Heavy Horses (New Shoes Edition)

This is a real treat for a Jethro Tull fan who already enjoyed the Heavy Horses album. Heavy Horses has never sounded as good as this before. Steven Wilson has weaved his magic once again, and brought out the separation and clarity of each instrument beautifully. It has become a cliché to say that you will hear things you never heard before, but you will (of course that's also because some of them were not there on the original mix - see later in the review !). Yes it is louder, but there is great clarity there and the dynamics don't seem to suffer from the overall loudness having been increased. And yes he has tinkered with the mixes - this is a remix after all, but it remains very faithful to the originals, and on the whole the changes enhance, rather than detract from, the music, and apparently Ian fully approved all the changes, so they are as Ian always wanted them to sound. Listening to this version reminds me just what a fabulous album HH is - for me it represents the ultimate Jethro Tull line-up, and a time when the line-up was at the height of its abilities. Barry Barlow's drumming is powerful and intricate, Ian's voice, acoustic guitar work, flute playing all immaculate. John Glasscock's bass cuts through, working around Barlow's rythms, with the keyboards and strings courtesy of Dee (formerly David) Palmer and John Evans masterful. Martin Barre's guitar work is powerful when it needs to be and beautifully restrained when appropriate - very sympathetic to the music. This is an altogether heavier album than Songs from the Wood, which preceded it, but it nevertheless has sublime moments of folk-inspired rock (e.g. Moths, One Brown Mouse, Weathercock) to counteract the beautifully crafted progressive rock of tracks like No Lullaby and the epic title track. The extra tracks on the main HH disc are a mixed bag - some lovely, such as the version of Jack a Lynne and the version of Living in these hard times that has strings, some not so strong, as even Ian admits in his notes (Botanical Man for example). The live disc is a crisp-sounding record of a Berne show that has a slightly expanded Bursting Out set list. But this, we are promised in the booklet, contains no overdubs (unlike Bursting Out). It sounds fantastic and in many ways is now the ultimate Jethro Tull live recording of the era, sounding more honest and better recorded than the Bursting Out album. The DVDs contain DVD audio versions, flat transfers and 5.1 mixes - all excellent, but the only video is promo TV stuff. The book is as lavish as the previous box sets and contains fascinating interview material from band members such as Martin Barre and Dee (formerly David) Palmer. I enjoyed reading Ian's track by track background and his discussion of what it was like to record the album, although I thought it was a shame he had a little dig at John Glasscock's affinity for the rock and roll lifetsyle - that was uncalled for - let him rest in peace. I didn't notice any interviews with Barrie Barlow, which is a shame, as his drumming is phenomenally good on this album, but I understand he is somewhat estranged from Ian, so I guess he either wasn't asked to participate or else was asked, but said no. One omission - it would have been intriguing to have a track by track discussion with Steven Wilson, the remixer, about just what he kept the same and what he changed, as well as any surprises he came across. In conclusion, if you like this era of Tull and this album, you are unlikely to be disappointed by this wonderful box set. And if you find some of Steven's remixing choices jarring (I didn't but I noticed most of them as I am a big fan of this album) then keep your original CD and you still have the original mix. Honestly, if you like Tull buy this before it goes unavailable. Apparently Stormwatch is next - good stuff !!

I own most of, if not all of Jethro Tull's back catalogue and if there is one album of theirs that I keep coming back to, it is Heavy Horses. There is something in this album that I find the most accessible and the easiest to listen to. With songs like And The Mouse Police Never Sleeps. Moth and One Brown Mouse, there is an abundance of excellent hooks and melodies that just grab my attention and doesn't let go for the forty something minute running time. This New Shoe Edition is a must have for fan's of the band, especially if they love this period in the band's history. Not only does the album itself come with thirty three minutes (nine tracks) of b-side material, but it also has a full near two hour show from the Heavy Horses tour. The same tour that produced the live album Bursting Out. Those familiar with this live disc will be happy to know that this live concert is complete and sounds much better than the album originally produced in the '70s. The box set also comes with two DVDs that feature both the album and concert in 5.1 and has multiple videos including TV spots. The kind of thing fans are sure to enjoy. The new sound given to Heavy Horses is a welcome one. The original album did not sound bad and the remaster itself was quite well handled. But this new Steven Wilson mix gives the instruments a lot of extra space to breathe, much like other book versions like Aqualung and Minstrel in the Gallery. The drums and bass specifically sound a lot more clear, the string instruments sound very crisp and as a whole, it just sounds lovely. So far, I own five of the Steven Wilson Jethro Tull books and I have yet to be disappointed. In terms of quantity, well this has the original album plus extra tracks, a double live album and two DVDs full of content etc, it is hard to argue with what is given here. It may not be worth spending £35 on for fans who already own the album and are happy with it, but those looking to find an improved version with a considerable amount of goodies should definitely consider buying this box. Update: I have noticed multiple negative reviews complaining about the lack of concert film on the DVD. Just as an FYI, not once did the band etc advertise it as a film and was always suppose to be DVD 5.1 audio. It doesn't hurt to read the product description.

Another excellent Tull Box Set of an underrated album. Superb mix by Wilson as always, good live stuff and informative booklet.

I was a great fan of Song From The Wood But somehow got put off this follow up. There are several reasons for this: an older friend who sneered at the previous album (only to “introduce” me to it years later as his new favourite having previously compared it unfavourably to many of Tulsa earlier albums). Secondly the “right on” music press were still mesmerised by all thing New Wave (what is called “Post Punk” now) and to a certain extent I was looking to either older music or New Wave bands at the time too. This album has not had the red carpet rolled out for it in the CD era and has been released with rather budget packaging and adequate digital transfer. Now all these slights have been swept aside by this, rather excellent version. Steven Wilson is clearly a big fan of the bands that he is working on to give a new sheen to their back catalogues. This is a great album given a new lease of life and the respect that it has always deserved.And The expanded Live in Berne fairly Bursts Out! Just to be clear, as some reviewers do not seem to understand this. A package like this has all audio content, however, some of the discs present the same material with a 5.1 surround sound mix (and option of surround sound format) Although there is some attempt to present the songs with accompanying visuals that change a bit, the intention is not to have DVD Video and if you do not have a surround sound system then this content will be of little use. Whilst the music can be enjoyed perfectly well on a stereo system surround sound just adds a little bit but may be an unnecessary luxury for many.

CD 1 : Heavy Horses (Steven Wilson Remix). CD2 & 3 : Live in Berne May.1978 (Jakko Jakszyk Mix) 更にDVDが２枚。もし買うか迷っているのなら、迷わず買いです。

Hanno fatto bene i Jethro tull nel 2018 a produrre questo cofanetto che saluta i 40 anni di heavy horses album del 1978.E l' anno fatto con una Deluxe edition piena di chicche composta da3 CD e da 2 DVD audio e video qui, oltre al CD rimasterizzato da Steven Wilson trovano posto anche 2 CD con il concerto di Berna del maggio 1978.anche i DVD ripropongono il disco con le bonus track del 1978 e quelle del 2018 oltretutto con immagini che si alternano poi, c'è il concerto di Berna e alcuni video di heavy horses ,moths e spot pubblicitari dell' epoca che fungevano da promozione per il disco heavy horses.consigliato

Für mich eines der besten Tull Alben.

jethro tull à son apogée ? et une remastérisation toujours impeccable de Steven Wilson (en 5.1 c'est un régal !!!)

Wonderful box set, affordable, and Jethro Tull sounds even better in 5.1!