LIVE AT MADISON SQUARE GARDEN 1978 (DVD + CD)

This Madison Square Gardens concert footage was one of the few to choose from the second era (or line-up) of Tull despite the absence of John Glascock, but extremely well replaced by Tony Williams (not the jazz icon). The choice range from the Hippodrome, another concert footage I remember seeing back in those years or this Madison DVD, but all of them are vastly superior to the much tampered-with Slipstream, which anyway dates from the next Tull era.

This release incorporates the full show at MSG, the first song starting the set on the sound and illustration (since the broadcast was to start later. Both Sweet Dream and Heavy Horses are well played as the band checks the PA's capacities, because they are about to set the planet on fire with the broadcast shown in 17 countries. The exit and comeback for the beginning, and soon attack TAAB, making a wild rendition but as you'll guess not the full version. The band is in top form, Anderson his usual self, Barre answer present as usual. Evans gives us a fine performance with a good presence on stage, especially compared to the almost invisible Palmer. One of the things that strikes much is how superb the 5.1 sound is and how well we hear all involved, particularly Williams' bass, even if the cameras never gives a shot at him or his instrument. Among the highlights is a wild Aqualung and the following extended Locomotive Breath (the broadcast misses the last two minutes or so), both filled with delightful surprises. Once the broadcast over, the concert goes on, especially with the set-ending medley of My God/Cross Eyed Mary (excellent as well), before encoring oddly enough with Locomotive Breath, already done in the set, but maybe the bassist had not been able to learn more Tull tunes in the emergency.

A bit uselessly, a Cd has been included bringing only the sonic part only, and actually shortened to fit the 80 mins limit, which means that they edited te intro of the broadcast and the band intro itself (both justified), but also, the encore, a second run of Locomotive Breath, which is not vital either. I much prefer this MSG performance over the Hippodome of the year before and I like it almost as much as the Isle Of Wight Festival release.