Jethro Tull’s Songs From The Wood gets 40th anniversary release

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Jethro Tull’s 1977 album Songs From The Wood set for deluxe reissue to mark 40th anniversary

The Songs From The Wood cover

Jethro Tull’s 1977 album Songs From The Wood is to receive a deluxe edition to mark its 40th anniversary.

It will be released on May 19 via Parlophone Records and will be presented on 3CD, 2DVD and comes with a 96-page book.

The first disc features the original album remixed by Steven Wilson, while discs two and three are made up of 22 live songs. These were recorded at Maryland’s Capital Centre on November 21, 1977, and The Boston Garden on December 6 the same year.

These tracks have been reconstructed as a complete set and then remixed to stereo by Jakko Jakszyk and have never previously been made available.

The first DVD contains 5.1 DTS, AC3 Dolby Digital Stereo Surround and 96⁄24 LPCM stereo versions of the original and Steven Wilson remixed album – along with selected associated tracks, as well as various quad mixes and flat transfers.

DVD two features live video filmed at the Maryland show.

Looking back at the album, guitarist Martin Barre says: “It was a very tight band – one of the strongest lineups Tull ever had.

“I think that Songs From The Wood and Heavy Horses as a pair of albums are near the top of the tree.”

The 96-page book contains extensive writing on the history of the album, while Martin Webb reflects on the writing, recording and touring – and Ian Anderson gives a track-by-track guide.

An interview with assistant engineer Trevor White also features along with photos from the time of the album’s original release.

Songs From The Wood deluxe edition tracklist

CD1: Stereo Steven Wilson Mixes

  1. Songs From The Wood
  2. Jack-In-The-Green
  3. Cup Of Wonder
  4. Hunting Girl
  5. Ring Out, Solstice Bells
  6. Velvet Green
  7. The Whistler
  8. Pibroch (Cap In Hand)
  9. Fire At Midnight
  10. Associated Recordings
  11. Old Aces Die Hard (Previously unreleased)
  12. Working John, Working Joe (Previously unreleased)
  13. Magic Bells (Ring Out, Solstice Bells)
  14. Songs From The Wood (Unedited Master)
  15. Fire At Midnight (Unedited Master) (previously unreleased)
  16. One Brown Mouse (Early Version)
  17. Strip Cartoon
  18. The Whistler (US Stereo Single Mix)

CD2: Live in Concert 1977

  1. Wond’ring Aloud
  2. Skating Away On The Thin Ice Of The New Day
  3. Jack-In-The-Green
  4. Thick As A Brick
  5. Songs From The Wood
  6. Instrumental
  7. Drum Solo Improvisation
  8. To Cry You A Song
  9. A New Day Yesterday
  10. Flute Solo Improvisation interpolating - God Rest Ye Gentlemen/Bourée
  11. Living In The Past/ A New Day Yesterday (reprise)

CD3: Live in Concert 1977

  1. Velvet Green
  2. Hunting Girl
  3. Too Old To Rock ‘n’ Roll: Too Young To Die
  4. Minstrel In The Gallery
  5. Cross-Eyed Mary
  6. Aqualung
  7. Instrumental Improvisation
  8. Wind-Up
  9. Back Door Angels / Guitar Improvisation /Wind Up (reprise)
  10. Locomotive Breath
  11. Land Of Hope And Glory / Improvisation / Back Door Angels (reprise)

Let's party like it's 1399: The story behind Jethro Tull's Songs From The Wood

Scott Munro
Scott Munro
Louder e-commerce editor

Scott has spent 35 years in newspapers, magazines and online as an editor, production editor, sub-editor, designer, writer and reviewer. Scott joined our news desk in the summer of 2014 before moving into e-commerce in 2020. Scott keeps Louder’s buyer’s guides up to date, writes about the best deals for music fans, keeps on top of the latest tech releases and reviews headphones, speakers, earplugs and more for Louder. Over the last 10 years, Scott has written more than 11,000 articles across Louder, Classic Rock, Metal Hammer and Prog. He's previously written for publications including IGN, Sunday Mirror, Daily Record and The Herald, covering everything from daily news and weekly features, to tech reviews, video games, travel and whisky. Scott's favourite bands are Fields Of The Nephilim, The Cure, New Model Army, All About Eve, The Mission, Cocteau Twins, Drab Majesty, The Tragically Hip, Marillion and Rush.