JETHRO TULL
May 4, 1971
The Fillmore East
New York City

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THE SONGS:
01 Nothing Is Easy
02 Aqualung
03 With You There To Help Me / By Kind Permission Of
04 Hymn 43
05 My God
06 Cross-Eyed Mary
07 Wind Up
08 Guitar Solo
09 Locomotive Breath
10 Instrumental Interlude
11 Wind Up (conclusion)

Total Time 78:32

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THE PERFORMANCE:
The band is clearly energized by the new music they are playing. All but two of the songs performed here are from Aqualung, an album that very few in the audience knew, though My God had been played live for the better part of the previous year. Pretty nervy of the band. But then Tull has always challenged their audience.

This line-up lasted only 5 months from January to May 1971. Clive would be replaced in June by Barrie Barlow. Everyone, except Jeffrey, gets an extended solo (you don't get that these days). The album Aqualung had been released just a few weeks earlier and the crowd's minimal reaction to the now-classic songs is thus explained.

I'll bet that in 1971 the band never dreamed they'd be playing some of these songs 30+ years later and some of them (Aqualung, Locomotive Breath) on an almost nightly basis for the better part of those 30 years.

The quality and energy of the performance more than transcends the limitations of the sound quality (not too good) preserved by some unknown taper 35 years ago.
Check it out.

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PERSONNEL:
Ian Anderson - vocals, flute, guitar
Martin Barre - electric guitar
John Evan - keyboards
Clive Bunker - drums
Jeffrey Hammond - bass

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THE SOUND:
Audience recording
Mediocre at best, it was 1971 after all.

I was going to concerts at that time and frankly, in most instances, the sound stunk. What you hear here is not much worse than if you were in the crowd that night 35 years ago. Sound systems have improved immeasurably since the early 70's.

The quality and energy of the performance more than transcends the limitations of the sound quality (crummy).
GIVE IT A LISTEN ANYWAY

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THE LINEAGE:
audience tape > tape (unknown # of generations) > CD-r > FLAC 8 via xAct