TULL collecting

[Progatron]

Tull is such a collectible band, with all of the boxed sets, bonus tracks, etc. etc... it's sometimes hard to keep up! For example, it was recently brought to my attention that the Stand Up 3-disc deluxe edition from 2010 is actually the only release with the complete Carnegie Hall show (on the DVD). Every other release, including the RSD issue, the show is edited and incomplete. Likewise, if you want the track Motoreyes, the only release it was ever given was on the 20 Years boxed set in 1988. The Nightcap release (still in print) is the only place to get several more tracks. The 25th Anniversary cigar box has stuff like the Beacons Bottom tapes, only available in that set (also the remixed classic songs, but it's unclear to me whether those particular mixes are only available on that box or were used again as bonus tracks). The Steven Wilson remix boxes from the last several years all have further unreleased tracks... and even more non-album tracks can be found on various CD singles/EPs, etc. (the best ever version of Jack-A-Lynn, for example, is on one of the three different versions of the Rocks On The Road EP.)

From what I can tell, I've got them all on one release or another. But it takes serious studying and research! Is anyone else out there a devoted Tull collector? I'd like to compare notes and learn more! I'm sure there are more discoveries to be made, and that's part of the fun.

[rcarlberg]

Tull is such a collectible band

In other words, what you're saying is Tull's catalog is a complete mess. You have to buy multiple duplicates to get single unique tracks?

[Progatron]

In other words, what you're saying is Tull's catalog is a complete mess.

No, that wasn't at all what I was saying.

[SRS]

I want to be a Tull collector but find it a little too challenging and overwhelming for the reasons you mention. I don't know what versions to buy anymore. I haven't got any of these new book sets (although they look incredible) because I figure they will be out-dated in a year or two. So sadly I end up buying nothing. I am really tempted by those sets though but don't even know if the older ones are available any longer.

If I had kept up with all the releases over the years it might be a different story but I'm so hopelessly behind that I can't catch up. The completest in me wants it all or nothing!
For someone like yourself who has kept up with it I can see it would be wonderful. The only band I still manage to do that for is Flower Kings (which is a ton of stuff if you count all the side projects) but it is pretty special to have all (or most) of it so I know and appreciate the feeling and joy in it. I would love to see your collection - can you post a picture or a list?

[gojikranz]

I have appreciated the boxsets which (to a fairly unexperienced convert) seem to collect everything needed for a given album. so I am hoping that series will continue so I may avoid the madness of tracking down bits and bobs like you mention. wouldn't mind the pace increasing but then again its been kinda nice to get into them slowly and naturally as though I were around when the albums were coming out.

[Progatron]

I want to be a Tull collector but find it a little too challenging and overwhelming for the reasons you mention. I don't know what versions to buy anymore. I haven't got any of these new book sets (although they look incredible) because I figure they will be out-dated in a year or two. So sadly I end up buying nothing. I am really tempted by those sets though but don't even know if the older ones are available any longer.

I don't think the book sets will be outdated anytime soon. And you're right, they are incredible! Not just the surround mixes, but the wealth of unreleased tracks (and not just demos or live versions, I mean completely new tracks from the 70s that never saw the light of day until now) and the monster books that are included, which are countless hours of enjoyable Tull reading. I highly recommend those sets.

I would love to see your collection - can you post a picture or a list?

A complete collection photo would be difficult, but I did recently take this photo of all my Tull stuff that doesn't fit on a standard CD shelf:

tull boxes.jpg

I have appreciated the boxsets which (to a fairly unexperienced convert) seem to collect everything needed for a given album. so I am hoping that series will continue so I may avoid the madness of tracking down bits and bobs like you mention. wouldn't mind the pace increasing but then again its been kinda nice to get into them slowly and naturally as though I were around when the albums were coming out.

It seems to have been about two per year, or maybe slightly slower than that. But steady. Perhaps by the time they get to Broadsword, some of those rare tracks (like Motoreyes) will be included. There was a wealth of material recorded around that time, so it will be interesting to see. So many different sets out there, and most of them have not been made obsolete by new editions as one might expect! But again, tracking things down is a lot of fun for me and I get a real joy from obtaining a new 'piece' for the collection each time!

[Score2112]

It truly is a challenge to get everything. The fact that I dont have a CD player reduces my potential collection dramatically (and saves me a ton of dough)...

I've limited myself to collecting as many early vinyl pressings of their original albums as possible, then filling in with re-issues where needed/wanted (eg. Wilson Aqualung).

[Wah3]

Perhaps by the time they get to Broadsword, some of those rare tracks (like Motoreyes) will be included. There was a wealth of material recorded around that time, so it will be interesting to see. So many different sets out there, and most of them have not been made obsolete by new editions as one might expect! But again, tracking things down is a lot of fun for me and I get a real joy from obtaining a new 'piece' for the collection each time!

I burned CDs of most of the Tull albums with the bonus tracks from the same studio sessions added. Broadsword became a double CD.

[Progatron]

I burned CDs of most of the Tull albums with the bonus tracks from the same studio sessions added. Broadsword became a double CD.

Yes, Broadsword and War Child were the two album sessions that spawned the greatest wealth of material for sure!

[Mister Triscuits]

Yes, Broadsword and War Child were the two album sessions that spawned the greatest wealth of material for sure!

1981 was the first year since their inception that Tull didn't release a new studio album, and apart from a European tour in February they were off the road as well. No wonder Ian had such a backlog of material for 1982's Broadsword & the Beast!

[SRS]

I don't think the book sets will be outdated anytime soon. And you're right, they are incredible! Not just the surround mixes, but the wealth of unreleased tracks (and not just demos or live versions, I mean completely new tracks from the 70s that never saw the light of day until now) and the monster books that are included, which are countless hours of enjoyable Tull reading. I highly recommend those sets.

Going by the picture are these all of the "Book" sets that have been released so far:
StandUp
Aqualung
Thick as a Brick
A Passion Play
WarChild
Minstrel in the Gallery
Too Old to Rock 'n' Roll
Songs from the Wood
Heavy Horses

And these are all SW remasters and part of the same series right, packaging is similar?
This Was is next? Benefit, Stormwatch, A and Broadsword also confirmed? and stopping there?

you know I think that I might need these

[Progatron]

Going by the picture are these all of the "Book" sets that have been released so far:
StandUp
Aqualung
Thick as a Brick
A Passion Play
WarChild
Minstrel in the Gallery
Too Old to Rock 'n' Roll
Songs from the Wood
Heavy Horses

And these are all SW remasters and part of the same series right, packaging is similar?
This Was is next? Benefit, Stormwatch, A and Broadsword also confirmed? and stopping there?

you know I think that I might need these

They are SW remixes, which is an important distinction from remasters. Some of the live shows that are included are mixed by Jakko Jakszyk. Yes, all part of the same series, same packaging style (excellent IMO). This Was is indeed next. Benefit was already done but is just a 3-disc digipack (that's why it's not in that photo, it fits with the other CDs). As far as I know there are no plans to reissue it in the book style, as it is still in print, easily obtainable and not likely to sell too many copies to people who already bought it (there are only so many freaks like me who would re-buy that just so it matches the others). I would assume that the series will continue after that with Stormwatch. As for the future titles, we shall see. I sure hope so, I'd buy every title in this format as they are beautiful (and yes, you do need them! ).

[DocProgger]

They are SW remixes, which is an important distinction from remasters. Some of the live shows that are included are mixed by Jakko Jakszyk. Yes, all part of the same series, same packaging style (excellent IMO). This Was is indeed next. Benefit was already done but is just a 3-disc digipack (that's why it's not in that photo, it fits with the other CDs). As far as I know there are no plans to reissue it in the book style, as it is still in print, easily obtainable and not likely to sell too many copies to people who already bought it (there are only so many freaks like me who would re-buy that just so it matches the others). I would assume that the series will continue after that with Stormwatch. As for the future titles, we shall see. I sure hope so, I'd buy every title in this format as they are beautiful (and yes, you do need them! ).

Except Thick as a Brick appears to be the only one out of print, and going for ridiculous prices on the secondary market.

[Progatron]

Except Thick as a Brick appears to be the only one out of print, and going for ridiculous prices on the secondary market.

Minstrel In The Gallery appears to be rapidly disappearing too though. I only just noticed that recently. Not that it will fetch the outrageous sums that TAAB does of course. And people should be warned when buying that one: the DVD was defective and had to be replaced by EMI (who were pretty good about quickly sending out the replacement discs). So before anyone plunks down a ton of money on the TAAB set, first make sure you are getting the 'corrected' disc (an easy way to tell is that the replacement discs have a horizontal line underneath the words "Album Duration" on the disc.

[Mister Triscuits]

This Was is next? Benefit, Stormwatch, A and Broadsword also confirmed? and stopping there?

A Wilson remix of Benefit has already been done; it just wasn't in the book format. They could conceivably reissue it with updated packaging, but I have my doubts about whether it would be considered worth the investment. The rumors I've heard are that Wilson won't be doing anything past Stormwatch, but I have no idea if that's really true, or whether Ian will hire Jakszyk or someone else to do remixes of the post-'70s albums.

[SRS]

Thanks - lots of good info. Little discouraging to hear I may have missed out on Thick as a Brick though. I wonder if you did get a defective DVD from buying a used copy would EMI still replace it or has that window closed?

another question for the Tull Specialists here, What different sets would you have to get in order to piece together all known recordings for that 'lost album' between TAAB and APP? The "Chateau d'Isaster" album. And what would the track order for that lost album be? I have the songs on the 20th anniversary box but I know there are others out there.

[Progatron]

Thanks - lots of good info. Little discouraging to hear I may have missed out on Thick as a Brick though. I wonder if you did get a defective DVD from buying a used copy would EMI still replace it or has that window closed?

another question for the Tull Specialists here, What different sets would you have to get in order to piece together all known recordings for that 'lost album' between TAAB and APP? The "Chateau d'Isaster" album. And what would the track order for that lost album be? I have the songs on the 20th anniversary box but I know there are others out there.

The window for TAAB has unfortunately long closed. That's why I caution people buying a used copy. Perhaps one day it will be printed again, who knows?

As for the Chateau tapes, the complete version of the album is only available on the A Passion Play: An Extended Performance box in my photo above. Wilson mixed them and presented them in what was alleged to be the intended running order for the album. The incomplete version of the album with Anderson's early 90s flute overdubs is still available as disc 1 of the Nightcap release.

cd.jpg

[Fracktured]

Ian's repackaged himself too many times. Give it up and write something worthy of buying instead of the lame TAAB2.

[Progatron]

Ian's repackaged himself too many times. Give it up and write something worthy of buying instead of the lame TAAB2.

Fantastic contribution to this thread about collecting, man! Seriously, way to go!

[Fracktured]

Fantastic contribution to this thread about collecting, man! Seriously, way to go!

I thought so

[gojikranz]

most of them have not been made obsolete by new editions as one might expect!

are there any tracks from the periods covered by the recent book boxsets that have been missing on those sets? I am liking the uniformness of my Jethro tull collection so hoping for a benefit reissue (they could stick Carnegie hall on it so that would make its way to the book sets too) to fill that gap for me.

[Progatron]

are there any tracks from the periods covered by the recent book boxsets that have been missing on those sets? I am liking the uniformness of my Jethro tull collection so hoping for a benefit reissue (they could stick Carnegie hall on it so that would make its way to the book sets too) to fill that gap for me.

Well the recent Heavy Horses set did not include Broadford Bazaar, which was strange as it was on the HH remaster from 2003. It's also on Nightcap and The Best Of Acoustic so it's not difficult to track down. Off the top of my head I can't think of any other separate studio tracks missing from those sets.

[Mister Triscuits]

are there any tracks from the periods covered by the recent book boxsets that have been missing on those sets?

"A Stitch in Time" really should have been on the Heavy Horses box since it was a 1978 release. No doubt it is just being held over for Stormwatch. As far as I am aware, the long version has not yet appeared anywhere but on 7" vinyl.

[gojikranz]

hmm hopefully both of those make their way to stormwatch. I recall once comparing the various bonus tracks on earlier releases and being confused at tracks being bonuses on different albums then the book set they ended up on(some minstrel in the gallery bonus tracks were on warchild or the other way around I think).

thanks!

[Progatron]

"A Stitch in Time" really should have been on the Heavy Horses box since it was a 1978 release. No doubt it is just being held over for Stormwatch. As far as I am aware, the long version has not yet appeared anywhere but on 7" vinyl.

Yeah, that one was on the Stormwatch remaster so I'm guessing it will appear on the book set when it comes out, along with the other associated recordings (Kelpie, King Henry's Madrigal, Crossword, etc.) I'd have to double check, but I don't think it was actually recorded during the HH sessions, was it? It was Ian playing bass instead of John Glascock so I'm thinking it wasn't.