Just in time for the festive season and all that manic Xmas spending arrives two packages from legendary bands from yesteryear. First up is a Pink Floyd, best of compilation and to be honest when I first looked at this I couldn’t help sighing with the thought of label execs milking yet another back catalogue from a famous band. Of course the story behind this is that ‘A Foot in the Door’ is actually a part of the ‘Why Pink Floyd’ 2011-12 remastering campaign and this disc is aimed at those slightly less obsessive fans not quite ready to buy their entire release collection, albeit remastered, happy to settle for a ‘best of.’ Truth is this 16 tracker is a reminder of just how damn good PF were and is a thoroughly engrossing listen. Perfect for fans, ideal as a Xmas gift and a great buy if you’re too young to know their music but old enough to want to discover the legend that is Pink Floyd. Another legendary band who has in fact toured here several times is Ian Anderson’s Jethro Tull. Aqualung was their 4th studio album and proved to be the bands breakthrough release in 1971. Another smart label execs marketing move this; I just hope Anderson is receiving royalties from the repackaged 40 Anniversary edition. Anyway cynicism aside this two-disc release includes the original album remastered and a second disc containing 14 additional songs recorded in 1970 and 1971. Re-listening to the original songs (now in stereo) reminds one why it was such a definitive album, but to be honest CD2’s ‘out-takes’ are just that; out-takes that were not really worthy of release and although there are some good moments amongst these 14 songs they do not compare to the album that was Aqualung. Devoted fans will no doubt love it.
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