c o n r a d

Giving in to die-hard Jethro Tull fans, Ian Anderson agreed to release what he calls a "bottom drawer collection" of previously unreleased pieces under the title of Nightcap. Given that many of these songs were not released on earlier Tull albums on the grounds of quality, the question that has to be asked is, "Do these songs deserve to see the light of day?" The answer for Disc 1 is a resounding yes, and for Disc 2 a reluctant no. Disc 1 is referred to as "The Chateau D'Isaster Tapes". It was recorded while Jethro Tull were in "tax exile" in France. The recording was never completed, but much of the material went on to be integrated into A Passion Play. The surprise here is that the recordings made in France make a better album than A Passion Play, although they are somewhat less cohesive. There are a couple of real gems in here, such as "Law of the Bungle" with its portrait of the tiger as a dapper, refined killer. The more familiar tracks also often sound better that their equivalent on A Passion Play. Disc 2 contains little of note. Most of the best material which had been passed over at first had since been released. "Paradise Steakhouse" is a respectable song, and "Broadford Bazaar" has a lovely chorus; aside from those, the only track that stands out for me is "A Small Cigar". Despite the fact that this one strikes me as one of Anderson's least serious songs, it's a good analogy for Jethro Tull's status in the nineties - a once popular novelty has since worn out its welcome, and yet still manages to bring joy to a disenfranchised few. Although most of the songs are at least tolerable, there are also a few banal nasties such as "Piece of Cake", which sound like it missed the cut for Catfish Rising for good reason. For those fans who like Tull during their Passion Play era and wish to hear an improved version of their controversial classic, this album is a must. Just don't expect to find much of value on the second disc. review by Conrad Leviston — 5-8-03 —