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Nightcap: The Unreleased Masters 1973-1991

Jethro Tull - Nightcap: The Unreleased Masters 1973-1991 Audio CD

A fair review of the Jethro Tull "Nightcap: The Unreleased Masters 1973-1991" Audio CD. Please note that the below review is the views of the authors, and authors only. You can get a complete list of all Jethro Tull reviews here, or go back to the Jethro Tull tabs.

Band: Jethro Tull
Title: Nightcap: The Unreleased Masters 1973-1991
Rating:

Release Date: 2000-01-11
Media: Audio CD

Tracks: 1: First Post 2: Animelee 3: Tiger Toon 4: Look at the Animals 5: Law of the Bungle 6: Law of the Bungle, Pt. 2 7: Left Right 8: Solitaire 9: Critique Oblique 10: Post Last 11: Scenario 12: Audition 13: No Rehearsal 14: Paradise Steakhouse 15: Sealion II 16: Piece of Cake 17: Quartet 18: Silver River Turning 19: Crew Nights 20: Curse 21: Rosa on the Factory Floor 22: Small Cigar 23: Man of Principle 24: Commons Brawl 25: No Step 26: Drive on the Young Side of Life 27: I Don't Want to Be Me 28: Broadford Bazaar 29: Lights Out 30: Truck Stop Runner 31: Hard Liner

We need more like this!
The first cd which had early sessions of what would later become "A Passion Play" and "Warchild" blows those albums away. This is full of some of the best and most experimental work from Jethro Tull. Not only is is very different than those albums but avoids all the commercialism which is why "Warchild" was not one of my favorites. "Law of the Bungle 1&2" are many times better than "Bungle in the Jungle". More instrumental than most Tull releases and sounds great to listen to from start to finish. The second cd is not as great as te first but has songs that I cannot believe for a second were not included on the albums of the sessions they were made. I would have liked to see some of these songs included on various Tull releases over some of the songs that did make it on the albums. It is a crime some of these songs were not ever released. This is my favorite Tull release next to Stand Up, and the folk trilogy albums Songs From the Wood,Heavy Horses,and Stormwatch.

For Tull collectors
This is a collection of unreleased masters or out takes of songs by Jethro Tull. Nightcap is exactly what the title implies.
Several songs appeared on either War Child or A Passion Play.
Tull recorded these in France and abandoned the project to return to England.
There are two sides to this compilation, My Round which includes the Chateau D'isaster Tapes.
The first few songs are direct from A Passion Play.
Solitaire sounds practically identical to the version on War Child.
The last few selections spark my interest. These songs are among the best songs Tull recorded at this time.
They had been in a vault and never saw the light of day until this was finally recorded.
Anderson released this collection because of fans who kept asking for it to be released.
Your Round or side two is not as good but worth a listen for Tull fans.
No Jethro Tull fans collection is complete without this CD.

Tut's or Tull's Hidden Treasures
I give it 4. Why this was held for so long is beyond me. 5 stars only because excerpts from A Passion Play are repeated too many times. Otherwise, the songs are very good. As many critics say, you must be a die-hard fan to appreciate this great release.
Tull is always good ,no matter how you slice them. This is a great cd,get it!.

A Must Have For Tull Fans!
It's like coming away with two new albums for the price of one! Disk one, is the 'Chateau D'Isaster Tapes', which if you were lucky enough to get the 20 Year Box Set you already own. Tull's 2-disk set 'NightCap' is an excellent find for any Jethro Tull fan. This is the album that should have come out when Tull released 'Passion Play'. And you will hear many elements of 'Passion Play' throughout 'Chateau'. 'Sealion 2' and the opening instrumentals are personal faves from this disk. They have a 'Warchild' or 'Minstrel In the Gallery' feel, as does 'Critque Oblique'. 'Solitaire' even pops up here. If you like 70's Tull and you didn't know about these songs, then this is a must have. Definately a 3 star disk.
The second disk is the reason to buy this set though. No matter what era of Tull you are a fan of, you will find at least 1 to 2 songs represented on this disk. It's an eclectic mix of left overs from Tull recording sessions through the years. But these aren't just shoddy demo's or filler songs that Tull pulled together for a quick release. Most of these songs are as good, if not better than the songs which were finally selected for the albums. It's kind of cool, as a Tull fan, to hear familiar guitar chords, or flute lines, from Tull albums worked in a new way on some of the songs. Ian Anderson and company really shine on the acoustic songs featured on this disk. 'Quartet' is a neat little instrumental that could have been inserted into most of the 70's Tull releases. 'Truck Stop Runner' sounds like one of Tull's 80's synth tunes, stripped down to basics, and adds a bit of Country music flair to create a unique Tull song. 'Paradise Steakhouse' is an older song, but seems like it would have fit right in on 'Catfish Rising' or 'Rock Island', while 'Rosa On the Factory Floor' has a 'Crest of a Knave' feel.
'Nightcap' is a nice snapshot of Tull's musical journey through the past 3 decades, and worthy of adding to your Tull collection.

Something for Tull fans of all stripes to appreciate
Does it work? Yes, as a curiosity of what it might have become; no, as a coherent musical whole. Instead of comparing the so-called "Chateau d'Isaster" suite on Disc #1 of Nightcap with A Passion Play, let's just say that the former has plenty of what Jethro Tull fans yearn for: loud and spirited playing, interesting musical progressions, inane yet strangely expressive and descriptive lyrics, fine acoustic playing, and vocals that leap and soar. Much of it simply lasts longer than it has to, but much of it is still a treat in its own right. I can see why it was abandoned as a commercial project; it was heading in no particular direction and even its creators couldn't figure it out! I know I was certainly confused by it all. For fans only.

Disc #2 presents many fine unreleased tracks, again displaying the qualities fans have come to appreciate. Some of these tunes are obviously latter-day recordings as they display Ian Anderson's graveling and narrowing voice, but many are from the early-mid '70s when said voice was in full flower. The disc is chock full and can be summed up by saying that it would be much easier to list the lesser tracks than the better. I believe all fans will love it! Even the uninitiated might find something here to savor.

I would suggest to all, fans included, to find a used copy of this 2-CD set as the full retail price is a bit rich, despite the richness of the content.

You can see a complete list of all Jethro Tull discography, or go back to the Jethro Tull tabs. There is also a good guide on how to read guitar tabs here.