LIFE IS A LONG SONG

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.