[click here to see other vinyl by Jethro Tull] Acoustic Guitar, Flute, Vocals, Organ, Mandolin, Balalaika, Mouth Organ – Ian Anderson Bass – Glen Cornick Drums, Percussion – Clive Bunker Electric Guitar – Martin Lancelot Barre Flute – Martin Lancelot Barre (2, 9) Written by Ian Anderson Hybrid SACD Original analog Master tape : YES Stereo Studio Label : Analogue Productions Original Label : Island Records Recorded 17 April 1969 – 21 May 1969 at Morgan Studio (London), Olympic Studio (London) Engineered by Andy Johns Produced by Ian Anderson and Terry Ellis Mastered by Kevin Gray Originally released in July 1969 Reissued in October 2022 Tracks: A New Day Yesterday Jeffrey Goes To Leicester Square Bourée Back To The Family Look Into The Sun Nothing Is Easy Fat Man We Used To Know Reasons For Waiting For A Thousand Mothers Reviews: “The group's second album, with Anderson (vocals, flute, acoustic guitars, keyboards, balalaika), Martin Barre (electric guitar, flute), Clive Bunker (drums), and Glen Cornick (bass), solidified the group's sound. There is still an element of blues, but except for "A New Day Yesterday," it is far more muted than on their first album, as Mick Abrahams' blues stylings are largely absent from Martin Barre's playing. The influence of folk music also began to manifest itself ("Look Into the Sun"). The instrumental "Bouree," which could've been an early Blood, Sweat & Tears track, became a favorite concert number, although at this point Anderson's flute playing on-stage needed a lot of work; by his own admission, he just wasn't that good. Bassist Cornick would last through only one more album, but he gets his best moments here, on "Bouree." As a story song with opaque lyrics and jarring tempo changes, "Back to the Family" is the forerunner to Thick as a Brick. The only major flaw in this album is the mix, which divides the electric and acoustic instruments and fails to find a solid center. The LP comes with a "pop-up" jacket interior.” AllMusic Review by Bruce Eder Ratings : Discogs : 5 / 5
