(Chrysalis/Capitol) www.capitolrecords.com

Jethro Tull's 1968 debut is the sound of a very different beast, indeed. With original guitarist Mick Abrahams vying with frontman Ian Anderson for the band's musical direction, Tull version 1.0 was a somewhat atypical British blues gang. Although tracks like "Some Day The Sun Won't Shine" and "Cat's Squirrel" showcase Anderson's skills as a blues songwriter (the former) and Abraham's talents as a Claptonesque fretburner (the latter), elements of folk, jazz, and prog-rock creep in around the edges of many songs, a signpost towards albums to follow. This two-disc edition includes both the original mono, and a new stereo mix of the album, of importance only to sound purists. Of greater interest are the two intimate and rockin' John Peel "Top Gear" sessions that present the band as a dynamic performance outfit, even then, and the inclusion of a brace of early singles and two obscure B-sides. Although Jethro Tull would become a much more fascinating band as time went by, This Was is where it all began.

Standout Tracks: "My Sunday Feeling," "A Song For Jeffrey" REV. KEITH A. GORDON