A New Day Yesterday: 1969-1994
The 25th Anniversary Collection
Originally released as VHS in 1994, this 1.5
hour collection is remastered to DVD with stereo sound. Included are
Tull music videos, great interviews
from current (well, in 1994) and past members at a reunion staged in
London, and live performances over the years. The DVD format makes navigation
a breeze, as fans can easily select particular performances.
It's great fun seeing Ian's exaggerated lip synching for "Witch's Promise" from
the BBC's "Top of the Pops" from 1970 (Britney S. could take a few
pointers there), the interviews with former 
players Mick Abrahams, Glenn Cornick,
Clive Bunker, reclusive but not dead Barriemore Barlow, and John Evan. A highlight
is the ever controversial "The Story of the Hare that Lost His Spectacles" video,
for how "over the top" it is and the amazing production quality for
1973 (compare early MTV). Oh, and the promo videos you likely never saw on
MTV are worth the pound, dollar, euro, or whatever you currency of choice may
be. If you like Tull's bawdy side, well, "Kissing Willie" is even
more naughty on film. Watchers will also find a hidden bonus track of "The
Witch's Promise" from French TV not on the original VHS video.
Here's what Ian has to say about the video, particularly
the reunion:
In the heady, smoky, funky cloisters of a London Public House of ill-repute, the past and present members of Jethro Tull were gathered together for the first time ever (two football teams-worth of ne'r -do-wells) and actually spoke civilly to each other and reminisced on times and tunes gone by. A few tense moments were anticipated when some band members met their old sparring partners but all lived up to the gentlemenly reputation which marks the extended family of Tull. Agents, tour managers and pals joined the throng and were interviewed with the benefit of an ale or three. Since Chrysalis Records were paying, most of the guys managed a word or ten.The collection of video clips and live performances packs out an historical document of Tull's formative and maturing years. No-one dies, in battle or through over-indulgence. No-one complains about royalties, beer or drummers.
Good bunch of stalwarts the Tullies. Must do it again, sometime.
