Jethro Tull’s Concept Album About An Aging Rocker Is Expanded for A 2CD/2DVD Set that Features Unreleased Music And Footage Recorded For A British TV Special
Available On November 27 From Parlophone
LOS ANGELES – To follow its stellar 1975 release Minstrel In the Gallery, Jethro Tull’s ambitious plans included a group album, in addition to a stage musical about an aging rock star. Midway through the process, however, the band decided to abandon the stage musical and use the musical songs as the basis for what would become its ninth studio album, Too Old To Rock ‘n’ Roll: Too Young To Die!
Before the album’s 40th anniversary next spring, Parlophone will release a deluxe edition of TOO OLD TO ROCK ‘N’ ROLL: TOO YOUNG TO DIE! in the fall. This 2CD/2DVD set will be available on November 27. A standalone CD version of the album will also be available on the same day.
Highlights from the set include:
– An unreleased, alternate version of the album recorded for a British television special and remixed by Steven Wilson
– Bonus tracks (18 previously unreleased), all mixed to 5.1 surround and stereo by Steven Wilson
– Flat transfer of the original LP mix at 96/24
– Commercial debut of footage from the television special
– Presented in a case-bound DVD book that includes an 80-page booklet with an extensive history of the album, track-by-track annotations by Ian Anderson, plus rare and unseen photographs
– Includes the gatefold cartoon from the original album drawn by renowned comic artist Dave Gibbons
TOO OLD TO ROCK ‘N’ ROLL: TOO YOUNG TO DIE! was the band’s first with John Glascock on bass and backing vocals. But it wasn’t just the band dynamic that was changing, the music was evolving too, and this album helped bridge the progressive rock of Tull’s early years with the folk-rock that would shape its musical direction throughout the late Seventies.
The first disc features an unreleased, alternate version of the album that the band recorded for a British television special. At the time, union rules forbid bands from lip-syncing the original album on television, which is why Jethro Tull found itself in a studio re-recording the album in March 1976. For this deluxe edition, Steven Wilson re-mixed that alternate version of the album, as well as five songs earmarked for the finished album, including “Big Dipper,” “From A Dead Beat To An Old Greaser” and the title track.
It should be noted that the album couldn’t be totally remixed because multi-track recordings for several songs are missing.
The second CD includes nine rare and unreleased bonus tracks like “Commercial Traveller,” “Salamander Ragtime” and an early version of “One Brown Mouse”, plus a flat transfer of the original album.
The first DVD includes the commercial debut of the entire British television special along with several audio mixes of the show: DTS & Dolby Digital 5.1 surround sound, and Dolby Digital Stereo. The audio from the special is also included in 96/24 stereo PCM. The five tracks from the original LP are here as well, in DTS & Dolby Digital 5.1 surround sound and 96/24 stereo PCM.
The second DVD includes some mixes of the associated recordings in DTS & Dolby Digital 5.1 surround sound and 96/24 stereo PCM. Also featured is a flat transfer of the original LP at 96/24 stereo PCM, in addition to a flat transfer of the original 1976 Quad LP Production Master with DTS 4.0 and Dolby Digital AC3 4.0 surround sound.
For more information about TOO OLD TO ROCK ’N’ ROLL: TOO YOUNG TO DIE!, please contact Jessica Giordano in the Rhino Media Relations Department at jessica.giordano@rhino.com or 818-238-6403.
TOO OLD TO ROCK ’N’ ROLL: TOO YOUNG TO DIE!
Track Listing
CD1:
All Stereo Mixes by Steven Wilson
Re-Recorded Album for TV Special
1. “Prelude” *
2. “Quiz Kid” *
3. “Crazed Institution” *
4. “Salamander” *
5. “Taxi Grab” *
6. “From A Dead Beat To An Old Greaser” *
7. “Bad Eyed And Loveless” *
8. “Big Dipper” *
9. “Too Old To Rock ‘n’ Roll: Too Young To Die!” *
10. “Pied Piper” *
11. “The Chequered Flag (Dead Or Alive)” *
Five Original LP Tracks
12. “Too Old To Rock ‘n’ Roll: Too Young To Die!”
13. “The Chequered Flag (Dead Or Alive)”
14. “Big Dipper”
15. “From A Dead Beat To An Old Greaser”
16. “Bad Eyed And Loveless”
Monte Carlo Out-Take
17. “Quiz Kid” (Version 1) *
CD2:
Associated Recordings
# Mixed by Steven Wilson
1. “Salamander’s Rag Time” * #
2. “Commercial Traveller” * #
3. “Salamander” (Instrumental) * #
4. “Small Cigar” #
5. “Strip Cartoon” #
6. “One Brown Mouse” – Early Version (Original Master Mix) *
7. “Strip Cartoon” – (Original Master Mix)
8. “A Small Cigar – Orchestral Version (Original Rough Mix) *
9. “Too Old To Rock ‘n’ Roll: Too Young To Die!” – Demo (Paris -July 1975)* #
Original Album Flat Transfer
10. “Prelude”
11. “Quiz Kid”
12. “Crazed Institution”
13. “Salamander”
14. “Taxi Grab”
15. “From A Dead Beat To An Old Greaser”
16. “Bad Eyed And Loveless”
17. “Big Dipper”
18. “Too Old To Rock ‘n’ Roll: Too Young To Die!”
19. “Pied Piper”
20. “The Chequered Flag (Dead Or Alive)”
* Previously Unreleased
DVD1: Audio and Video
TV Special Footage in DTS, Dolby Digital 5.1 surround sound, and Dolby Digital Stereo
TV Special (audio only) in 96/24 stereo PCM
Five Original LP Tracks in DTS, Dolby Digital 5.1 surround sound and 96/24 stereo PCM
DVD2: Audio Only
In DTS, Dolby Digital 5.1 surround sound and 96/24 stereo PCM
1. “Salamander’s Rag Time”
2. “Commercial Traveller”
3. “Small Cigar” (Acoustic)
4. “Strip Cartoon”
In 96/24 stereo PCM
5. “Quiz Kid” (Version 1)
6. “One Brown Mouse” – Early Version (Original Master Mix)
7. “Salamander” (Instrumental)
8. “Strip Cartoon” – (Original Master Mix)
9. “A Small Cigar – Orchestral Version (Original Rough Mix)
10. “Too Old To Rock ‘n’ Roll: Too Young To Die!” – Demo (Paris -July 1975)
Flat transfer of the original LP at 96/24 PCM
Flat transfer of the original 1976 Quad LP Production Master with DTS 4.0 and Dolby Digital AC3 4.0 surround sound.
But it wasn’t one of their better albums was it? In fact, isn’t it generally considered to be their least wonderful album up to that point?
As you are very keen, I’d be interested in seeing your ranking of the Tull cannon Mr Bargepole. After the top 10, feel free to rank them in groups if you can’t distinguish between them…
I have quatrain (see what I did there) of Tull albums that I need:
Minstrel – got!
War Child
Passion – got!
and
Too Old
I’m still saving up (my paper round doesn’t pay that much) for War Child, maybe Santy’ll bring it. Once I’ve got my new telly I’ll save up for TOTRnR, prolly from Burning Shed ’cause I like them.
The Tull reissues aet the standard for reissues – superb improvement in quality with the remixes, excellent extras you listen to more than once, extended extra info/ book, all at sensible price. Roll up, roll up.
Holy Crap those are some amazing specs, will definitely be buying this. The worst from Tull’s classic era and still great album. Wholly unique, strange, uncompromising, weird yet accessible. A complete mess, but worth the price of admission. Good old Ian, never resting on his laurels. You can practically hear the sinews stretching. God I love Jethro Tull.
And the dude who drew Watchmen did the cover art… you learn something everyday.
Hi Rec, nice to see you! I agree compared to what preceded it Too Old suffers in comparison, but I plan to listen to it today and try to evaluate it on its merits – certainly more eclectic any playful than the other albums. And that insane video! Interesting info on the cover – didn’t know that.
I love the concept of the album, which was certainly ahead of it’s time, aren’t all rock stars these days sad tools over 40? TOTRR also contains Tull’s 2 most genuinely melancholy songs. From a Deadbeat To An Old Greaser and The Checkered Flag, both of which make my tear ducts swell a bit. Over his career, Ian’s songs can be angry, regretful, mischievous, spiteful, and jubilant, but rarely does he do genuine melancholy. (Odd as melancholia was a staple of 70’s pop ballads)
Regarding the Dave Gibbons artwork (the gatefold and perhaps the cover?) …it’s buried in the first fifth of Bargepole’s extensive write up under the OP. That’s where I learnt it.
Will there also be a vinyl release of this as there has been previously? I’ve got them all now from Benefit to Minstrel and I’d hate not to have this one too.
I’m really enjoying these Tull reissues – everything about them is top notch (including the price). I’m looking forward to this one in particular as I’ve never heard the album before, so it will all be new to me.
Bargepole says
more follows Tull fans……
TOO OLD TO ROCK ’N’ ROLL: TOO YOUNG TO DIE!
Jethro Tull’s Concept Album About An Aging Rocker Is Expanded for A 2CD/2DVD Set that Features Unreleased Music And Footage Recorded For A British TV Special
Available On November 27 From Parlophone
LOS ANGELES – To follow its stellar 1975 release Minstrel In the Gallery, Jethro Tull’s ambitious plans included a group album, in addition to a stage musical about an aging rock star. Midway through the process, however, the band decided to abandon the stage musical and use the musical songs as the basis for what would become its ninth studio album, Too Old To Rock ‘n’ Roll: Too Young To Die!
Before the album’s 40th anniversary next spring, Parlophone will release a deluxe edition of TOO OLD TO ROCK ‘N’ ROLL: TOO YOUNG TO DIE! in the fall. This 2CD/2DVD set will be available on November 27. A standalone CD version of the album will also be available on the same day.
Highlights from the set include:
– An unreleased, alternate version of the album recorded for a British television special and remixed by Steven Wilson
– Bonus tracks (18 previously unreleased), all mixed to 5.1 surround and stereo by Steven Wilson
– Flat transfer of the original LP mix at 96/24
– Commercial debut of footage from the television special
– Presented in a case-bound DVD book that includes an 80-page booklet with an extensive history of the album, track-by-track annotations by Ian Anderson, plus rare and unseen photographs
– Includes the gatefold cartoon from the original album drawn by renowned comic artist Dave Gibbons
TOO OLD TO ROCK ‘N’ ROLL: TOO YOUNG TO DIE! was the band’s first with John Glascock on bass and backing vocals. But it wasn’t just the band dynamic that was changing, the music was evolving too, and this album helped bridge the progressive rock of Tull’s early years with the folk-rock that would shape its musical direction throughout the late Seventies.
The first disc features an unreleased, alternate version of the album that the band recorded for a British television special. At the time, union rules forbid bands from lip-syncing the original album on television, which is why Jethro Tull found itself in a studio re-recording the album in March 1976. For this deluxe edition, Steven Wilson re-mixed that alternate version of the album, as well as five songs earmarked for the finished album, including “Big Dipper,” “From A Dead Beat To An Old Greaser” and the title track.
It should be noted that the album couldn’t be totally remixed because multi-track recordings for several songs are missing.
The second CD includes nine rare and unreleased bonus tracks like “Commercial Traveller,” “Salamander Ragtime” and an early version of “One Brown Mouse”, plus a flat transfer of the original album.
The first DVD includes the commercial debut of the entire British television special along with several audio mixes of the show: DTS & Dolby Digital 5.1 surround sound, and Dolby Digital Stereo. The audio from the special is also included in 96/24 stereo PCM. The five tracks from the original LP are here as well, in DTS & Dolby Digital 5.1 surround sound and 96/24 stereo PCM.
The second DVD includes some mixes of the associated recordings in DTS & Dolby Digital 5.1 surround sound and 96/24 stereo PCM. Also featured is a flat transfer of the original LP at 96/24 stereo PCM, in addition to a flat transfer of the original 1976 Quad LP Production Master with DTS 4.0 and Dolby Digital AC3 4.0 surround sound.
For more information about TOO OLD TO ROCK ’N’ ROLL: TOO YOUNG TO DIE!, please contact Jessica Giordano in the Rhino Media Relations Department at jessica.giordano@rhino.com or 818-238-6403.
TOO OLD TO ROCK ’N’ ROLL: TOO YOUNG TO DIE!
Track Listing
CD1:
All Stereo Mixes by Steven Wilson
Re-Recorded Album for TV Special
1. “Prelude” *
2. “Quiz Kid” *
3. “Crazed Institution” *
4. “Salamander” *
5. “Taxi Grab” *
6. “From A Dead Beat To An Old Greaser” *
7. “Bad Eyed And Loveless” *
8. “Big Dipper” *
9. “Too Old To Rock ‘n’ Roll: Too Young To Die!” *
10. “Pied Piper” *
11. “The Chequered Flag (Dead Or Alive)” *
Five Original LP Tracks
12. “Too Old To Rock ‘n’ Roll: Too Young To Die!”
13. “The Chequered Flag (Dead Or Alive)”
14. “Big Dipper”
15. “From A Dead Beat To An Old Greaser”
16. “Bad Eyed And Loveless”
Monte Carlo Out-Take
17. “Quiz Kid” (Version 1) *
CD2:
Associated Recordings
# Mixed by Steven Wilson
1. “Salamander’s Rag Time” * #
2. “Commercial Traveller” * #
3. “Salamander” (Instrumental) * #
4. “Small Cigar” #
5. “Strip Cartoon” #
6. “One Brown Mouse” – Early Version (Original Master Mix) *
7. “Strip Cartoon” – (Original Master Mix)
8. “A Small Cigar – Orchestral Version (Original Rough Mix) *
9. “Too Old To Rock ‘n’ Roll: Too Young To Die!” – Demo (Paris -July 1975)* #
Original Album Flat Transfer
10. “Prelude”
11. “Quiz Kid”
12. “Crazed Institution”
13. “Salamander”
14. “Taxi Grab”
15. “From A Dead Beat To An Old Greaser”
16. “Bad Eyed And Loveless”
17. “Big Dipper”
18. “Too Old To Rock ‘n’ Roll: Too Young To Die!”
19. “Pied Piper”
20. “The Chequered Flag (Dead Or Alive)”
* Previously Unreleased
DVD1: Audio and Video
TV Special Footage in DTS, Dolby Digital 5.1 surround sound, and Dolby Digital Stereo
TV Special (audio only) in 96/24 stereo PCM
Five Original LP Tracks in DTS, Dolby Digital 5.1 surround sound and 96/24 stereo PCM
DVD2: Audio Only
In DTS, Dolby Digital 5.1 surround sound and 96/24 stereo PCM
1. “Salamander’s Rag Time”
2. “Commercial Traveller”
3. “Small Cigar” (Acoustic)
4. “Strip Cartoon”
In 96/24 stereo PCM
5. “Quiz Kid” (Version 1)
6. “One Brown Mouse” – Early Version (Original Master Mix)
7. “Salamander” (Instrumental)
8. “Strip Cartoon” – (Original Master Mix)
9. “A Small Cigar – Orchestral Version (Original Rough Mix)
10. “Too Old To Rock ‘n’ Roll: Too Young To Die!” – Demo (Paris -July 1975)
Flat transfer of the original LP at 96/24 PCM
Flat transfer of the original 1976 Quad LP Production Master with DTS 4.0 and Dolby Digital AC3 4.0 surround sound.
Lando Cakes says
Brilliant – I’ll be waiting until the price drops to the same level as the others though…
ewenmac says
Looks excellent. I’ll be dusting down my codpiece for that.
That was them just gearing up for their finest hour (imho) – Songs From the Wood & Heavy Horses.
Neil Jung says
But it wasn’t one of their better albums was it? In fact, isn’t it generally considered to be their least wonderful album up to that point?
As you are very keen, I’d be interested in seeing your ranking of the Tull cannon Mr Bargepole. After the top 10, feel free to rank them in groups if you can’t distinguish between them…
James Blast says
I have quatrain (see what I did there) of Tull albums that I need:
Minstrel – got!
War Child
Passion – got!
and
Too Old
I’m still saving up (my paper round doesn’t pay that much) for War Child, maybe Santy’ll bring it. Once I’ve got my new telly I’ll save up for TOTRnR, prolly from Burning Shed ’cause I like them.
Twang says
The Tull reissues aet the standard for reissues – superb improvement in quality with the remixes, excellent extras you listen to more than once, extended extra info/ book, all at sensible price. Roll up, roll up.
Rec Room says
Holy Crap those are some amazing specs, will definitely be buying this. The worst from Tull’s classic era and still great album. Wholly unique, strange, uncompromising, weird yet accessible. A complete mess, but worth the price of admission. Good old Ian, never resting on his laurels. You can practically hear the sinews stretching. God I love Jethro Tull.
And the dude who drew Watchmen did the cover art… you learn something everyday.
Twang says
Hi Rec, nice to see you! I agree compared to what preceded it Too Old suffers in comparison, but I plan to listen to it today and try to evaluate it on its merits – certainly more eclectic any playful than the other albums. And that insane video! Interesting info on the cover – didn’t know that.
Rec Room says
I love the concept of the album, which was certainly ahead of it’s time, aren’t all rock stars these days sad tools over 40? TOTRR also contains Tull’s 2 most genuinely melancholy songs. From a Deadbeat To An Old Greaser and The Checkered Flag, both of which make my tear ducts swell a bit. Over his career, Ian’s songs can be angry, regretful, mischievous, spiteful, and jubilant, but rarely does he do genuine melancholy. (Odd as melancholia was a staple of 70’s pop ballads)
Regarding the Dave Gibbons artwork (the gatefold and perhaps the cover?) …it’s buried in the first fifth of Bargepole’s extensive write up under the OP. That’s where I learnt it.
Junior Wells says
Looks great but TOO MUCH
I like reissues where the album sounds excellently remastered and say a live concert from the era
The 461 reissue by Clapton is a good example.
Twang says
Lightweight.
ruff-diamond says
Will there also be a vinyl release of this as there has been previously? I’ve got them all now from Benefit to Minstrel and I’d hate not to have this one too.
RChappo says
I’m really enjoying these Tull reissues – everything about them is top notch (including the price). I’m looking forward to this one in particular as I’ve never heard the album before, so it will all be new to me.
Bargepole says
Unfortunately there’s no vinyl release on this one.