Whew!!!
5
By Adjkkiydfkf
I had a cassette of the double album back in 1986, and I was sorely disappointed when the single US CD came out with tracks missing. Now restored to its full original glory,this album sees the crew at one of their peaks. John Glasscock is a better bass player than Jeffrey Hammond, though I prefer Hammond's plodding style, most evident on the Thick As A Brick album. Glasscock is missing that personality, but he plays rings around Hammond's old lines. Barrie Barlow is in rare form, especially evident I'm his drum solo. Barre's crappy, flat, midrange tone found on Tull studio releases from the early 70s is missing, (thank goodness)...replaced by a righteous Les Paul/Marshall stack sound, complete with some hall reverb to give the progressive rock more crunch and muscle, as evidenced in the intro to Minstrel in the Gallery, right into the main riff. Still gives me goosebumps just thinking about it. This is also my favorite version of Skating Away, enhanced with the knowledge that the band has swapped instruments for the song, (except David Palmer, who is indisposed for the moment looking for a toilet).😊 Great versions of Hunting Girl, One Brown Mouse, and Jack In The Green, show the bands' ability to swing effortlessly between acoustic and killer rock, with Anderson playing ringmaster all the while. The flute solo alone is worth the price of this album, which needs to be played at high volume! This album will have you grinning from ear to ear, I guarantee it.
