971 Promo Film)
BD RUNNING TIME: Approx 355 minutes. REGIONS: A, B & C. VIDEO: BD50 – Aspect Ratio: 1080i59.94 / 1080p23.976
AUDIO: 96/24 PCM Stereo and DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1. EXEMPT FROM CLASSIFICATION
