COVER OF THE WEEK

Cover # 24 is one of the great live albums of the 70’s...Live Bursting Out by Jethro Tull. The live double LP was sort of a landmark of the 70’s rock scene. In the 60’s sound technology was still not good enough and the un-swinging rhythms on electronic drums and plastic synthesizers from the 80’s hasn’t aged well. And after that the live album as a phenomenon just wasn’t as important any longer since the music biznis focused more on studio products and the live act was more about making the songs sound just like the album.

This live document of the Jethro Tull ’78 European Tour still sounds great. Musically it may be considered as the artistic peak before Tull turned the carreer in another direction. Excellent musicianship all from the acoustic ballads inspired by British folk music to the hard rock tunes with tasty guitar licks. Ian Anderson shows some great showmanship here since he is both leading the band and keeping the audience in a good mood.

The cover itself is just so beautiful. (I’m referring to my vinyl copy, haven’t seen or heard the CD.) Lots of big glossy high quality photos from stage and backstage. Not too much information. I would have wished for more, but it’s still very tasteful. There is some fine print on the cover that says a lot about the attitude of Ian Anderson and Jethro Tull: “...if you have just bought this record or, perhaps, only borrowed it, thank you.”

S.H.