ROCKS ON THE ROAD

The release information is incomplete. This was actually a 2-CD "single" release where the discs were sold separately. "Disc One" is catalog # TULLCD7 and "Disc Two" is BSTULLCD7. The first disc was sold in a folding cardboard box... when opened there is a plastic CD tray on the left containing your CD and there is an EMPTY plastic CD tray giving you a place to store the second disc once purchased. This also included one booklet that provided track listing and lineage for both discs. The second disc was sold in a shrinkwrapped cardboard sleeve.

Disc One contains "Rocks on the Road" (3:58, the intended "single"); "Jack-A-Lynn" (1981 home demo, probably the same as what appears on the "20 Years" box set); "Tall Thin Girl" (live in the radio studio of WMMR, Philadelphia); and "Fat Man" (from August 26, 1991 appearance on the radio show Rockline). "Jack-A-Lynn" is a great song that you hopefully already have elsewhere in your collection. "Fat Man" here (at 6:12 runtime) is a fun highlight!

Disc Two contains "Rocks on the Road" (5:36) and "Bouree" (3:18) both from the in-studio appearance at WMMR, Philadelphia. Also, "Mother Goose / Jack-A-Lynn" (6:20) and "Aqualung / Locomotive Breath" (4:09) both of these recorded live in New York on August 20, 1991 (no drums, sounds like a "live at a record store" type of setting). All tracks here are "almost unplugged" and are really well done. Lots of energy and great flute playing.

I do not know if these have since been re-released as part of any subsequent remasters or reboxings. So I will actually rate this release assuming that this is the only place to get these tracks. I give it 4-stars. Nothing here is essential, but I really liked the way Tull was stripping things down and going into radio studios to promote their album and shows during this period in their career. For me, not only are the stripped down versions really good, but it brings back great memories of a time when Tull felt like they were at their most down-to-earth and accessible.