LIFE IS A LONG SONG

This E.P. is exactly between a "Essential: a masterpiece of progressive rock music" and an "Excellent addition to any prog rock music collection". As the compositions of Ian Anderson for this E.P. shows a kind of bridge between "Aqualung" and "Thick as a Brick", for historical purposes it deserves the five stars.

This was the first recording sample we have for one of the better line-ups of Jethro Tull, being recorded right after Barrie Barlow joined the band - and we should acknowledge, in this recording he is already showing his precisely and firmly present drum technique.

The quality of the music are obviously great: The title track is probably one of the beautiful songs written in Progressive Rock history. David Palmer, always present, put more feeling in the music; "Up The Pool" is a Roy Harper inspired song that we all like to hear returning to our home-town; "Dr Bogenbroom" is a kind of funny song, really catchy in its verse; "From Later" is a jazzy (Jethro Tull is never "jazz", only "jazzy") jam song, with a lot of tricky changes and showing all of the band members habilities; "Nursie" is a typical acoustic intimate piece of Anderson, one of those with a feeling of a love song, while not being exactly this.

The lyrics were also improving, as Gerald Bostock was going to appear right after, we see a young Ian Anderson talking about home and the way we spend our lives , somehow more closely of Benefit's lyrics than Thick as a Brick.

I sustain the five-stars: we are use to nowadays listen this songs on compilations re-mixes (on the 1972 compilation "Living in the past" or the 2011 Aqualung remix, for example), but as a late-1971 release, it shows the progression of Tull's music with quality and timeless music.

This EP was released in September 1971, about six month after the classic album Aqualung. All the five songs here are non-album tracks, but they were included on the 2LP compilation Living in the Past, which was released in June 1972. That's where the songs are familiar for me, like I bet they are for most of the listeners. Despite that truly deserved reappearance, I'd like to give an extra kudos to this EP for its all-new non-album material. It was the first recording to feature the band's new drummer Barriemore Barlow.

The leading track 'Life Is a Long Song' reached No. 11 in the UK charts. It's centred on Ian Anderson's acoustic guitar and singing. Both the music and the lyrics are very nice, a metaphor of everyday life, concluding that "the tune ends too soon for us all". 'Up the Pool' is rather similar lighthearted acoustic song, but not as charming.

'Dr. Bogenbroom' reminds me a lot of the 1970 album Benefit, especially for Anderson's vocals. Otherwise a good song, but the acoustic guitar sounds a bit nasty, perhaps the recording is poor. 'From Later' (2:08) is a heady instrumental featuring the flute in the leading role. A cool rock counterpart to Bach-derived 'Bourée', one could say. The even shorter 'Nursie' (1:36) features only acoustic guitar and vocals and is comparable to the Aqualung songs 'Cheap Day Return' and 'Wond'ring Aloud'. A very charming, moody piece which ends far too soon.

This folk-oriented EP was an excellent addition to the early phase of Jethro Tull.