Heavy Horses (New Shoes Edition)

I was a kid of the early Seventies ("Aqualung", "Thick As A Brick", the "Living In The Past" double-album) - so by the time Jethro Tull's 11th album "Heavy Horses" arrived in April 1978 with the double "Live: Bursting Out" following quickly later that same year in September - I can recall being disinterested in JT entirely and thinking - who the hell is buying either of these?And yet Tull have always been a cult band personified - so despite or perhaps even because of the utterly changed musical landscape they found themselves in – defiantly "Heavy Horses" bucked the 'Rock Is Dead - Long Live Punk and New Wave' ethos of the NME et al and charted well on both sides of the pond - No. 20 in the UK and even better at No. 19 in the States ("Live: Bursting Out" did the same - No. 17 in the UK and No. 20 in the USA). Now I'm re-listening afresh to what is presently referred to as Part 2 of their Folk-Rock album trilogy - 1978's "Heavy Horses" - the one between "Songs From The Woods" in 1977 and "Stormwatch" in 1979.And once again fans and newcomers alike will slaver and drool over this 5-Disc Book Set - yet another in Tull's extraordinary reissue campaign that has been putting most major label reissues of huge bands to utter shame for a few years now. There's a cartload of detail to plough through (forgive the puns) - so once more my hirsute horsy friends unto the Mad Nags and Englishmen (and that one-legged geezer with the hat and the flute)...UK and USA released 2 March 2018 - "Heavy Horses: New Shoes Edition" by JETHRO TULL on Parlophone/Chrysalis 0190295757915 (Barcode 0190295757915) is a 3CD + 2DVD Reissue containing both "Heavy Horses" the album and the live double-set that followed "Live: Bursting Out" – all housed in a Hardback 'Book Set' with an attached 96-page booklet. The team of Steve Wilson, Jakko Jakszyk, Don Needham and Ray Shulman (long associated with Tull reissues) have carried out the Audio and DVD Remasters and Authoring and "Heavy Horses: New Shoes Edition" plays out as follows:CD1 "Heavy Horses" (76:23 minutes):1. ....And The Mouse Police Never Sleeps [Side 1]2. Acres Wild3. No Lullaby4. Moths5. Journeymen6. Rover [Side 2]7. One Brown Mouse8. Heavy Horses9. WeathercockTracks 1 to 9 are their 11th album "Heavy Horses" - released 10 April 1978 in the USA on Chrysalis CHR 1175 and 21 April 1978 in the UK also on Chrysalis CHR 1175. Produced by IAN ANDERSON and JETHRO TULL - it peaked at No. 20 on the UK LP charts and No.19 in the USA.ADDITIONAL RECORDINGS10. Living In These Hard Times [Version 2] - Planned to be on the withdrawn "Moths" EP - PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED11. Everything In Our Lives [Studio Outtake] - PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED12. Jack-A-Lynn [Early Version, Studio Demo] - PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED13. Quatrain [Studio Version, it featured on "Live: Bursting Out" as a new song in live form] - PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED14. Horse-Hoeing Husbandry [Studio Outtake] - PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED15. Beltane [Withdrawn from the "Moths" EP - eventually surfaced on "20 Years Of Jethro Tull" Box Set in June 1988]16. Botanic Man [Recorded live for the Thames TV Series 'Botanic Man' with David Bellamy but not used] - PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED17. Living In These Hard Times [Version 1] - Studio Outtake eventually surfaced on "20 Years Of Jethro Tull" Box Set in June 198818. Botanic Man Theme [Recorded for the Thames TV Series 'Botanic Man' with David Bellamy but not used] - PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASEDCD2 "Live In Berne 1978 (Part 1)" (50:16 minutes):1. Opening Music (Quartet)2. Introduction by Claude Nobs3. No Lullaby4. Sweet Dream5. Skating Away On The Thin Ice Of The New Day6. Jack-In-The-Green7. One Brown Mouse8. Heavy Horses9. A New Day Yesterday10. Flute Solo Improvisation/God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen/Bouree11. Living in The Past (Instrumental)/A New Day Yesterday (Reprise)12. Songs From The WoodCD3 "Live In Berne 1978 (Part 2)" (59:33 minutes):1. Thick As A Brick2. Hunting Girl3. Too Old To Rock 'n' Roll: Too Young To Die4. Conundrum5. Minstrel In The Gallery6. Cross-Eyed MaryFirst Encore7. Quatrain8. AqualungSecond Encore9. Locomotive Breath10. The Dambusters March/Aqualung (Reprise)NOTE: the 22-tracks of CDs 2 and 3 represent the complete concert upon which the 17-track double-album "Live: Bursting Out" was based. Released 22 September 1978 in the UK on Chrysalis CJT 4 and 25 September 1978 in the USA on Chrysalis CH2 1201 (peaked at No. 17 and No. 21 respectively) – its four original sides can be sequenced from these two CDs using the following tracks:Side 1: Tracks 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7 from CD2Side 2: Tracks 9, 10 and 12 from CD2 and Track 1 from CD3Side 3: Tracks 2, 3, 4 and 5 from CD3Side 4: Tracks 6, 7, 9 and 10 from CD3DVD 1 (Audio) - NTSC, Region 0 (All Regions), 16.9 Aspect, Exempt from ClassificationContains all 9-Tracks of the "Heavy Horses" albumPlus "Living In These Hard Times (Versions 1 & 2), "Everything In Our Lives", "Jack-A-Lynn", "Horse-Hoeing Husbandry", "Beltane", "Botanic Man" and "Botanic Man Theme" remixed to 5.1 DTS, AC3 Dolby Digital Surround and 96/24 LPCM Stereo by STEVE WILSONAlso has original Stereo mixes of "Heavy Horses" album, "Rover (No Strings version)", "Living in These Hard Times (Version 2)", "Beltane" and "Quatrain (SW Mix)" as 96/24 LPCM StereoDVD 2 (Audio/Video) - NTSC, Region 0 (All Regions), 16.9 Aspect (Videos 3:4), Exempt from ClassificationJethro Tull recorded live to 2-track at The Festhalle, Berne, Switzerland by The Maison Rouge MobileRemixed to 5.1 DTS, AC3 Dolby Digital Surround and 96/24 LPCM Stereo by JAKKO JAKSZYKPromotional Video Footage of the tracks "Heavy Horses" and "Moths" Plus 2 TV Adverts for "Bursting Out"JETHRO TULL was:IAN ANDERSON - Vocals, Flute, Whistles, Mandolin, Acoustic and Electric GuitarsMARTIN BARRE - Lead Electric GuitarJOHN EVAN - Piano and OrganDAVID PALMER - Keyboards and Orchestral ArrangementsJOHN GLASCOCK - BassBARRIEMORE BARLOW - Drums and PercussionOn Page 18 of the incredible 96-page booklet is a picture of a 'Jethro Tull - Heavy Horses' Promotional Bottle of Ale complete with its ridged flip cap - on Page 52 is a repro of the rare front page folio for the book "Horfe-Hoeing Husbandry" by Jethro Tull published in London by A. Millar in 1731 (the character the band based their name on) - on Page 74 (to Page 81) that begins the January 1977 to November 1978 day-by-day 'Chronology' of all things JT is a night-time photo of the ill-fated Maison Rouge Studios in Fulham, South West London that the band bought and kitted out to make "Heavy Horses" (now a car-park or some such). It all gives you an indication of the kind of depth we're talking about here. The info and memorabilia come at you fast and furious and it’s a dull boy indeed who would not be impressed with the sheer effort and scope of this reissue.And did I mention that the record itself sounds utterly amazing - once again the Wills-meister STEVE WILSON and footage genius JAKKO JAKSZYK have pulled off yet more upgrades on both fronts (somebody needs to put these men on the New Year’s Honours List for services to Prog lurches like me). So what about the Music and the Visuals...As the front cover artwork suggests - Ian Anderson leading Barley and Sir Jim towards us (both gorgeous animals courtesy of the Courage Shire Horse Centre in Maidenhead, Berkshire) - this is a deeply English Countryside Album. "Heavy Horses" is a down-on-the-farm, doing-loads-of-rural-stuff set of Folk-Rock songs and the Acoustic Guitars and Flute of "...And The Mouse Police Never Sleeps" opens proceedings rather nicely. There is real punch in the rhythm section - drums and bass - and that battle between the keyboards and layered vocals later on sounds cool too. Tull tap the Mandolin for "Acres Wild" - a great mixture of their “Stand Up” sound meeting Fairport Convention's "Liege & Lief" Folk-Rock - with one foot in both camps (and I love those breaks that sound like Horslips enjoying themselves). It's easy to hear why Tull opened the live "Bursting Out" double with the clever Rock Guitar of "No Lullaby" - its everything they were at the time - English Folk meets Prog Rock. But that's trashed by the album's mini masterpiece - "Moths". Chrysalis thought so too - releasing it 7 April 1978 on 7" single ahead of the album in the UK (Chrysalis CHS 2214 had "Life Is A Long Song" as its UK B-side while the American variant was to carry "Beltane" on its flipside but the release was withdrawn). Palmer's string arrangement dances like the 'candle flames' in the lyrics.Martin Barre gives it some wicked guitar work on "Journeyman" - tripping the light fantastic. Anderson chases every footstep and follows every limb in "Rover" - his lady and that lovelorn pot-of-gold just out of reach (beautiful production values on this). "One Brown Mouse" also sounds like it could have been a single - take some tea with me awhile he sings as the acoustic strums race with the drums. The nine-minute title track is the most Prog of all and its arrangements are brilliant - soft acoustics bolstered by lovely string arrangements (you also get to concentrate on the articulate lyrics). It ends on the Mandolin Folk of "Weathercock" (there's one pictured on Page 50) where Anderson's good-morning melody sounds warm and summery (sing to me softly) as Barre brings the song and the album to a satisfactory finish with brilliant guitar flourishes.I hadn't expected much from the extras - but again I'm shocked at how good "Living In These Hard Times" is - here in two takes - Version 2 done in July with Version 1 dating from February 1977. I'd also argue that "Everything In Our Lives" is equal to anything on the album or at least would have made a killer B-side. And while the David Bellamy theme songs to his "Botanic Man" are interesting if not a bit too heavy-handed - the lovely early version of "Jack-A-Lynn" is surely the unreleased prize here. Sounding like something that could have come straight out of the "Wandering Aloud" sessions from "Aqualung" – both it and "Quatrain" are fabulous outtakes – the second with Anderson's frustration and mistakes left on the tape. The Live Double is cool icing on the cake with barnstorming versions of "Skating Away On The Thin Ice Of The New Day", "Sweet Dream" and "Cross-Eyed Mary". And the DVD promo videos are a hoot if not a tiny bit cringeworthy now.I full appreciate that "Heavy Horses" and Jethro Tull in general will not be everyone's idea of 1978 - but man you have to give credit where credit's due. This is an amazing reissue and well done to all involved...

A real gem for Tull fans. The quality of the music is superb and a great box set. Nice to hear the original album in such clarity, as well as the Bursting Out tour. No complaints here as I have it playing whilst watching the snow coming down.

Reading some of the other reviews you may be forgiven for thinking that this is Heavy Horses and Bursting Out together - however the booklet notes state that only 5 songs from Bursting Out are included here - being most of the flute solo, Cross-Eyed Mary, To Old to RnR, Aqualung and Locomotive Breath/Dambusters March. The set lists for the tour wouldn't have differed if at all, so any show from the tour would probably have had the same running order. On here though there is the inclusion of Heavy Horses live which wasn't on Bursting Out. The Jakko Jakszyx mix also mean that it sounds great. Steven Wilson's work on Heavy Horses also to me seems to have lifted it a bit - although I only previously had a cassette version of the album to compare it with; and generally SW does a great job in cleaning up and sonically improving old gems - Yes' Relayer and Tull's Passion Play being two of my favourites of his. EDIT - after listening to it properly the brief A Town In England is tagged onto the end of Botanic Man Theme and is uncredited though. As the sandwich between Songs from the Wood and my favourite Tull album, Stormwatch, I am glad I purchased this - if they hadn't already released the MSG concert a few years back I dare say that would have been included here as a bonus and I'm glad they chose not to rip us off by adding it. As usual the accompanying booklet is a great read while sitting back and enjoying it.

I have purchased all the recent Jethro Tull box set reissues and must say they are very well put together along with the book they’re set in.Steven Wilson has done a very nice job with the remastering.Worth every penny, I especially like the songs from the wood box set which I got for £20 and it seems to have rapidly increased in price since. Other reviewers have already said everything necessary about the details/features of this set and I would highly recommend purchasing this set.Very nicely put together set with some nice extras within. Don’t hesitate to purchase. 5 stars

Enjoyed this box set. Heavy Horses is one of Jethro Tulls best album. The booklet is very good reading. The 5.1 mix is not as discreet as usual but the sound is excellent. The bonus tracks are fantastic and a worthy addition.The live show is also very good with a fairly safe 5.1 mix.

This is a superbly packaged product, and for Tull affecionados, a must buy.Comparing the main album CD with the remaster from a few years ago, my ears were immediately drawn to the better overall balance, and the beautifully produced sound of the high end in particular. This doesn't mean there's no bass, there is. I'm merely pointing out that the, slightly, aggressive top end that plagued all the earlier CD masters has been much improved. In my opinion this is the best CD version ever. Other micro, and macro details are also easier to pick out. The bass is also very tuneful and I found my foot tapping more than normal.The multi-page booklet, DVD versions, live CD and DVD versions are all icing on a very creamy cake! Buy it, you'll love it.

The heavy horses album sounds brighter and fresher. Bit more life in the rhythm secion.The berne concert is fantastic. Some overlap with the fantastic bursting out album but enough new material to warrant the purchase

Been waiting for this to be released for a while. An excellent addition to the expanded series. The booklet is very informative and the range of cds excellent. one to enjoy for a very long time.