Jethro Tull “Thick as a Brick” CD revisited

I have been a big fan of “Thick as a Brick” ever since it was originally released on vinyl in 1972.  The musicianship and genre defying composition were way above average for the time.  Seeing the band live around that time only reinforced my respect.

But I have not been a fan of the Chrysalis CD version I own that was released in 1985.  It always sounded bright on any system I played it on, even with transports and various dacs where most other CDs sounded terrific.  Heavy sibilance and just way too much high end.  I am not sure I have ever listened to that version all the way through even though I have owned if for nearly 30 years. (I think I got it from the Columbia Record Club, remember that?)

Recently I have been ripping my entire CD catalogue to hard disk and am now using a server along with a new (for me) and better DAC with a reclocker.  This new system is both the highest resolving and most balanced in terms of treble energy and detail of anything that has proceeded it here.  Last night I was scrolling through my collection for a headphone listening session and I remembered “Thick as a Brick” and how this favorite composition had been unlistenable for decades. I cued it up.

Whoa!  I was not prepared for what I heard.  Incredible detail on hand, meticulous timing of the band, sharp but seamless transitions from one musical idea to the next. Zero sibilance.  At about 11:50 on Side A, there is an interplay between flute and organ where the organ notes are echoed but delayed and severely muted in the left channel.  I not only heard this clearly, but it sounded like it was coming up from below the floor.  Stunning.  And about 19 minutes into side B the band is jamming hard on one of the recurring (the main?) rock themes and suddenly there is a repeated and alternating break into sonorous strings that I have always appreciated, but now the contrast last night was both beautiful and startling.  I listened to the whole album and was completely focused and captivated throughout.  The ones and zeros at 16/44.1 never let me down.  This was like discovering a favorite tool or fishing rod, or album, that had gone missing for thirty years buried in the the back of a closet.  

Jethro Tull was a class act.  Something I appreciated even as a teenager, but the beauty of this hobby is getting to experience old musical loves again with new appreciation as our gear and ability to hear into the songs improve.

kn