Jethro Tull‘s relationship with the Christmas season goes all the way back to the legendary band’s early days. Now it’s to be renewed for modern-day admirers and longtime fans alike, with the release of an expanded and remixed edition of 2003’s “The Jethro Tull Christmas Album” via Inside Out Music on December 6th, 2024.
Under the title “The Jethro Tull Christmas Album – Fresh Snow At Christmas,” the band’s 21st studio album has been remixed from the original masters by Bruce Soord (The Pineapple Thief), as well as being given the surround sound treatment in both Dolby Atmos & 5.1. The limited deluxe 4CD + Blu-ray book-set collection features all-new artwork, as well as live material, and includes the following across its 5 discs.
- CD1: Original Album Mixes
- CD2: 2024 Remixes by Bruce Soord
- CD3: Christmas Live At St. Bride’s 2008 (newly remixed by Bruce Soord)
- CD4: The Ian Anderson Band Live At St. Bride’s 2006 (previously unreleased)
- Blu-ray: Dolby Atmos, 5.1 Surround Sound & High-Resolution Stereo Mixes of “The Jethro Tull Christmas Album,” as well as High-Resolution Stereo Mixes of both live recordings
As well as this, the album will be released on vinyl for the very first time, as a Gatefold 180g 2LP featuring the 2024 remixes. Pre-orders are available now HERE. Watch the trailer below.
“The Jethro Tull Christmas Album” was much praised on its first release, with Rolling Stone noting admiringly: “The originals simmer with eccentric, eclectic, folky energy, rocking ditties threaded through with Celtic stylings, jazzy undercurrents, Ian Anderson’s distinctive flute, and wry humor.” AllMusic called it “perhaps the most satisfying Tull releases in 25 years.”
“The Jethro Tull Christmas Album” was their last studio set to feature longtime guitarist Martin Barre, who composed its pretty closing instrumental “A Winter Snowscape.” Also featured on the album were keyboard and accordion player Andrew Giddings, bassist Jonathan Noyce, and drummers Doane Perry and James Duncan. Anderson‘s compositions making their debut included the opening “Birthday Card At Christmas” and “First Snow On Brooklyn,” while traditional pieces such as “God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen” and “We Five Kings” were interpreted alongside Fauré‘s “Pavane.”
