Jethro Tull Live At Madison Square Garden 1978

Tomorrow marks the release of the new Jethro Tull live CD/DVD set. From their Heavy Horses tour, the video and audio was recorded during a performance at New York’s famed Madison Square Garden and beamed around the world live via satellite. Something of an event in the days before satellite communications became so commonplace. In fact, the show had to be broken up into three segments due to the lack of broadcast time that was available on the satellite at the time, with the middle portion being shown on television.

The set consists of a single DVD and a single CD. The DVD includes just the audio for the first segment of the show which is comprised of three songs.

The middle portion of the show was televised and the resulting 50 or so minutes of video footage is included on the DVD. Eight songs are performed for the middle segment including hits like “Aqualung” and “Thick As A Brick.” Fans should not expect to see video footage presented in wide-screen “movie” format since the show was being shot for broadcast on television, and as we all know, there certainly was no HD in 1978.

The final segment on the DVD features the audio from three more songs, including “Cross Eyed Mary” and an encore of “Locomotive Breath.”

I had not seen Jethro Tull perform live before this, but I can say without any hesitation that they were certainly not a boring group to watch. Ian Anderson’s energy is extraordinary, and I’m not quite sure the man stood still for a single second during the entire performance. There is little doubt that both Anderson and the rest of the group poured every ounce of energy and ability at their disposal into that show.

Although the group took liberties with the arrangements of some well-known material, as one might expect during a live show, none of the changes diminished the quality of the performance for me. As is typically the case, the frontman got the lion’s share of the face time, and although some of us might have appreciated a little bit more attention directed at some of the other musicians, that appears to be the nature of show business and is not unique to this recording.

As anyone who has read my reviews of live albums in the past will know, my main sticking point is always the sound. I freely admit I am a bit of an audio snob, and I am often disappointed with live albums due to the mix, the acoustics, the microphone placement or any number of other circumstances I might be find disagreeable.

I’m happy to report that the sound quality of this live set is quite good. Especially when one considers that it was recorded 31 years ago! Kudos to Robin Black and Peter Mew, two gentlemen who were responsible for the mixing of the original recording and the newer 5.1 Dolby and stereo mixes respectively. Those are the names that most fans probably never notice among all the others in the liner notes, but they contribute enormously to the quality of the finished product. It really is a superb live recording.

Although I’ve been a fan of Jethro Tull since the 1970’s, I’m not sure I ever listened as carefully to their arrangements as I might have before receiving this new set. Certain passages are almost fusion-like to my ears, and reveal an impressive quantity of talent on that stage that I may have never fully appreciated before.

The CD that accompanies the DVD contains all the audio material from the DVD with the exception of the encore performance of “Locomotive Breath” and a few short non-musical segments like band introductions and such.

Although it is probably obvious by now, I would not hesitate to recommend this set to any Jethro Tull fan. As rare as it may seem coming from me, the quality of this recording elevates its status to one that is worthy of listening to for the audio alone.

Ian Anderson is currently on tour here in the U.S. Having finished up for the remainder of this month with a show yesterday in Connecticut, he will next appear in Phoenix at the Dodge Theatre on November 3rd.

Thanks to the folks at EMI for the review copy of this recording. At the same time, I should also mention that I was not compensated in any way for this review beyond the review copy of the set that I received.

Tags: 1978, Album, CD, DVD, Ian Anderson, Jethro Tull, Live, Madison Square Garden, New York City, Release

Rush ‘Best Of’ Live Compilation Announced

Canadian rockers Rush are breaking new ground with the up-coming release of a “Best Of” Live compilation. The new compilation is set for release on November 17 and will be released on DVD through Rounder and on CD by Atlantic.

Working Men is the title of this new release and will include material that has been taken from the group’s three other live DVD releases, Rush in Rio, R30 & Snakes and Arrows Live. In addition to the recordings previously available on other releases, there will also be a previously unreleased track entitled “One Little Victory.”

Although Rush seemed to attract a cult following for much of their career, recent developments have signaled an appeal to a wider audience. Appearances on popular television programs such as Comedy Central’s Colbert Report and in movies like I love You Man, it appears that the group is recognized by more rock fans today than during it’s early years when albums like 2112 and Hemispheres were being eagerly devoured by their dedicated fans.

Recent comments from the group indicate they more new material is in store from Rush. The group seemed to find new inspiration by working with producer Nick Raskulinecz on their last studio album, Snakes & Arrows. Raskulinecz is said to have pushed the group beyond their perceived limits and proved to them that they still have what it takes to fill stadiums and sell millions of albums.

Tags: CD, DVD, Live, New Compilation, November 17, Rush, Working Men

Chickenfoot Heats Up CD Packaging Standards

I never expected to be referencing a site that’s focused on the packaging industry, but leave it to a bunch of guys who have decided to call their new band Chickenfoot to lead me off into unchartered territory.

Actually, what the group has decided to do with the packaging for their new CD is pretty cool. New thermal ink technology will actually cause the appearance of the CD packaging to change when it is exposed to heat. Simply holding it in your hand will reveal previously hidden images that appear beneath the black cover which features the band’s retro-ish peace sign logo.

Todd Gallopo, president of Meat and Potatoes and the designer of the new CD packaging for Chickenfoot has this to say: "The band and I agreed that the design had to be bold, iconic, and layered with texture like the music they recorded. It had to have a visual ‘aaahhh-ha!’ factor that pulled it all together. To achieve this, I knew I had to experiment with some kind of special packaging treatment. When I explored the possibilities of thermochromic ink, all the pieces fell into place. The band had their bold album cover, I had my ‘aaahhh-ha!’ moment, and the consumer will get to experience a different album package every time they pick it up.”

This appears to be a good way for the group to add a little bit more pizzazz to their new album, and who knows? Some fans might be compelled to snap up a copy partly because of the unique packaging. It might be just enough to sway some of them who might be on the fence when it comes to buying the CD.

A CD with heat-sensitive packaging like that surely delivers that ‘aaahhh-ha!’ factor the designer was looking for, and surely cannot be matched by a download to your PC or iPod. Sure, some fans will just want the music, but an innovative design like that is bound to strike a chord with more than a few fans who are already psyched about the first release from this new group.

For all the geeky details, you can check out Packaging Digest.

Tags: Album, CD, Chickenfoot, Heat, Ink, Packaging, Thermochromic

David Gilmour To Appear on New CD To Benefit British UFO Hacker

Maybe he’s just curious about UFOs himself, or perhaps just doesn’t think that breaking into government computers is a serious crime, but whatever the case, Pink Floyd veteran David Gilmour is lending his talent in support of a forthcoming CD that is intended to benefit self-proclaimed British hacker Gary McKinnon.

Back in 2001, the 43-year-old unemployed systems administrator is alleged to have had his way with a number of government computer systems in the U.S. Among them were systems belonging to NASA and the Defense Department.

Needless to say, the year 2001 wasn’t the best time to pass one’s time by hacking into U.S. government computers due to increased awareness surrounding these kinds of things after the 9/11 attacks. McKinnon admits he penetrated U.S. government systems, but claims he was only seeking evidence that would reveal the real truth about UFOs.

I think there are a lot of people who could sympathize with his desire to get to the bottom of the whole UFO thing, but hacking government computers probably wasn’t the best way to go about it. He did get caught, after all.

For seven years McKinnon has been fighting extradition to the United States where he would probably face charges that could land him in prison for up to sixty years, or possibly even more.

McKinnon has been gaining more support in recent months after London’s mayor penned a newspaper editorial that appealed to U.S. President Barack Obama to halt the efforts to extradite the curious hacker, and even suggested that the whole affair was a “comment on American bullying.”

The U.S. Government says that McKinnon’s shenanigans resulted in almost a million dollars in damage to various computer systems, and was also responsible for the shutdown of several critical military computer networks shortly after the 9/11 attacks.

The new CD is set for release next month and McKinnon’s supporters hope it will help get President Obama’s attention.

So far, Gilmour is the only artist on the CD that has been identified, although there are others who have participated whose names have not yet been revealed.

One can’t help but think that there are better ways to investigate UFOs other than breaking into computer systems. As a former systems administrator himself, McKinnon had to be well aware of the risks involved in that kind of activity. He will surely have plenty of time on his hands to read all the UFO literature in existence and watch every television program ever produced on the subject of UFOs if he finds himself confined to a prison cell for sixty years or so.

Head on over to Computer World for more on this story.

Tags: CD, David Gilmour, Gary McKinnon, Government, Hacker, Systems, UFOs

Rush Retrospective III Announced

Anthem/Atlantic recording group Rush has announced details of the upcoming third volume in its continuing compilation series. "RETROSPECTIVE III (1989-2008)" arrives in stores on March 3rd.

The collection – available as both individual CD and two-disc CD/DVD set – features tracks culled from the legendary trio’s two decades with Atlantic Records, spanning such acclaimed studio works as 1989’s "PRESTO," 1991’s "ROLL THE BONES," 1993’s "COUNTERPARTS," 1996’s "TEST FOR ECHO," 2002’s "VAPOR TRAILS," and 2007’s "SNAKES & ARROWS" (see attached track listing). In addition, "RETROSPECTIVE III" features a previously unreleased live version of the classic "Ghost of a Chance," recorded live in Atlanta during Rush’s 2008 "Snakes & Arrows Tour," as well as two tracks – "One Little Victory" and "Earthshine" – newly remixed by the band’s Alex Lifeson and master mixer Richard Chycki (Aerosmith, Mick Jagger, P. Diddy).

The "RETROSPECTIVE III" DVD gathers the band’s 10 stunning music videos during the Atlantic years, including clips for fan favorites such as "The Pass," "Roll The Bones," "Stick It Out," "Driven," and the Grammy Award-nominated "Malignant Narcissism." What’s more, the DVD includes a trio of live videos filmed in Frankfurt, Germany during Rush’s 2004 "R30: 30th Anniversary World Tour," highlighted by a masterful performance of The Who’s classic "The Seeker" (originally recorded by Rush for 2004’s "FEEDBACK"). As an added bonus, the band has included a rare televised performance of the classic "Tom Sawyer" and an on-camera interview featuring all three members.

Both the CD and CD/DVD versions of "RETROSPECIVE III" are available now for pre-order at www.rush.com/preorder. A "Deluxe Rush Fan Pack" is also being offered, combining the CD/DVD package with a limited edition lithograph highlighting the albums featured on "RETROSPECTIVE III." The first 100 orders will receive an ultra-rare signed lithograph. It is also available for pre-order at Amazon.com.

In other news, Rush has been nominated for a Grammy Award in the category of Best Rock Instrumental Performance for the track, "Hope (Live For The Art Of Peace," the band’s contribution to the "SONGS FOR TIBET: THE ART OF PEACE" compilation.

CD:

• One Little Victory (Remix)
• Dreamline
• Workin’ Them Angels
• Presto
• Bravado
• Driven
• The Pass
• Animate
• Roll the Bones
• Ghost of a Chance (Live)
• Nobody’s Hero
• Leave That Thing Alone
• Earthshine (Remix)
• Far Cry

DVD:

• Stick it Out
• Nobody’s Hero
• Half the World
• Driven
• Roll the Bones
• Show Don’t Tell
• The Pass
• Superconductor
• Far Cry
• Malignant Narcissism
• The Seeker (Live)
• Secret Touch (Live)
• Resist (Live)
• Interview & Tom Sawyer (Live)*

  *bonus material

Tags: CD, DVD, March 3, Retrospective 3, Rush