NOTHING IS EASY: LIVE AT THE ISLE OF WIGHT 1970

As previous previewers have already pointed out, this superbly entertaining DVD will be essential viewing for Jethro Tull enthusiasts, but it should carry a warning: 'Only contains 40 minutes of live performance'. Most of the remainder consists of Ian Anderson reminiscing about the band and the Isle of Wight festival, which he does superbly. When reading Ian's liner notes I often get the impression he sounds too pleased with himself, but there's no trace of that here. At only one point did I think he was being disingenious, namely when he pointed out that he was never 'against Jesus or God', only against organised religion. Really? Is this the guy who once sang (rather memorably): 'Well I saw him in the city / and on the mountains of the moon. / His cross was rather bloody, / he could hardly roll his stone'?

Anyway, I'm glad this concert has cleared up at least ONE mystery. I've always been puzzled by these lines in 'My God': 'And the graven image you-know-who / with his plastic crucifix'. The graven image you-know-who??? This DVD (and the accompanying concert CD, which is also available separately) make clear what Ian must have wanted to sing. (Was he censored by the record company when he eventually came up with the tapes for AQUALUNG?)

It certainly is marvellous to see Mr Anderson in action on stage, so young and wild (the youngest incarnation I used to know was the far more 'professional' Ian from those Madison Square Garden concerts on YouTube) - but what a shame we never see Martin Barre from the front during any of his legendary solos...